Toyota has unveiled its FT-86 Open concept ahead of the Geneva Motor Show next week.
Fears that motorists will steer clear of this month’s ‘13 plate’ new cars are unfounded, say CAP.
MotoNovo Finance has set ambitious ‘stretch’ targets for its development team ahead of 13-plate March, increasing showroom loan training and support for dealers.
UK strategy sees a smaller network of solus dealers selling 40,000 cars
JCT600 has appointed Jayne McFadzen as volume group fleet manager based in Bradford.
Cheshire motor dealership Mitchell Group enjoyed a positive year of trading despite a "sense of gloom in the marketplace".
The latest rolling 12-month new car loans data from the Finance & Leasing Association covers 2012 and reveals a total value of £9.408 billion. This was a 36% increase on 2011. The total of new cars sold in this way (662,052) increased by nearly 140,000 (27%).
Dealers linked to service plan provider Emac will offer a ‘lucky 13’ initiative throughout March – an extra free month when new and used car owners bought a two- or three-year contract.
Vertu Motors reports that its trading performance for the last year will be ahead of current market expectations, with its retail car sales outstripping the national market.
The March market gives dealers the chance to prosper with used car finance alongside loans for 13-plate first registrations, said Karl Werner, MotoNovo Finance head of sales and marketing.
Next month’s arrival of the 13-plate will offer the chance of a surge in showroom loans, and one lender plans targeted campaigns and incentives at a local level.
The 13-plate will boost March sales of new cars to the year’s largest in a month, which means dealer stocks of used units will be swelled by 2013’s biggest influx of part-exchanges.
The boss of dual franchise dealer Charters Group has established a new business exploiting his expertise in property deals.
Group 1 Automotive has acquired Inchcape’s four Ford dealerships for an undisclosed sum.
Edinburgh-based Nissan dealer Alex F Noble has announced the appointment of Stuart Pender as service manager.
Commercial vehicle dealers, both light and heavy, have traditionally been managed and operated by an ‘old guard’ demographic who, unlike their passenger car peers, have brand and dealer loyalty often extending back decades.
Maserati has updated its rear-wheel drive GranTurismo MC Stradale for 2013 with more power and space.
At £840,000 to £1.5 million a piece and limited supply, it’s not surprising the average Bugatti sales executive sells just two cars a year.
Auto Trader has reported a significant increase in new car searches, apparently confirming the rise in private demand noted by the SMMT.
Hyundai has appointed a new dealer for Peterborough.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI will be available to order in the UK from March 26 and first deliveries are expected in June.
Audi is looking to increase its market share beyond 6% this year to over 140,000 units in 2013.
South East-based dealer group SMC Cars has reported increased sales thanks to a three-month retargeting campaign by digital agency GForces.
Nissan has improved the battery range of its Leaf from 109 miles to 124 miles with its next model and production for European units will move to Sunderland in the spring.
Land Rover has developed a new nine-speed automatic transmission for its new models which will help improve fuel economy and carbon emissions output.
Volvo models of the future will feature Active High Beam Control which will mean drivers will always be driving with full beam on but the system features a mechanism that prevents dazzling oncoming drivers.
Representatives from two major Chinese colleges have visited the Institute of the Motor Industry and IMI Awards as part of a 12-day ‘Train the Master Trainer’ programme.
Stoneacre Motor Group has unveiled a new series of television adverts to be shown around popular ITV1 programmes including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, All Star Family Fortunes and the ITV lunchtime and early evening news.
As if proof was needed that even retailers selling to the wealthiest demographic have to work harder in a recession, look at the case of Bentley Motors.
Dealers last year missed out on providing loans, as well as selling cars, because their websites did not work properly for the range of devices used by people making searches.
