Late News.(meshed briefs)

Ostle, Dorothee; Saint-Seine, Sylviane de; Weernink, Wim Oude

VW dealer protest

The 1,800 German VW and Audi dealers have turned down Volks-wagen's new contract proposals.

At a July 24 meeting in Mainz, Germany, the dealers asked dealer council representatives to reopen negotiations with VW for better terms.

According to the dealers, VW's proposed margins are too low and quality standards are too high. The dealers' decision came despite Eckhard Meyer, president of the combined VW and Audi dealer council, warning them not to boycott the contract proposals.

Europe's new block exemption car-retailing laws come into effect October 1. ...