The move towards electric cars is going to be a shock for many car dealers, according to a new survey, writes Robin Roberts. While generally satisfied with manufacturers’ plans to introduce battery electric vehicles and hybrids, they are less happy about dealership costs and how they are going to make money in the longer term. Already coping with new restrictions surrounding working with … [Read more...]
News
Used cars recovering, expect prices to rise
The used car market is beginning to show signs of greater activity with the increase in the number of dealers transacting car sales online rising by the day. Now that socially distanced delivery has been introduced, both business and consumer confidence is starting to grow, and more dealers are being able to transact the whole purchase process in a more seamless fashion making the customer … [Read more...]
Cardiff’s luxury line-up revealed
A survey of supercar owners in Wales has thrown up a few surprises. Grange vehicles conducted an FOI request to the DVLA on supercar ownership to find out which luxury brands are the most popular with men and women across the country. It looked at popular brands including Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, and Porsche. The data has also … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 May
Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division sold more than 9,500 high-performance models last year, up 64% on the year before, despite the virus pandemic impacting sales. Extremely strong demand for all seven SV vehicles has driven this growth along with an expansion to 100 SV specialist dealers around the world. Shadow Transport Minister for Wales has questioned how Welsh … [Read more...]
Lockdown pupils invited to show their rally-art
With schools closed for the foreseeable future, Wales Rally GB is launching an innovative competition to entertain, incite and, potentially, reward pre-University students currently learning from home. In partnership with Toyota GB, the UK’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship has introduced a special ‘Design a Rally Car Livery’ initiative open to all those enrolled at UK schools and … [Read more...]
Motorsport look to post lockdown changes and rules
Motorsport UK has announced how it proposes restarting competition across its eleven sporting disciplines. Motorsport is currently suspended throughout the UK until 30 June 2020. Although it is understood there will continue to be levels of government restrictions and social distancing in place for a considerable period, Motorsport UK has been considering how to restart the sport, within the … [Read more...]
Filling stations win rates reprieve bonanza
Filling stations are in for a summer bonanza with repaid business rates after a Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of retailers, meaning that they will now be rightly owed around £500 million in business rates refunds, said Brian Madderson, Chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association. He was speaking after the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on wednesday that ATMs … [Read more...]
French tell Renault “home” build for state aid
The French government has told Renault it must keep home plants operating as a condition of receiving €5 Billion state aid. France wants it to remain the group’s global centre for engineering, research, innovation and development, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Wednesday. Speaking in the Senate, he said the government was particularly concerned about maintaining the Flins plant, … [Read more...]
Dealers plea for Government help
Six in ten car dealers want prolonged support with grants and loans from Government. New research from Close Brothers Motor Finance reveals the priorities across the motor industry as they call for further Government support in light of Covid-19. The sector has been hit particularly hard by the UK lockdown, with new car sales plunging 97% year-on-year in April and recovery set to be a difficult … [Read more...]
Car makers move to save extinction
CEOs from across the automotive value chain came together for a meeting with the European Commission to align on the priorities for a solid recovery plan for the automotive sector, with a view to stimulating the wider economy and bolstering the transformation to a carbon-neutral society. CEOs of vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers, as well as their respective associations – the European … [Read more...]