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...]
MoT tests extended six months
The temporary MoT exemption is positive as it will allow vital services to continue and aftersales workshops to prioritise essential repair works on critical vehicles, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. On Sunday 22 March, NFDA wrote to the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP asking for a three-month MoT moratorium. Today, the Government has communicated that vehicle … [Read more...]
Dealers seek Government help
The retail automotive sector employs 590,000 people in the UK and businesses must be protected through supportive fiscal measures during the outbreak of the Coronavirus, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. NFDA yesterday wrote a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP and Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise … [Read more...]
Traders attack new consumer advice
Car dealers and auction houses have fallen out with trading standards officers. “It is disappointing that following a number of responses, including our detailed comments on the draft guidance consultation, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute has ignored the majority of the issues NFDA had outlined alongside other industry trade bodies”, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National … [Read more...]
More buyers looking at used cars
It is positive to see that the used car market grew in the last quarter of the year, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. The used car market saw a growth of 2.4% in the last quarter of 2019 with 1,804,343 transactions. Overall in 2019, the used car market finished almost on par with the previous year with a marginal decline of -0.1% and a total of 7,935,105 … [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 of the National Franchised Dealers … [Read more...]
Driving careers in automotive
It is extremely positive to see the success that Drive My Career has had over the past two years with millions of young people reading about a career in the automotive sector, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. It developed Drive My Career in February 2018 and is an industry-first employment initiative which was launched to address franchised retailers’ … [Read more...]
Welsh car buyers most loyal in disappointing 2019
UK car sales last year hit a six-year low and the industry does not expect an early recovery but Welsh buyers were most loyal, writes Robin Roberts. The SMMT said today that overall sales in 2019 were 2.4% below the previous year at 2.31M new models. Consumer confidence, confusion over clean air legislation which is tightening each year and challenging car makers, and the Brexit debate with a … [Read more...]
New sign for savvy car buyers
Savvy car buyers have a new sign to trust. It is extremely positive to see franchised retailers embrace NFDA’s Electric Vehicle Approved accreditation scheme which demonstrates the efforts the automotive retail industry is making to drive the growth of the electric vehicle sector, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association, which represents franchised car and … [Read more...]
Mapping the range of EVs
Today’s electric cars with the longest range can travel over 250 miles on a single charge but for many potential buyers a perceived lack of range is still a major barrier to going electric. To help overcome this misconception and give drivers the confidence to make the switch, the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) and Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) have together produced a … [Read more...]
