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Dealers were urged to review their online strategies at the first Motor Trader Social Media & You Conference, held yesterday (2 June) at Mercedes-Benz World.

Caffyns announced preliminary results for the year to 31 March with turnover up 6.4 per cent to £201.5m. Profits fell to £268,000 compared to £970,000 last time due to restructuring costs associated with the closure of seven businesses...

Jardine Motors Group UK has made its second major acquisition in less than a month. The dealer group has bought three Toyota dealerships in Ipswich, Colchester and Frinton-on-Sea and a Lexus dealership in Ipswich from Thorndale Investments for an undisclosed sum.

The internet accounted for 3 per cent of new and used car sales in the UK, according to new research from Mintel. Mintel said 200,000 vehicles, used and new, were purchased online in 2010 compared with total car sales of 8.1 million units.

Manheim Retail Services is launching a social media friendly used car stock locator called Simply Stock. The off-the-shelf locator can be used through Facebook, dealer websites and mobile websites. It enables dealers to plug a used car stock locator directly into their own Facebook page or website

The first “tangible signs” of price pressure and falling demand in the used commercial vehicle market were recorded in April, according to data from auction house BCA. Figures for April show that average values fell just over 5 per cent compared to March, while sold volumes declined significantly by over 31 per cent, month on month.

Used car values fell 2.2 per cent in April compared to the previous month, according to BCA’s latest Pulse report. April saw the lowest monthly average value recorded since March 2009. Year-on-year, April 2011 is 4.1 per cent behind the same month in 2010...

Kia Motors (UK) marketing director Simon Hetherington has been appointed to the newly created role of dealer development director. From the beginning of July Hetherington will head up the new standalone Dealer Development Department announced earlier this month...

Peugeot has launched a new mobile version of its used car locator, making it easier for consumers to search on the go. Developed by Manheim Retail Services, the locator is designed for a range of smart phones and other web-enabled mobiles.

Glass’s has announced an overhaul in the way it delivers used car values by more closely aligning them to market prices.