Ford almost doubled its registrations to lead the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) ranking of the UK’s best-selling car brands in September.

Vertu Motors chief executive Robert Forrester has said that the car retail giant could grow “anywhere at any time” after revealing H1 results which suggest it is scaling the AM100 rankings.

Registrations of new cars in the plate-change month of September reached 225,269 units; the 4.6% uplift marking the new car market's second successive month of year-on-year growth, SMMT data shows.

Day’s Motor Group chairman Graham Day has praised the businesses “dedicated staff” after it recorded a 210% increase in pre-tax profits during a COVID-impacted 2021 financial year.

Riverside Motor Group’s acquisition of Harratts’ Honda dealership in Wakefield helped it to a 24% increase in turnover in its 2021 annual financial results.

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has temporarily extended the plug-in car grant delivery period from 12 to 18 months – ending the threat of thousands of potential lapsed claims.

BMW doubled its September electric vehicle (EV) sales as zero emissions vehicles secured a market share of 17% in last month’s new car registrations.

Dr Rebecca Harding, an advisor to the Council of the Society of Professional Economists and former chief economist of the British Bankers Association, will deliver a keynote presentation at Automotive Management Live next month to help guide motor retailers through the turbulent economic conditions.

Former Leaseplan director Tim Meadows has returned to epyx in the newly-created role of chief commercial officer.

Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) policy manager Hayley Pells has called for Government to add the automotive sector on the UK’s Shortage Occupation List in an open letter to Secretary of State for Transport.

Used car supermarkets and franchised retailers responded to September’s sector stability to increase the value of their advertised vehicle stock by 1.5% and 1%, respectively.

Greater Manchester-based Premier Automotive has opened the doors to the 107th dealership in Isuzu UK’s franchised retail network.

JCT600 has severed its ties with its Stellantis franchises Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen following a full strategic review of future opportunities and its brand partners.

Point S Tyre & Autocare has grown its network to 300 members in the UK, providing tyre and car maintenance services.

The Available Car used car supermarket group has warned of “significant challenges ahead” despite delivering a 72% rise in pre-tax profit and 29.8% uplift in turnover in 2021.

Kia has revised the model-line up for its Soul EV, adding a new entry-level version with a smaller battery.

Fast-growing Steer Automotive Group has opened a new flagship accident repair centre specialising in premium and luxury vehicle brands.

Car retailers’ electric vehicle (EV) buying advice is growing in importance as motorists hit by the cost-of-living squeeze exhibit “stoicism and indecision” amid rising transport costs.

Auto Trader is preparing to roll-out its used car valuations data to all its car retail customers as part of efforts to help them adapt to the “unpredictability” of the current trading climate.

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HR Owen has welcomed over 200 VIP guests to its Lamborghini Manchester supercar showroom as it inaugurated the new facilities following extensive investment and refurbishment.

Maserati has unveiled its new global retail store concept, with the opening of a new space in Milan.

Geely has taken a share of almost 8% in British performance car brand Aston Martin after a series of bids to acquire a stake in the OEM.

American electric car brand Fisker is gearing up to start production of the Ocean, its first UK-bound model, in November.

Sinclair Group will continue to strengthen its franchised car retail partnership with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) with the development of a new Arch Concept dealership in Swansea.

The Financial Conduct Authority has written to insurance sector CEOs as part of a bid to protect consumers from “unnecessary products or add-ons and unfair penalties” during the cost-of-living crisis.

Car buyers researching their next vehicle purchase on Parkers have gained access to 80,000 used car listings as part of a new partnership with heycar.

Motorpoint officially opens the doors to its new used car supermarket site in Edinburgh today (September 30) – its 18th retail location in a growing network.

Online fraudsters used headshots of a Hollywood actor and a Financial Times reporter to build a car retail website to scam car buyers out of thousands of pounds.

The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) is set to trial an Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) accreditation scheme in the used car remarketing sector.