AM-online, the website of Automotive Management, next month launches a survey to monitor the changing fortunes of the UK new car market.

More than 1,000 new car retailers will each month be asked to take part in the am-online new car confidence index. It will look at how the market is performing, comparing new car sales with previous months. Other sectors and issues to be followed will include:

  • most popular sectors
  • popularity of dealer finance
  • influence of the internet on sales
  • General confidence in the business
  • Views on the hottest issues such as the new plate system and Block Exemption.

    The responses, which will be treated in strictest confidence, will be analysed by experts at Cap Motor Research to produce a reliable and statistically accurate measure of the new car business.

    The full results, complete with analysis and comment will be available free to respondents. A summary will be published in am-online and Automotive Management.

    Jeremy Bennett, AM-online editor, said: “The index will enable new car dealers to share their experiences and views with their peers.

    “It will provide an accurate picture of the market and give dealers a reliable yardstick with which to assess their own performance against a regional and national background.”