Wales has some of the best drivers in Britain. Rooster Insurance looked at driving records and found just 12% of Welsh drivers had committed offences compared to 34% of Londoners in five years. The FIA has paved the way to a promising co-operation with the World Rally Championship Promoter Group for the promotion of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. The FIA and WRC Promoter will work … [Read more...]
UK car sales hit 50 year low
Pressure is mounting for new car prices to be slashed after sales plunged to their lowest for 50 years in January. Buyers who cannot visit showrooms during lockdown and who are concerned about jobs and income have put the brakes on business and now manufactuers face fines if they cannot reduce their fleet average this autumn. More sales have moved on-line and the industry and trade expect this … [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...]
Operating guides for dealers
NFDA is creating a new series of ‘hands-on’ guides to provide franchised dealer members with straightforward, operational guidance on the main issues affecting them, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. After analysing our daily legal enquiry reports, NFDA has launched a new series of operational guides covering some of the key areas which have been … [Read more...]
Welsh lockdown badly hits car dealers
The firebreak lockdown has wiped 25% off new car sales in Wales, revealed figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It is a warning to England which has just gone into a month's lockdown as opposed to the fortnight shutdown in Wales which ends on monday after 3,677 new cars were sold by Welsh dealers in the three weeks they could open last month. October new car … [Read more...]
Dealers and charity working to help
The NFDA has launched a new HR survey asking franchised dealers a range of questions around employment and recruitment issues in the automotive retail sector. The apprenticeship levy, working from home, the gender pay gap as well as mental health represent some of the issues NFDA will examine through the survey. The findings will be shared with members and analysed in more detail via … [Read more...]
Spark of help for independents in ev sector
The Electric Vehicle Approved accreditation scheme reopened on monday. EVA recognises dealers’ expertise in the electric vehicle sector and promotes industry standards for the benefit of the consumer. The scheme encourages dealerships to further develop their ability in selling and servicing electric vehicles, as the country continues to move towards a zero-emission future. The … [Read more...]
Vans deliver good returns in September
Home deliveries have delivered for the UK van market. Sales of light commercials grew by 26.4% in September following a weak month last year, when the market was affected by emission regulations changes. “It is encouraging to see the van market experience an uplift in registrations of over a quarter indicating that a degree of confidence has returned to the sector”, said Sue Robinson, Chief … [Read more...]
£1 Billion plan to support auto supply chain
The Automotive Transformation Fund is a programme that aims to establish a competitive and sustainable UK Supply Chain. It offers a share of up to £1 billion of funding for industrial research and capital projects to support the industrialisation of a high-value, electrified automotive supply at scale. This is an expression of interest (EoI) competition and companies have until 14th October to … [Read more...]
Buyers back in the driving seats
Car buyers are flocking back to showrooms and forecourts, said the National Franchised Dealers Association. Through the findings, NFDA aims to assess the implications of the COVID-19 lockdown on the automotive retail sector and understand how the industry is now recovering. Their survey asked dealers questions about their return to work including the percentage of dealerships that reopened, … [Read more...]