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Chinese owned Swedish car maker Volvo have announced that it made an operating profit in the third quarter of this year. Volvo, which China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group bought from Ford back in August, did not disclose all the details details, but said it has been profitable since the start of the year. "This gives us a good platform in our … [Read more...]
Whilst all and sundry are worrying and fretting about cost savings and cuts, we need to start looking at ways of making car buying and maintenance as cost effective as possible. Here are some simple tips and advice when considering where to go. Car dealers are battling hard for your business always make an offer whether it is to buy a car have a … [Read more...]
Hyundai has announced prices for the new ix20 which will be oOn sale from 18th November and available with 3 drivetrain options and 3 trim levels. The three trim grades – Classic, Active and Style – are unique to the UK and have been created with the demands and high expectations of British buyers in mind. The entry level Classic trim … [Read more...]
Nissan is recalling more than 2 million vehicles worldwide because of a faulty engine control system. It involves nine models including MTI favourite the Cube (whatever were they thinking?), March and Tida which were produced in Japan, the US and 4 other countries between 2003 and 2006. Nissan said there had been no accidents reported due to … [Read more...]
It’s a funny thing in the motor trade, customers are increasingly wondering why they are not getting the treatment they deserve for what is probably one of the largest financial investments they will ever make. Each week we hear of customers who are wandering around showrooms and no one is acknowledging their existence, let alone attempting to … [Read more...]
Volkswagen's strong third-quarter results are primarily down to sales that far exceeded market forecasts at its luxury brand Audi and booming earnings from its China operations. The German manufacturer’s share of profits from the two Chinese joint ventures proportionate to VW's stakes amounted to 513 million euros which is more than double the … [Read more...]
Let’s talk about “residual values”. Yes, we’re talking about the dreaded “D” word – depreciation. Once we know the picture regarding a prospective car’s future value (it’s our money after all!) then it may become an important part of the car buying decision process. Residual or future value is all about supply and demand, brand … [Read more...]
US car manufacturer Ford has reported net income of $1.7bn (£1.08bn) for the third quarter, a rise of 68% on the same period in 2009 and is its 6th straight quarterly profit.. The company's improved performance came as it increased its share of the US market and buyers paid more for its cars and trucks. CEO Alan Mulally said that new cars … [Read more...]
The Toyota Prius hybrid has turned street-sharp with front, rear and side skirts, 17 inch smoked-finish alloys and dark-tinted privacy glass. The new look belongs to a special edition model that celebrates the hybrid's first 10 years in the UK. The new Prius 10th Anniversary is still every bit as fuel-frugal and tax-friendly as its more … [Read more...]
The car sales process has been developed over many years and evolves with each new generation of sales teams, new products coming to the market and the need to develop new income streams and profit centres. The fundamental process has remained the same, however, and is designed with only one objective: to separate you from your money (and, of … [Read more...]
With demand for luxury and high end sports cars increasing Audi are aiming to compete on pricing with BMW and Mercedes with the R8 GT, which will be its most expensive model ever. The supercar, which costs 193,000 euros in its home market of Germany, is part of a broader expansion of Audi's model range which may include a third sports car line … [Read more...]
New figures reveal that sales of luxury cars are soaring as orders for the type of Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Porsches favoured by the super-rich surge ahead of demand for more run-of-the-mill cars. It seems it is not just in China that demand for the most exquisite of cars is going through the roof. Here in the UK, despite the raft of austerity … [Read more...]
If you’re one of those people who profess to only buying Japanese, think again if you drive a Nissan because your car is French! The landscape of modern-day motor vehicle manufacturing has changed substantially over the last few years with many manufacturer marques becoming just brand names for the big conglomerates. For example did you … [Read more...]
Multi-national multi-franchise car dealer group Inchcape have outlined plans to cut 500 jobs in a sign that at least some in the private sector are in no mood to hire axed public sector workers. The car dealership, which sells new and used cars in 26 countries and employs 14,300 staff, is still in cost-cutting mode despite a rebound in … [Read more...]
What a load of cuts! We have been hearing about the cuts and austerity measures that are needed for some time now and, as the chancellor revealed, they will be deep and potentially fatal for many people. Lots of us will face major hardship and public sector workers will be hit hardest of all in terms of their job security. I don’t pretend to … [Read more...]
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has revealed the German car manufacturer is aiming to sell another 1 million cars in China in the next 3 three years and may build a new plant in the country which is set to replace Germany as its biggest market in 2011. Global luxury car makers, from BMW to Mercedes, have racked up astronomical sales in China, thanks to … [Read more...]
Less than a month after their world debuts at the Paris motor show, Renault has released UK pricing and specification for the Laguna 2011 Hatch and Sport Tourer models, with prices ranging from £17,795 for the Expression 2.0 16V 140 to £24,145 for the Sport Tourer GT Line TomTom 2.0 dCi 180. Following a simplified range structure, the new … [Read more...]
Car production in the UK increased again in September, new figures from SMMT have revealed. A total of 126,548 cars were built at UK factories in September which is 5.8% up on a year ago and brings the total made so far this year to 937,891, a 35% rise on the same nine months in 2009. The SMMT said investment in the UK car industry should … [Read more...]
Lexus is launching two voluntary recalls in the UK, affecting the IS, GS and RX models. It is working with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to contact registered owners and keepers by letter to advise them of the procedure for taking their vehicle to a Lexus Centre or an Official Lexus Service Outlet for the necessary repair work to … [Read more...]
The resilience of the car business is certainly showing itself if the latest finance figures are anything to go by. We have long trumpeted the fact that dealer finance is a very competitive way of funding a car purchase. Even during a downturn and period of economic uncertainty and given the fact that lending has been reduced by many nervous … [Read more...]
What is it about some car salespeople? Sometimes you wonder if they really get what car sales is really all about. They have fantastic training, are equipped with a sales process that is idiot proof and have some fantastic products which often sell themselves, yet still everyday up and down the country potential customers are made to feel like … [Read more...]
The Government is to invest more than £30 billion in transport projects over the next four years as it focuses on investing in Britain’s economic infrastructure. Exactly where the cash will be spent - more than was invested in the past four years - will be outlined in detail by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond next week. However, in the … [Read more...]
Peugeot’s have announced that their award winning 3008 Crossover is now available with extra standard spec on both the Sport and Exclusive models and offer a more fuel efficient Euro 5 HDi 112 diesel engine. Since its launch in November 2009 the Peugeot 3008 Crossover has been a great success with both the UK car buying public and the motoring … [Read more...]
The new VW Sharan is now available to order from Volkswagen Retailers, with prices ranging from £22,980 (VW OTR) for the entry-level S 1.4-litre 150 PS TSI model up to £31,680 for the SEL 2.0 TDI 170 PS 6 speed Automatic DSG. VW claim the new Sharan is the most advanced and refined people carrier they have ever produced with all the latest … [Read more...]
It has been announced by parliament that the House of Commons Transport Committee has agreed to hold a “short inquiry” into the cost of motor insurance in the UK The Committee intends to focus on the reasons and consequences of recent increases in the cost of motor insurance and the impact on young people of the high costs of motor … [Read more...]
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