Transactions through Allstar’s ServicePoint almost double
Individual monthly SMR tasks completed now exceed 13,000, having risen from around 7,000 in 2022 and 5,000 in 2021. New customers who have joined the platform include car subscription service mycardirect, motorlend, leasing company Pure Leasing Limited and Pivotal - Subscription by Jaguar Land Rover.
Study suggests younger car buyers less willing to visit showrooms
Three-quarters of 18- to 25-year-old motorists said they ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ with the statement: “When I next shop for a new or used car, I would prefer not to visit a showroom at all”.
Dealers told “Omnichannel your energy”
Mastering omnichannel - a customer-centric approach that integrates all routes to a retailer, including in-store, mobile and online – is essential if franchised retailers wish to avoid losing used vehicle customers. He also cites the importance of embracing a connected on and offline approach to stock sourcing.
Easing supply issues boost new car finance market
The consumer new car finance market reported growth in new business of 14% by value and 11% by volume in June compared with the same month in 2022. In the first half of 2023, new business volumes in this market were 6% lower than in the same period in 2022.
Vardy Group Expands Portfolio with the Launch of MG Dealerships in Scotland
Decision to expand its portfolio with MG dealerships comes as a part of Peter Vardy's strategic vision to offer customers an even wider range of exceptional vehicle choices. It reaffirms also Peter Vardy's commitment to delivering an unmatched customer experience and catering to the diverse needs of the Scottish automotive market.
Increase in warranties sold for 10 to 20-year-old cars
In 2020, 6% of all policies sold through its 1,200 used car retailers were for vehicles in this age range but during the first six months of this year, it had risen to 10%. Similarly, the number of claims in this category have risen from 15% to 21% of the overall total made.
Chinese brands to claim up to 30% of UK’s new car market within five years
Expectations are that Chinese brands will establish a modest foothold over the coming year, but that their market share will increase markedly thereafter. Only 13% think Chinese brands won't be successful in the UK.
Review your sales process ahead of September boom
Study reveals that some franchised dealers already stand a higher chance of winning incremental new car sales than others by having processes in place which address the changing needs of customers, many of whom will be making their first major purchase since the start of the cost of living crisis.
A new BYD to attract EV buyers
One useful but not obvious aspect of the Atto is its over-the-air software updates, which means any electronic issues can quickly be resolved much as they are on smartphones. This could address for example one potential issue that has been reported but which we weren't able to explore during our brief test, poor smartphone integration. The car does accept both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but apparently not as intuitively as some.
BYD targets rapid growth in all sectors
According to BYD UK head of marketing Mark Blundell, who took up his post just four days before the brand's British launch, 2023 is about laying the foundations for growth including establishing a dealer network, allowing buyers to discover the brand and its products, and softly bringing BYD into public consciousness.
One in five motorists no longer “brimming” their tank
The impact of high housing expenditure on personal finances also means 12% have stopped using their car altogether while 10% want to swap their current model for one that costs less to run - and 5% may have to sell their car altogether.
Used car forecast emphasises recovery based on consumer and business confidence
Cox Automotive predicts used car transactions for the entirety of 2023 to be 7,154,047 units, a 4% year-on-year increase, but still below (-3%) the average pre-pandemic yearly figure. It forecasts 1,866,540 transactions in Q3, softening to 1,607,517 in Q4. The Q1 baseline forecast of 1,790,034 achieved an impressive accuracy of 96.8%, closely aligning with the actual figure of 1,847,149, instilling confidence in the full year forecast across different market scenarios.
Record first half for moDel and 1m vehicle handovers in sight
The 1m projection is based on the record number of 521,952 vehicles delivered via the platform between January 1 and June 30 in a stunning first half which has seen all previous records broken, and suggests that the supply constraint issues of the last two years, which have curtailed vehicle deliveries across the board, may have started to ease.
Market remains resilient despite inflation and interest rate rises
This was the best July performance since 2020, when pent-up demand for new cars was unleashed following three months of lockdown during the pandemic. Despite this continuous growth, however, the overall market year to date remains behind pre-pandemic levels.
The new Civic has a cool, sporty look and once you sit inside things don't disappoint either. There's greater comfort, visibility and spaciousness and an altogether more premium feel to its predecessor. The user-focused layout features high quality materials and an uncluttered instrument panel. Tactile touchpoints further enhance the experience for drivers and passengers, with spring force in the buttons carefully moderated to emulate the feel of operating high-end home appliances.
Growing EV market presents opportunity’ to sell more tyre maintenance plans
New consumer research by EMaC, conducted by ICDP, the independent automotive consultancy, identified high levels of interest among EV buyers for bespoke aftersales packages covering the replacement of tyres due to faster wear because of the additional weight of EVs.
Eden Motor Group introduces new digital imaging tech
Auto Imaging will be working with Eden Motor Group to monitor image accuracy and identify when a dealer may need assistance, with solutions managed by newly trained staff at each site. The Vehicle Asset Management also means Sales and Marketing managers can instantly monitor image consistency and stock online with digital content.
City West Country group to open BYD South West with Exeter dealership
BYD South West will be backed by local automotive powerhouse City West Country Group, which has Mercedes-Benz South West, SMART, Tangelo and GWM ORA among their list of successful franchises.
Vardy to close two used car supermarkets
In March 2020 when covid restrictions started Car Manufacturing factories were forced to close. Since then, new vehicle manufacturing has failed to recover to pre covid levels and forecasts indicate continued lower new car production levels in the future. This has resulted in a drastic shortage of under three year old cars