It is extremely positive to be part of the Alliance of European Car Dealers and Repairers to collectively represent the interests of members alongside a number of European associations, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association, which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK. Promoting the interests of European car dealers and … [Read more...]
Dealers hold keys to starting shift to evs
The role franchised dealers play in the shift to electric vehicles was the main theme discussed by Stephen Latham, Head of Operations at the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), at the Renewable Energy Association’s EV Experience conference. Latham analysed current consumer attitudes towards electric cars and the challenges they face. He explained what are the main differentiators … [Read more...]
Pushy tactics and bad reviews hit used sales
A reputation for pushy sales tactics and negative online reviews are the top reasons why drivers would be deterred from visiting or buying from a used car dealer, analysis by AA Cars, the AA’s used car website, has found. A reputation for pushy sales tactics would dissuade almost a fifth (19%) of motorists, while 18% of car buyers see negative online reviews of a dealer as a turn-off. Online … [Read more...]
UK car production plunges
Car production in the UK fell by an annual 14.4% to 126,195 cars in March, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Exports were down by 13.4 % and these account for 80% of production. The SMMT said analysis it had commissioned predicted output would fall this year to 1.36 million units from 1.52 million in 2018, assuming there’s a transition deal with the EU. If … [Read more...]
Triple trouble faces car makers at Geneva show
Industry executives meeting at the Geneva motor show this week face testing choices to re-engineer existing vehicles at huge expense, restrict sales of some profitable models, or risk hundreds of millions of euros in penalties. While diesels produce more toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates than gasoline engines, their efficiency has been instrumental in cutting greenhouse gases. As … [Read more...]
Women feel they get a worse deal in showrooms
Research reveals that many women feel they are at a disadvantage when looking to buy a car, due to their gender. Data analysts at CDK Global fed 64,000 reviews into their natural language processing tool and discovered that 43% of women don’t trust the automotive industry and often describe their experiences very differently to men. Customer reviews provide a valuable insight into … [Read more...]