Mazda is pushing better management through its network following the appointment of a new dealer financing manager earlier this year.

Chris Talman, is the Mazda UK’s manager for dealer financing and the new post coincided with Mazda’s switch to Santander for its financing.

Talman’s role is to help monitor dealer cashflow and find ways to reduce reliance on bank overdrafts. He focuses on a small percentage of dealers to assist and improve profitability as a result of more efficient use of financing resources.

The process is being repeated across Europe.

Colin Maddocks, director of network development and financing, Mazda Motor Europe, said: “In a small or medium-sized dealership, there can be tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros locked up in the balance sheet – in unpaid retail financing, un-financed used or demo cars or fleet debtors for example.

“The new Mazda team can review the processes and controls that affect these areas and unlock cash, taking pressure off the dealer’s bank account and freeing up their time to manage the rest of the business.”

Maddocks believes most manufacturer are still using “old-fashioned” business management consultants to help improve dealer profitability by “making a fraction more on a sale here or an aftersale service there”.

He said: “Good dealers do not need that help - it just takes up valuable management time. For those that do require support and guidance this new resource can have a positive impact to our partners businesses helping to manage cash, balance sheet and financing matters."

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