Chevrolet UK is introducing specific retail cost reduction programmes to help its 93-strong dealer network through the recession.

Mark Terry, Chevrolet UK managing director, said business coaches are being deployed at a number of dealerships.

The advisors are available to help dealers get a handle on their finances and Chevrolet is developing specific programmes to target problem areas. Terry said dealers could go to Chevrolet UK if they needed help, but the company was also proactively going to businesses which were in need of advice.

While the network is profitable, Terry highlighted used sales as an area for improvement.

Terry told AM: “While we’ve got new product coming through like the Cruze, we want to create a brand for our used approved business. We’ve got a great model to work with from Vauxhall’s Network Q structure. It’s something we’ll be working on.”

Terry also addressed how parent company General Motors’ financial problems were affecting UK dealers.

He said: “While there’s an awareness of what is going on, I don’t think the network is worried about what’s going to happen. I think Chevrolet and Vauxhall are good brands and once GM outlines its final plans at the end of this month we’ll be in a better position to know what’s going to happen.”

He said: “I’ve got to keep heads up high and not let things that are going on outside the UK that we can’t influence affect the mood of the business.”
Chevrolet UK isn’t looking to add more dealers to its network this year.

Terry said: “It could be possible that we’ll want to grow when the new product we get expands our appeal to a wider audience.”

Dealers will get the Cruze family car, the replacement for the Lacetti, at the start of July. Chevrolet’s new Spark supermini will follow later this year and the Orlando seven-seat MPV will arrive in summer 2010.