AUGUST

1) Euro Car Parts buys Unipart Automotive branches

Euro Car Parts has acquired 27 former Unipart Automotive branches.

 

2) New Audi TT comes with 'all-digital' cockpit (gallery)

Deliveries of the new Audi TT Coupe, with an all-digital 'virtual cockpit' and priced between £29,770 and £35,335 on-the-road, will start in December.

 

3) PCPs 'radically changing the relationship between new car buyers and dealers'

There has been little research into how customers behave once PCP contracts come to an end, which may mean dealers are in for a shock, writes Prof Jim Saker.

 

4) Salesman jailed for defrauding dealership to fund addictions

A salesman for Lookers has been jailed for 12 months after defrauding a car dealership out of almost £40,000 to fund his gambling addiction.

 

5) The 10 most popular cars among Premiership footballers

Not every dealership can count Premiership players among its customers, but Land Rover dealers must be celebrating with two top 10 places in the league table of football stars' favourite cars, according to research by Oracle Finance.

 

6) Audi UK considering changes to roles within dealerships

Audi UK is hoping to pilot new structures and sales roles within the dealer network with an aim of creating more time for staff to provide an excellent customer experience.

 

7) HR Owen: Email, events and enticing the 21st-century customer

HR Owen marketing director Chris Harris explains how the UK’s largest luxury and supercar dealer mixes events, email and CRM software to entice and analyse potential customers.

 

8) Marshall acquires Crystal and Astle, adding BMW and Mini

Marshall has acquired the entire share capital of CMG 2007, the parent company of Astle BMW and Mini, Astle Motorrad and Crystal Motor Group.

 

9) Seat says 'we've let our dealers down' as management take to the road to address poor customer service

A two-year drubbing in a customer satisfaction poll has contributed to a concerted effort by Seat to improve satisfaction levels and capitalise on record sales growth and the halo effect of the newest Leon.

 

10) Car manufacturers need to face the reality outside the boardroom

Manufacturers such as Vauxhall are at last acknowledging the reality outside the corporate HQ, writes Jay Nagley.