The percentage of dealers’ looking to recruit across all business areas is significantly up from Q2 this year, reports the National Franchised Dealers Association. In particular, 77.5% are seeking to recruit sales executives over the next three months and the same percentage intend to employ technicians. Additionally, 67.5% intend to hire service … [Read more...]
Car dealers want Government support after Covid-19
Car dealers want Government support for motor industry following Covid-19. A quarter (25%) of car dealers are keen to see a reduction in business rates as the UK recovers from the impact of Covid-19, one in five (19%) want to see current support measures phased out, rather than a hard stop and others are calling for motor-specific policies like changes to … [Read more...]
Car dealers are optimistic of recovery
The UK motor industry has been hit hard by Covid-19, but car dealers are optimistic about the future of the sector. New research from the Britain Under the Bonnet report, from Close Brothers Motor Finance, reveals that short term confidence plummeted during April, but medium to long term optimism has begun to improve. At the beginning of 2020, 98% of car … [Read more...]
Van delivers biggest sales in April & EV tops car chart
A van has become Britain’s best selling vehicle during the coronavirus lockdown according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. While the Mercedes Sprinter delivered for dealers the chaotic charts saw the pure electric Tesla Model 3 top the passenger car list, but even that couldn’t match the Sprinter. Overall, the … [Read more...]
Cazana’s Dealer Survival Guide
The motor trade is one of the world's toughest business sectors but the current Coronavirus is putting incredible strain on the entire sales stream and getting good advice is essential to keep businesses going. Here are five points to consider: Stay Safe Abide by the Government rules and close your dealership to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 March
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will close from wednesday for at least a month due to the coronavirus with employees getting basic pay. "Due to the dramatic impact this ongoing crisis is having on the European market and the supplier industry, we have decided to bring forward part of the summer shutdown period for our UK operations to the Easter period," said a … [Read more...]
Dealers more confident than before Brexit
Research from Close Brothers Motor Finance reveals that nearly all UK car dealers (98%) are confident about the business outlook for their dealership, whilst almost two thirds (63%) are ‘very confident’. Despite a difficult 2019 for the motor industry, the findings paint a picture of business optimism. In the aftermath of Britain’s exit from the EU, a third … [Read more...]
Keep Plug-in grant charged to boost ev take up, say dealers
Car dealers want the plug-in car grant maintained and a revision of vehicle excise duty changed to reflect whole-life emissions counted. “UK motorists should continue to receive incentives to ensure a consistent and successful transition to electric vehicles, in particular, this must include preserving the current plug-in grant”, said Sue Robinson, Director … [Read more...]
Boost for on-street ev chargers welcomed
Motor dealers have welcomed news that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says Government funding for the installation of charge points on residential streets next year will be doubled to £10 million. According to the Government, “this could fund up to another 3,600 chargepoints across the country”. “It is encouraging to see that the Government has doubled … [Read more...]
Wales boost to new car sales
Wales has seen a dramatic turn-around in new car sales and bucked the national downward trend of this year. SMMT registration figures for November show a 7.62% leap to over 6,000 new models last month compared to 5,579 a year ago in Wales. Across the UK as a whole there has been a continuing decline and registrations dipped 1.24% to 156,621 new cars, with … [Read more...]
