Inside the industry with MICHAEL McALEER
The Italian prime minister has given some free advice to Fiat: rather than talking about selling the Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Ferrari marques, the controlling Agnelli family should rebadge the cars as Ferraris. The Fiat Stilo could be restyled as the "Ferrari Woman" or "Young Ferrari". Silvio Berlusconi's off-the-cuff advice has infuriated the Turin carmaker. Berlusconi argued that Fiat had shown insufficient faith in the future but could still overcome the crisis with the right management. Fiat branded Mr Berlusconi's words as "incomprehensible and out of place", suggesting his brakes had failed.
LEXUS CHARM: Lexus offered 150 invited customers and potential purchasers the opportunity to admire and test drive its entire model range. As expected, many made a beeline for the SC430s. Over three days, guests were offered an introduction to the Lexus ethos, before test driving the cars of their choice. Suitably impressed, they returned to their own cars to find them valetted, courtesy of Lexus. An innovative approach to sales, from which they hope to get a significant return.
VW'S HIGH HOPES IN CHINA: Volkswagen says its sales in China - already its biggest market outside Germany - would rise nearly 40 per cent to half a million vehicles this year and double to one million in 2007. "We are experiencing one of the greatest increases in sales of vehicles anywhere, of anytime," Volkswagen Asia-Pacific chief Robert Buchelhofer said.
BMW SALES RISE: BMW sold a total of 976,300 of its BMW-brand and Mini cars worldwide from January to November, 17 per cent more than in the corresponding period a year earlier. Sales of BMW-marqued cars alone were up 3.4 per cent.
EXPANSION BY HYUNDAI IRELAND: More news from Hyundai Ireland's expanding network. Two new dealers have been appointed, while one of its current dealers has just completed a €2 million refurbishment programme. The new dealerships are Lismard Motors in Portlaoise, with a 15-car showroom, and Gerard Brennan Motors in Rathmore, Co Kerry, which opened for business this week with a new showroom, service and parts business. In Kilkenny City, Lyng Auto Sales, a Hyundai dealer since 1998, opened its new showroom on the Hebron Road.