NEWS

RENAULT UK has given RenaultSport fan Mark Crockett the role of services and quality director.
The RenaultSport Spider-driving 41 year old Scot joins the UK board, as one of 10 directors under the leadership of Roland Bouchara.
After working abroad, Crockett returned to the UK as product marketing manager for Renault, back in 1994. He moved [...]

FERRARI owners from 1947 can now enjoy FREE breakdown cover, in a bold move by the famed brand.
The launch of the ‘With You’ roadside assistance scheme means that owners simply need to register – and get totally free breakdown cover.
There’s not a single catch.
The deal consists of recovery of the vehicle to the nearest Ferrari [...]

LOTUS Silverstone has launched a new profit-generating service that keys into the lucrative trackday market.
The official Lotus-franchised car dealer has introduced a ‘Track Health Check’ – an aftersales service revenue-generator.
It’s being launched with an extra-special deal, too. Book the £50 service for August 26th… and get a free track day!
This session, run between 6-8pm, is [...]

CAR dealers should educate customers on the risks of skimping on servicing – or warranties may be at risk.
Mondial Assistance warns that many new car warranties have terms and conditions that demand servicing only by manufacturer-approved garages.
However, some customers are choosing independent garages instead – meaning car makers won’t pay for warranty claims.
Liz Grindell, Mondial’s [...]

CAR dealer mechanics are at risk of injury or death if they fail to follow procedures when servicing hybrid cars.
The petrol-electric models are packed with batteries, which must be completely isolated, warns the RMIF.
Cars must also sit for an hour before work can commence. Otherwise, technicians face a 500-volt shock.
It is an increasing concern too, [...]

DRAGON2000 has announced the latest product-enhancing update for its Service Calendar DMS facility.
This, it says, will help increase efficiency for service managers – and increase revenues for dealerships.
The changes have been instigated through the current need to maximise service department profits. It is a key area of business for both franchises and independents.
And the [...]

DEALERS are now able to offer an easy online booking service to make routine car servicing less hassle.
DCML has rolled out its Online Service Bookings facility.
It gives franchised dealer customers a live feed to service appointment availability – which they can then go ahead and book remotely.
Cleverly, it also links up to DCML’s Dealer Car [...]

RISING repair costs and the closure of aftermarket repair businesses will be side effects of the scrappage scheme.
The World Engine Remanufacturing Council has thus condemned the scheme as a ‘serious blow’.
As remanufacturing competes directly with the aftermarket business at dealership level, says the body, the result will help car makers at the expense of third [...]

TWO-THIRDS of car owners will try to replace their BRAKES themselves, rather than use a car dealer.
And a third will attempt to repair broken gearboxes!
In all, over half of all motorists will attempt home car repairs, in an effort to save cash – with 20 percent of car owners considering the repairs ‘quite major’.
Auto Trader [...]

POSH car owners are switching to smaller independent garages to service their expensive motors.

The Good Garage Scheme has just carried out a survey – and discovered that, from searches carried out on its website, BMW tops the brands searched for!
Thousands of BMW drivers conducted a postcode search to find cost-conscious garages local to them. And [...]