Dealer satisfaction with carmaker partners has suffered a drop since the winter, according to data published by the National Franchised Dealers Association.
Poor dealer profitability in 2016 has led Seat UK brand director Richard Harrison to describe it as “a year of consolidation”.
Volkswagen and Nissan said they are making efforts to improve relationships with their dealer networks following low scores in the Winter NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey.
Volkswagen UK will look to address dealers’ profitability with the introduction of new models in 2017 – with the new Golf, Arteon and T-Roc SUV waiting in the wings.
Kia Motors UK president and chief executive Paul Philpott said that he was “punching the air” after reading his dealers’ appraisal of his franchise in this week’s NFDA Winter Dealer Attitude Survey.
Mercedes-Benz is once again the highest scoring franchise in the NFDA’s Winter Dealer Attitude Survey with a score of 9.6 against a survey average of 6.1.
Nissan Motor (GB)’s new managing director Alex Smith has indicated that the brand will keep an “open dialogue in terms of cost of franchise” as it tackles the economic headwinds of 2017.
Citroen UK brand director Bekir Hassan wants the brand to be a top ten seller in the UK’s B-segment when the new C3 bolsters its range from January – branding the current model’s sales performance as “very poor”.
A “young network” is affecting Hyundai’s return on sale figures but a new wave of product and a new marketing strategy will help boost dealer fortunes, says president and chief executive Tony Whitehorn.
Outgoing Nissan UK boss Jim Wright has admitted that imposing April margin changes on dealers “was not the right thing to do” and promised better communication with the network in future.
Mercedes- Benz has received the highest score from dealers questioned on value of the franchises they hold. Citroen was voted the worst performing franchise.
Did you know that the UK grocery sector was worth £177 billion in 2015 and that UK food and drink manufacturing is worth more at £96bn than car and aerospace manufacturing put together?
Renault dealers are invited to share honest feedback directly with its directors following its bashing in the National Franchised Dealers Association survey.
Ken Ramirez, Renault UK's departing MD, has described its recent NFDA dealer attitude survey a “strange, perplexing result”.
UK car brands have failed to improve the relationship with their franchised dealers over the past six months, the NFDA Winter 2016 Dealer Attitude Survey shows.
The National Franchised Dealers Association has suggested the relationship between its members and their car manufacturers is deteriorating.
PSA bosses have revealed how they were tackling the “incredibly disappointing” opinion dealers have of Peugeot and Citroen.
