Following a recent survey by Which? it appears that although there have been vast improvements in the sales process resulting in a much better experience for customers in after-sales, some dealers still aren’t getting … [Read more...]
Car dealers and customer service – are the lessons being learnt?
January 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Honda’s four-month break to begin
January 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Honda is to close its UK base for four months after Friday's shifts are over. The halt will affect just over 3,000 of the 4,000 employees, who will receive their full basic pay for the first two months, but around 60% thereafter. The shutdown is thought to be one of the longest in Britain's recent industrial history. … [Read more...]
Hope springs eternal as help arrives at last
January 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Thanks to the unrelenting pressure on the secretary of state for business, Peter Mandelson has finally acknowledged what we have known for some time; there is nothing inherently wrong with the UK car industry. … [Read more...]
Bargain of the Week – New Ford Fiesta
January 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This week I’m throwing in a new car deal for our BOTW. It’s a rare occasion I know, but with so many deals on the table I couldn’t resist. After trawling the dealers last Saturday I picked my way through a pile of brochures … [Read more...]
Car firms get £2.3bn loan package
January 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has outlined a package of government support for the UK car industry potentially worth up to £2.3bn. The package includes a scheme to unlock £1.3bn of loans from Europe for car manufacturers and major suppliers. He said the government would also guarantee up to £1bn of further loans. … [Read more...]
The egos have landed – sales v service equals lost revenue
January 27, 2009 By 3 Comments
With decent retail worthy stock becoming increasingly hard to find at present, dealers will inevitably be looking to extend their criteria when it comes to selling older higher mileage versions of their product. … [Read more...]
Car industry help to be unveiled
January 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is to outline a package of government support for the UK car industry in a statement at 1505 GMT to the House of Lords. Ministers have faced calls to bail-out car makers whose sales have slumped as consumer credit has dried up. Lord Mandelson is expected to unveil a scheme aimed at increasing the … [Read more...]
Stock shortages and a halt to the slide in residual values
January 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
As we approach the end of the first month of 2009 there is a strong suggestion in the trade that when the valuation guides are published shortly we could see a strange phenomenon for a recession - little or no depreciation of used … [Read more...]
Ninety percent of car manufacturers are not working at full capacity
January 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Ninety percent of car manufacturers are not working at full capacity, up from 37% in October according to figures from CBI. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders also reported that the number of cars made in December was 47.5% lower than the same month in 2007. Bentley is the latest carmaker to announced cuts in production with its … [Read more...]
The car dealer’s cash-flow conundrum
January 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Although many dealers are reporting a strong opening to the year, and some even doing so well they are exclaiming 'what recession?!' the task facing many dealers who sell new cars is to unlock the capital in their … [Read more...]
Bargain of the Week – Maserati Gran Turismo
January 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Refreshed and ready for 2009, MTI’s Bargain of The Week series kicks off again with gusto. Just before the whistle blows, big news to all those who followed last year’s BOTW. The Alfa 166 has finally found a new home. … [Read more...]
Rise of the auctions – should dealers be concerned?
January 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment
As auctions around the country report a strong start to 2009, we ask the question; are more people now buying from auctions rather than dealers? If so where does this leave the future of many independent and franchised … [Read more...]
Accountants predict the worst but what’s really happening?
January 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasts tough year ahead for car industry. Although there is obviously a lot of reality to this story in global terms, our information is that there happens to be a fair bit of good news as well. This could, of course be confined … [Read more...]
Mandelson leaves motor industry twisting in the wind
January 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Business secretary Lord Mandelson promised late last week that the government would support the UK automotive industry during the current economic crisis. He also told the Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee that the government was continuing talks with industry representatives over what support the government can give. … [Read more...]
Inside the car auction – let the bidding commence
January 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The car auction is one of the few ‘open cry’ markets that are left, gone are the days of the city bear pits where stocks were traded by young men screaming orders across an already noisy and seemingly disordered forum. … [Read more...]
Honda announces plans for further 2 month shutdown
January 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
It could have been a lot worse. Honda has announced that it is to shutdown it's Swindon factory for two further months in April and May due to the slowing down of demand for its cars. The carmaker had already announced in November the plant would be shut during February and March. The BBC reports that Japan's second largest car maker (Toyota bing … [Read more...]
Good news? Not from where I’m sitting!
January 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Something very strange is going on in the trade at the moment on the one hand we are hearing of nearly new car sales going through the roof and on the other, well there's tumbleweed blowing through … [Read more...]
Greedy banks, lay-offs and the future of motor manufacturing
January 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment
We bought you news of job losses at Nissan last week, more skilled workers are lost to manufacturing, and we fear that this could be the start of the rolling stone as job cuts continue. All eyes will be on … [Read more...]
Jaguar Land Rover cuts 450 staff
January 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Jaguar Land Rover is cutting 450 staff; three hundred managers will be made redundant while 150 salaried agency staff will also lose their jobs. The firm, which was bought by Tata from Ford for £1.7bn last year, said the action was to combat the credit crunch and a "severe reduction in demand". As we have been reporting it's a very different … [Read more...]
Used car dealers and auctions on the crest of a wave
January 14, 2009 By 1 Comment
They are on a roll! Franchised dealers, independent and the auction houses are reporting record sales. The auctions we visited were so busy they were parking 3 deep on the surrounding roads and the girls in the canteen … [Read more...]
Nearly new smashing new car sales to bits
January 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
With 2009 now in full flow and Christmas a distant memory it’s interesting to see just how quickly dealers have emerged from their corners with their gloves up. As we have reported demand is at an unseasonal high with dealers … [Read more...]
GM boss Wagoner remains defiant
January 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
General motors boss Rick Wagoner yesterday defied calls for his resignation from the ailing US car giant. He faced hundreds of protesters at the Detroit motor show. Wagoner has come under intense pressure over GM’s financial crisis. “I’ve no plans to go anywhere” Wagoner insisted. His comments came as GM threw a jobs lifeline to its 4000 … [Read more...]
We are always looking for experienced writers who can write good original quality posts on motor-trade-insider.com. Please 