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As we are always pointing out at MTI compared to 15 years ago in relative terms there is no longer a really bad car made. Sure there are some pretty horrible ones in terms of aesthetics, but in terms of a car which will keep you fairly safe and trouble free I think that modern technology ensures that reliability is better than it’s ever … [Read more...]
If you listen to some people you would probably end up believing we are entering meltdown. Although I have to admit things are pretty tough out there, if you do the job correctly and work hard there are still rewards to be earned. If there are fewer customers around and enquiries are scarce then how do car dealers keep the kettle … [Read more...]
In car buying, whether new or used, habits have certainly changed for today’s consumer. This has largely been driven by the net but also by change itself; from the perspective of how car dealers wish to be viewed by their customers. The days of putting a few lines in the classifieds and having a half page spread in the motoring section of the … [Read more...]
he number of cars made in the UK accelerated ahead last month. A total of 136,051 cars were produced in September 2011 - a 7.5% increase on the September 2010 total, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Over the first nine months of this year, car production was up 4.8% on the January-September 2010 figure, while CV … [Read more...]
It has long been a frustration for car buyers that they won’t get access to the best deals at their franchised local dealers without having first done the research and made the effort to compare deals with other dealers. Naturally, from a car dealer’s position, they feel the culture is changing. The manufacturers and their brand partners are … [Read more...]
Will more drivers go electric as fuel sales fall? With the news of a massive drop in the amount of petrol and diesel sold in the UK in the first six months of 2011, it has seemingly increased the possibility of more disgruntled drivers switching more fuel efficient or electric cars in a bid to reducing the long-term costs associated with staying … [Read more...]
You know what they say; if you don’t buy a ticket you can’t win the prize. I don’t know who first said those words but they are true, especially in the car business. Doing everything possible to convert enquiries into traffic is what it’s all about, and today, the way things are, it’s unforgivable if there is a lot of showroom traffic but … [Read more...]
The car industry is bracing itself for the seasonal downturn and although SUV’s will continue to rise in price at the onset of winter, in general there will be fewer customers around. Car dealers therefore will need to sharpen their pencils if they want to tempt whatever potential buyers there are out there into parting with their cash. In other … [Read more...]
Motor finance achieved its highest recorded share of the private new car sales market for four years in August. In the last 12 months, 57.9 per cent of people buying new cars used forecourt finance, according to the latest figures from the Finance & Leasing Association, the trade body for the motor finance industry. The number of new cars … [Read more...]
What makes a successful car sales team? I’m sure there are many different opinions and theories based on different experiences over time; however the one thing that I think everybody would agree with is people. The right kind of people will promote the business and attract more customers while the wrong ones can be total blockers (or a … [Read more...]
Well September is done for another year and, although new car registrations are down slightly, considering we are in a little bit of schtuck globally – and all the good news is confined to the welsh rugby team - the motor trade is certainly doing its bit in encouraging a feel good factor. The thing is that in car sales we are used to being … [Read more...]
Right, the house extension is over. No more skips in the driveway, shifting my car out of the way so the builders can access the house. No more dust, wet paint odour and getting up at the crack of dawn to let brickies, plasterers, plumbers and roofers into the house only to find that they all knock off at four. I've missed the car industry, but not … [Read more...]
It’s time once more for the Car Makers Premier League where each and every month we examine the top 20 manufacturers by number of units registered and see just how they look when compared with the previous month. At the end of the year who will be crowned champion? Who will drop out of the top 20 as the year unfolds and which high achievers will … [Read more...]
September 2011 new car registration figures: New car registrations were down just 0.8% in September according to the latest figures released today by the SMMT. 332,476 cars were registered in the month, with the market 0.8% or 2,770 units down on September 2010 (which itself was down 8.9% on September 2009) and down 5% over the … [Read more...]
Dealers are bracing themselves for a difficult last quarter. Whilst that should have traditional winter buyers licking their lips at the thought of some great bargains, the climate indicates that this may not be the case. We spoke to a couple of dealers and asked what was happening in their world and they explained that, despite the tropical … [Read more...]
The September registration plate change marked a significant milestone in the history of BMW. Just over 31 years after BMW UK Ltd sold its first vehicle, the best-selling premium marque in the UK has now surpassed the two millionth car mark. The first car sold on 1 January, 1980 was an E12 5 Series Saloon. Move forward 1,999,999 cars later and … [Read more...]
According to new data from British Car Auctions (BCA) sales of used vehicles continue to play a vital role in sustaining the UK motor industry. BCA's Report reveals in 2010 used car volumes rose to 6.8 million and the overall market value increased to a record breaking £35 billion as the used car market continued to lead the recovery in the … [Read more...]
The social media conundrum continues to be topical in the world of the car retailing. More dealers than ever now have a Facebook and Twitter presence, but not many have made the impact that converts this presence to actual sales. Facebook in particular is used by nearly 30 million people in the UK and as such is a huge opportunity for savvy … [Read more...]
In the current economic climate car dealer groups will be under pressure to protect margins and, in the albescence of sustained growth, will need to look at cost centres as a way of saving money. Unfortunately the cascade effect of cost saving measures can ultimately affect staff morale as they naturally feel under pressure for their … [Read more...]
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