The rate of business insolvencies for the automotive industry rose for the third month, according to information provider Experian.

Sir Nigel Rudd is to step down as chairman of Pendragon after 20 years in the job.

Aftersales continued to be the most profitable part of Pendragon's business in the first quarter, up 3.9 per cent over the previous year, the company said in an interim management statement.

Dealers are not putting enough emphasis on warranty sales, a warranty company has warned.

Dealer group Lookers, ranked number 5 in the Motor Trader Top 200 with a turnover of £1.7bn, has appointed Andy Bruce as managing director.

Yorkshire dealer group JCT600 has announced profits of £8.2m on turnover of £465m for the 12 months to 31 December 2009.

Sir Arnold Clark is the richest car dealer in the UK ranked in 178th position in The Sunday Times Rich List 2010 with an estimated fortune of £377m.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is to return to the UK in the autumn with a choice of diesel or supercharged petrol engines.

The average dealer lost £5,000 in February and in the first two months of the year was down £7,700, according to the latest figures from accountancy firm ASE.

MG has unveiled a UK designed five-door hatchback concept car at the Beijing Automotive Show.