As consumers are coming under increasing financial strain from soaring inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, so car dealerships are stepping up to help them through these challenging times.
With costs soaring, a constricted new car market and a used car market under pressure, the concern that routine vehicle servicing, maintenance and repairs (SMR) could be delayed, or cheaper alternatives sought by cash-strapped customers, is all too real.
Aftersales departments need to be prepared for a substantial change to their business model in the coming years as plug-in vehicle sales create a complex world with lower maintenance and new skills and equipment needed.
As the car retail sector becomes increasing digital-savvy, AM's Debbie Kirlew took a look at six key areas where strides are being made towards a true omnichannel customer journey.
Accurate customer data has always been important, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created a problem that could be losing service departments tens of thousands of pounds of potential profits each quarter.
Automotive Management (AM) explores how to overcome the workshop inefficiencies that are losing car dealerships thousands, perhaps millions, of pounds every year.
Car retailers' aftersales departments need to take action to keep pace with dramatic changes in the sector such as electrification, automation and digitisation.
Bowker Motor Group BMW Preston service engineer Harold Bowden speaks to AM for the latest instalment of the ‘8 Questions to…’ feature series.
Dealer attitudes suggest a level of uncertainty about a 2022 car retail market increasingly defined by vehicle availability, the transition to electric vehicles (EV) and moves from manufacturers towards an agency franchise model.
In AM’s latest ‘5 Minutes with…’ supplier interview Petronas Lubricants International UK market manager, Carl Sault, reflects on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the switch to electric vehicles (EV).
Fresh from his crowning as world champion in the Kia EV Skill World Cup 2021, Snows Motor Group's Kia Guildford master technician David Weston is the latest person to take part in AM's '8 Questions to...' series.
As the new car market declines and EV ownership becomes more widespread, dealer groups are increasingly turning their attention to older vehicles to keep workshops full.
Even the traditionally slender margins that car dealerships make on new and used car sales once all the overheads have been factored in, aftersales is key to profitability.
Aftersales departments have been kept busy for the best part of a decade by a buoyant new car market with each dealerships’ own customer base keeping workshops full.
Bumper chief commercial officer Jack Allman speaks to AM editor Tim Rose about the aftersales finance provider's plans for 2021.
A university student's technology concept that would easily help dealers inform customers of their car's progress through service has won the inaugural Keyloop Dealer Tech university automotive technology competition.
The intentions of the Government in relation to the environment and the UK's switch to elelctric vehicles (EV) have certainly become a lot clearer.
Accessories for SUVs and developing the right culture are among the areas of focus for Phill Sargent, a regional aftersales manager at SsangYong UK,
Drayton Motors Boston's light vehicle technician apprentice Deakin Petts says his desire to learn is what drives him to succeed.
From EVs to aftersales lockers, AM takes a look at some of the new products that dealers will be selling or using during 2020
The effects of Brexit are hard to avoid for valeting companies
Research shows 40% of those with a service plan return to buy again
As new car sales slip, dealers must look at other aspects of their operations and seek to leverage the best returns from their service, maintenance and repair offering
Leading insurance add-on companies aren’t blinking as the FCA takes increased interest
Technician training is everything for For Glenn Makin, technical expert at Stratstone Land Rover Nottingham
