Bells Motor Group has opened its Bedford Volvo showroom, following a £1.6m refurbishment.

The Bank of England (BoE) has said that 70% of consumers will hold on to any savings they managed to accrue during COVID-19 lockdown.

Dealer Auction anticipates a ‘used car boom’ this year, following a strong performance in Summer 2020.

Autofutura has acquired Chysalis Loyalty to combine the lead management and customer retention knowhow for car retailers, manufacturers and fleet operators.

Auto Trader has said that January’s 7.4% rise in used car values has given it “confidence we’ll see a quick return to health” as COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’ restrictions start to ease.

Mercedes-Benz UK has opened up order books for its new, fully-electric EQA SUV – with prices starting from £40,495 (inc. plug-in car grant).

Marketing Delivery has appointed Mark Cyrans as its new business development director as its targets "bigger audience" of dealers and OEM clients.

The Nissan GB-owned dealer group, West Way, has launched a new online car retail website with artificial intelligence (AI) features.

More than a third of car buyers have recorded their intention to “buy a new car as soon as possible”, despite the current COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’ restrictions.

Arnold Clark has partnered with Channel 4 to sponsor its TV drama and Walter Presents content throughout 2021.

DS Automobiles has revealed the new DS 4 premium hatchback, which will arrive in UK dealerships by November.

Land Rover Defender modification specialist Twister Automotive has opened a new showroom in Thirsk, Yorkshire.

Finance and Leasing Association’s (FLA) members feel there are ‘opportunities for growth’ this year – if the COVID-19 vaccination programme proves successful.

The SMMT has revised its 2021 new car registrations forecast down to below 1.9 million in anticipation of COVID-19 lockdown's impact on the key March number plate change month. 

Vertu Motors has reported that it expects its pre-tax profits for the financial year ending February 28, 2021, to exceed analysts’ current £18 million forecasts.

The Independent Motor Dealers Association (IMDA) has appointed Aston Barclay as its new auction partner.

The Peter Vardy Foundation has announced the launch of a new initiative to “help improve the lives” of young people in Scotland.

Mazda UK has added its new MX-30 electric vehicle (EV) to the list of cars eligible for savings of up to £4,000 in its CO2 emissions-reducing car scrappage scheme.

New research from Ebay Motors Group has highlighted the importance of personalised, detailed and accurate email correspondence with buyers during lockdown.

The latest national lockdown has impacted car sales with a 36% decline in orders for new cars and 45% drop in used, according to lead management specialist Dealerweb.

Isuzu UK has revealed plans to add a further 10 new franchised retail sites to its retail network in 2021 as the new D-Max pick-up prompts further growth for the brand.

A new whitepaper report published by Capgemini has determined that an agency model for franchised car retail, vehicle subscriptions and monetised customer data are now core elements of a sustainable automotive sector.

Measures to encourage car buyers to opt for electric models ahead of the Government’s planned 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars are expected to be introduced ahead of the cut-off date.

Marshall Motor Holdings has opened a new dealership featuring Seat and its performance sister brand Cupra in a former Vauxhall franchised site in Oxford.

Dealers are increasingly communicating with customers via live video according to CitNOW, which reports a 244% increase in live sessions during the latest lockdown when compared to the Autumn lockdown period.

​Offering car-buyers a seamless, end-to-end digital experience is vital for any business wishing to prosper in the automotive sector.

Commercial vehicle importer Harris Maxus has confirmed plans to open new headquarters at Birchwood Park, Warrington.

A vast resource of webinars, insight and assets have been made available to the automotive retail sector after ‘open access’ was granted to content from Automotive Management Live Virtual.

Hendy Group has partnered with Dorset-based former football manager turned pundit Harry Redknapp, naming him as a brand ambassador for its Land Rover dealerships.

Close Motor Company has replaced its Mitsubishi Motors in the UK dealership in Corby with a new Suzuki franchise.