Gavin Hydes, Joe Duffy Motors CEO, has upped his stake in Vertu from 3.3% to 4.1%. Joe Duffy Motors is controlled via Irish company, Nivag Holdings. The investment was via Nivag, wholly owned by Hydes. Last November, the point at which investors must notify the stock market, Hydes passed the 3% ownership threshold.

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Renault retailers can expect to add a fifth brand to their showrooms from next year with the launch of Mobilize. Mobilize is the French firm’s finance house, but is also the division that will sell the Twizy replacement called Duo, and commercial vehicle version called Bento. Mobilize will sit alongside Renault, Dacia, Pro+ and Alpine […]

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Former star fund manager, Neil Woodford, who presided on one of Britain’s worst investment scandals, has revamped himself as an economic commentator. He says there are “reasons to be cheerful” about the UK’s economic outlook. Last week, he launched a new economic and business website called woodfordviews.com. In his first piece, he said that with a […]

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Renault is to introduce a new city-focused point-of-sale format called ‘rnlt’. The new stores will be a showcase for the brand. They will show off new models and the brand itself in a smaller space than traditional Renault showrooms. Renault says the new stores will “work in synergy with existing traditional-scale showrooms located on the […]

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More than 125 Subaru retailers last week heard new MD Lorraine Bishton rule out the agency model and commit to franchised retailers. “The dealer model is here to stay,” she said. “People buy from people.” The event in North Yorkshire was part of a renewed focus on the Subaru brand by parent IM Group, which […]

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BMW reveals US retail strategy boost BMW is planning closer collaboration with its US retailers using mobile app technology and data sharing. The aim is to improve the customer experience and drive both loyalty and aftersales revenue. Service advisors will be given access to historical customer data. Data will include any negative comments made on […]

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Inchcape has revealed it is to sell its UK retail division to US-owned Group 1 for £346 million. The sale is expected to complete during Q3 2024 and involves £100m being returned to Inchcape shareholders through a share buyback programme. Sales plans Inchcape revealed it was considering selling off the UK retail arm earlier this […]

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Two new sites have been chosen by Swansway Motor Group to include BYD. The sites are set to open in Chester and Crewe next month. The dealerships will be located alongside Motor Match, the group’s used car supermarket. This expansion will assist in BYDs aim creating a UK retail network of 100 dealerships by the […]

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Ron Brooks has been appointed Suzuki sales and service for Derby and the wider area. It complements the retailer’s other Suzuki business in Mansfield, Nottingham. The site will open in the coming weeks and is part of the retailer’s growth pipeline to exceed £100m turnover. Group manager Tom Slack said the strategy was to “grow […]

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Ford has reportedly backed down on plans for agency. It is instead planning a hybrid approach that utilises the strengths of its franchise network while capitalising on opportunities of data sharing. “We’ve evolved our thinking to become what we call an ‘advanced franchise’ model,” Ford EV sales and brand management boss Anna Lena Strigel told Autocar […]

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