November saw a double-digit year-on-year drop in European new car registrations as part of the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In November, the market registered 1,045,129 new cars – 13% less than for the same period in 2019 and it has recorded the lowest volume since 2014, when just 989,500 units were registered. Year-to-date figures continue to point to a concerning trend, with … [Read more...]
Retail News
EVs attracting company car drivers
Employees who have previously taken cash options are returning to company car schemes in “noticeable” numbers thanks to electric vehicles, reports Arval UK.Shaun Sadlier, head of consulting at Arval UK, said this was something that was predicted when the latest zero and low benefit-in-kind rates for EVs were unveiled in 2019, but is now becoming increasingly more apparent. He said: “Many cash … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 December
Drivers were collectively planning about 13m separate trips by car to see family and friends during the coronavirus ‘travel window’ between 23 and 27 December, although a fifth (22%) don’t expect to make any such journeys this year because of the virus, research by RAC Breakdown suggests. With two weeks to go until Christmas, the greatest number of individual trips – some 3.1m – look likely to … [Read more...]
New online directory and resources for aftermarket sector
Organisers of Automechanika Birmingham have launched auto:resource, a new online directory and resources platform to inform, train and connect the UK automotive aftermarket. The comprehensive website, www.autoresource.co.uk, was created following extensive research conducted to over 12,000 automotive professionals, who made it clear there is a need to inform and connect the industry via one … [Read more...]
Big jobs drive beginning among dealers
Car dealerships are planning a recruitment drive for staff over coming months. They will be looking for technicians, sales people and service assistants for the most part, but also considering what they need in other business areas. National Franchised Dealers Association has lobbied the Government throughout the year to extend the time period in which the industry is able to use their year’s … [Read more...]
Motorbikes rebalancing after virus-hit
November’s motorcycle sales figures confirmed a fantastic year on year performance, during a challenging trading period, with dealers embracing the use of click and collect to meet consumer demand through the second lockdown, said Paddy O’Connell, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association. Commenting on the latest MCIA motorcycle sales figures, he said that Powered Two Wheels (PTW) … [Read more...]
Tradelines 9 December
Aston Martin is seeing “phenomenal” demand, with a rebound in China, said the company’s executive chairman and billionaire investor Lawrence Stroll. “Demand right now is phenomenal,” he told the Financial Times’ The Future of the Car digital conference, adding “China really returned first and strongest, and is gangbusters.” GKN Automotive is strengthening its eDrive technology leadership as 13 … [Read more...]
Fleets taking on more evs in business
New data from epyx suggests that 14% of cars and vans operated by fleets are now either hybrid or battery electric vehicles. The figure is taken from the company’s 1link Service Network platform, used by fleets totalling four million vehicles to buy and manage service, maintenance and repair (SMR) from nearly 9,000 franchise dealers, independent garages and fast-fits. The 14% figure covers a … [Read more...]
Newslines 8 December
A New ‘C-Series’ trim level is available on Citroen C3, C3 Aircross models. They will be sold online with five-year extended warranty and have special paint and equipment in their lineup, 1.2 petrol engine and five-speed manual transmission from £13,980 when they get to showrooms in Spring 2021. Suzuki has teamed up with Computers 4 Charity, a long established and renowned not-for-profit … [Read more...]
Switch early and save on premium
Drivers are failing to capitalise on huge savings by not switching their insurance policy at the right time, according to comparethemarket.com. The statistics found that insurance policies available to consumers are £319 cheaper if drivers switch policies three weeks before their renewal date compared to switching on the day a policy ends. The research has found that there are large … [Read more...]