NEWS

FORD small car sales have recovered to the level they were at a year ago, lifting gloom at car dealers. The blue oval also continued its 1-2 stranglehold on the UK car market. This month, it was the Fiesta that led the Focus. Indeed, the Fiesta leads for 2009 year-to-date. And the Focus? That’s in [...]

HYUNDAI has won record-breaking market share in May, with ‘unprecedented’ levels of demand. So many customers want to buy new models from Hyundai car dealers, the import centre has imposed 24-hour working! This comes as orders at Hyundai car dealers rocketed a staggering 750 percent over target. That is not a typo: 750%! May’s sales [...]

CHEVROLET sold 1589 cars in May – its best figure since the brand was launched nearly 5 years ago. This equals to a market share of 1.18 percent. Which is up 40 percent on May 2008! ‘Fabulous news,’ said UK MD Mark Terry. ‘To buck the overall trend of the new car market at all [...]

LATEST new car sales figures for May have been unveiled – with sales down by nearly 25 per cent. But the good news is the scrappage scheme is starting to have an effect, say the SMMT. Scrappage started on 18 May. Even before then, car dealers were reporting massive increases in interest and showroom traffic. [...]

MITSUBISHI has given the L200 Double Cab pickup added poke, with a 7-inch rear bed length extension. The rear load bay now has an 18cm-longer ‘Long Bed’ option. Well, what do you think we meant? It has more thrust too, courtesy of an extra 42bhp for the 2.5-litre DI-D turbodiesel. Indeed, 176bhp makes it the [...]

CARS built in the UK suffered again from declining demand, with production down by more than half. April 2009 saw a sharp fall of more than 55 percent. Things were even worse for commercial vehicles – UK production there crashed by nearly two-thirds. This is why the scrappage scheme is so important, says the SMMT. [...]

WINNERS and losers have been revealed in official new car sales charts released by the SMMT for April. And the champagne corks continue to pop at Ford. Not only has the maker posted but a minimal sales decline of just over 3 percent, it has also continued to grow market share. The blue oval boasts [...]

LATEST SMMT new car sales figures show the gloom continues for car dealers, with a decline of 24% over 2008. The latest figures, just released to Car Dealer Magazine, reveal just how important incentives such as the scrappage scheme are. April’s figures mark the 11th straight fall in new car registrations: the market in 2009 [...]

CAR dealers have welcomed findings of an in-depth study into what the future holds for the UK car industry. The Government-supported New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team has just reported back, with a series of key findings for car dealers to assess. Recommendations include: •    Forming joint industry-Government council •    Focus UK R&D on low-carbon [...]

MOTOR CODES has taken control of the New Car Code of Practice – creating a single ‘code’ for car dealers. It ties up the previously confusing situation for the car industry, of having TWO codes of practice, regulated by two bodies: •    New Car Code of Practice – SMMT •    Motor Industry Code of Practice [...]

SCRAPPAGE was on the agenda yesterday, as the BERR and SMMT met for the first time after the Budget. Set for launch on 18 May, the meeting was called to determine exactly how the new car scrap scheme will work. Hosted in seminar style, the BERR hoped the car industry would take away sufficient information [...]

CAR Dealer Magazine has a response to our scrap questions – and some positive news – from the SMMT. ‘There is a meeting this afternoon which we will use to address issues which have been raised over the last few days by our members,’ revealed a spokeswoman. These are ‘primarily around the exact processes which will be undertaken [...]

DRAMATIC declines in UK car production continued in March – proving the VITAL need for sales incentives. So far, car production in the UK during 2009 has declined by over 56 percent. This is something that has clearly weighed on the Government’s mind, and led to the intoroduction of a new car scrap scheme. Now, [...]

BUDGET 2009 may prove to be a decisive moment for the automotive sector, says the SMMT. The car industry body is thus calling upon Chancellor Alistair Darling to implement a series of schemes to help stimulate sales. It wants to see strong ‘buy now’ signals sent, to help an industry that employs over 800,000 workers. [...]

REPORTS this weekend suggest a scrappage scheme WILL get the go ahead in the Budget on April 22. The Sunday Times has reported despite concerns by the Treasury of the cost of such a scheme, Chancellor Alistair Darling is likely to give the plan the nod. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, the SMMT, RMIF as well [...]

SMMT chief Paul Everitt today writes exclusively for Car Dealer on why a scrappage scheme is right for the UK. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders boss has backed our Scrappage Scheme Now campaign and says the plan will bolster the flagging car industry. Car Dealer is calling for the government to make a [...]

CAR sales are suffering as a result of the weak UK economic conditions, say the country’s car dealers. The RMIF says March’s decline of 30.5 percent is entirely down to consumers lacking confidence because of the economy. ‘Car dealers are the front line of the car industry, and are seeing that consumer car buying patterns [...]

NEW car sales took a further hit in March – and it’s due to the lack of a new car scrappage scheme. SMMT chief Paul Everitt says the UK being the only European country NOT to have a scrap scheme in place is hurting car sales. ‘March new car registrations are a barometer of confidence [...]

CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling must use the budget on April 22 to send out ‘buy now’ signals to car buyers. Above all, says the SMMT, the budget must see the start of a scrappage incentive scheme, to stimulate demand. Better access to credit is also imperative. But, much more can be done besides. That’s why SMMT [...]

READ SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt’s thoughts on why a scrappage scheme is right for the UK… THESE are tough times for everyone, but the motor industry is unquestionably experiencing the most dramatic impact of the downturn in demand and lack of consumer confidence. The SMMT forecasts that 1.72m new cars and 207,000 light commercial [...]