The Budget is first aid for the motor industry but will not fix underlying long term ailments, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “Today’s budget provides some encouragement to an automotive sector hit hard by the pandemic and additional trading costs but it falls short of the support needed to transform the industry and market to … [Read more...]
Motorcycle sales see staggering return end of 2020
A decline of -2.6% in the motorcycle market in a year like 2020 when we faced so many challenges is hugely positive as dealers’ performance exceeded all expectations, said Paddy O’Connell, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association, commenting on the latest MCIA’s figures. Despite the multiple challenges that faced businesses in 2020, the … [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 … [Read more...]
Behind the Wheel: Driving towards a cliff
Tens of thousands of more jobs are likely to disappear from the UK automotive sector before the end of the year, writes Robin Roberts. Some 11,349 jobs so far axed following lockdown will grow and despite this week’s 11% rise in new car registrations the outlook is bleak. That’s because the first upturn in showroom sales came at the end of … [Read more...]
New car sales rise in hoped for lift to market
Pent up demand after lockdown eased is thought to have driven a rise in new car registrations last month. Figures from the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders due to be released later this morning are expected to show an 11% rise compared with the same month in 2019. December saw the last increase but it was a blip after a year of decline. The new … [Read more...]
Virus spreads change through dealerships & buying
The lasting effects of how Coronavirus-19 will spread its impact through the motor industry and selling cars cannot be known, but for many it has merely sped up the changes we have witnessed over a decade, writes Robin Roberts. In a social media post this week, Lamborghini said it was never going to display at a motor show again but would instead … [Read more...]
Dealerships preparations for reopening
Much like almost every other industry in the UK, both car manufacturing and sales have slowed down over the last few months in reaction to Covid-19 to their lowest since 1946. The big players in this sector are no-doubt raring to get back on track and some have already reopened, with strict social distancing rules in place. In addition, many car showrooms … [Read more...]
Breaking news: Welsh dealers get green light to reopen
Welsh car dealerships can re-open for business after the weekend. First Minister Mark Drakeford will this morning announce non-essential retail businesses in Wales will be able to open from monday if they can take all reasonable measures to comply with the 2 metre physical distancing duty in Welsh law. The change is at the heart of a comprehensive … [Read more...]
Brits still love the car showroom
The reopening of car showrooms is good news for the industry, as research finds that the majority of car owners (76%) still buy their cars from a showroom, with nearly a quarter (24%) of these second-hand cars. The survey of 2,000 UK drivers, which was commissioned by InsuretheGap.com, a leading supplier of GAP Insurance (Guaranteed Asset Protection) for … [Read more...]
Challenging times ahead for trade, says analyst
It has been a month of halves with two weeks of unexpected silence in the showrooms resulting in many staff being furloughed in the absence of customers. Service departments and smaller garages are working to keep key workers mobile and safe with their transportation needs and the insurance industry is still largely active. Dealers still have a shop window … [Read more...]
