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With the end of January in sight many dealers are breathing a collective sigh of relief at the fact that there are indeed customers about with money to spend on cars. However it is clear that buyers are taking their time to choose a car and are being selective about where they are buying from. The price war is also hotting up with many … [Read more...]
Sponsered post Insurance firm Aviva is hoping to attract customers to its MultiCar product through various social media platforms. Aviva has launched its inventive and engaging social media campaign on Facebook and YouTube, backed up with a national TV advertising campaign, all aimed at showing potential customers how they can save money on … [Read more...]
Americans are holding onto cars longer, pushing the average age of a vehicle on the country's road to a record 11 years. The average age of a car last July was 11.1 years, while the truck average was 10.4, according to automotive research firm Polk. Unemployment and the economic factors have caused people to put off buying new cars and … [Read more...]
Whilst many car manufacturers are predicting growth this year, the franchised dealer network is nervous at the prospect of having registrations forced upon them in order to enable their car making masters to achieve these growth forecasts. There has been much said in the trade press along the lines of it being hard in retail sales but there … [Read more...]
The Chinese are coming! Well they’re dipping their toes in the car retailing water anyway. With most large car makers and dealer groups looking to exploit the economic spurt happening over in China it’s somewhat ironic that jauntily named Chinese car maker Geely will be coming to a showroom near you come the end of the year. Its … [Read more...]
Car production in the UK rose by 5.8% in 2011, industry figures show. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said manufacturing had ended the year with a 1.6% rise in December, producing a total of 1,343,810 vehicles in the year. The SMMT said record exports had been the main driver of growth, with more than 80% of vehicles … [Read more...]
For car dealers and car buyers alike, getting the part-exchange right will be more vital this year than in recent times - given the likely dearth of retailable 3 year old examples. With the pivotal 3 year old sector some 500,000 units down customers wishing to trade-in for a new car may be sitting behind the wheel of a far more valuable asset … [Read more...]
Since its introduction by Ford Motors in 2005 for the 2006 model year, the mid-size four-door sedan Ford Fusion has been a critical and commercial success -- recognized by publications such as Motor Trend and Car and Driver, and becoming the best-selling domestic vehicle. And with the arrival of the 2013 Ford Fusion -- which officially kicks off … [Read more...]
McLaren clothing is a stylish range that is the result of a 30 year partnership between McLaren and HUGO BOSS. The McLarenSport collection is a limited edition designed by BOSS Black and McLarenSport and includes a range of tops, sports sweaters, jackets and Polo shirts. You can accessorize these with a HUGO Boss belt, wallet and sports bag and … [Read more...]
The one upside of a downturn (see what I’ve done there?) is that the roads are less busy; well that’s the theory anyway. However I really have noticed in my journeys up and down this green and pleasant land that most of my hold ups seem to be for accidents rather than pure congestion and although I generally get to where I’m going to on time … [Read more...]
Car Dealers competing for less business is the likely outcome for 2012 as the downturn looks to have set in for a while yet. Maximising every enquiry will be a vital factor in the success of the business as a result. According to many in the industry car makers are likely to push for registrations putting a lot of pressure on the late plate … [Read more...]
Mini is recalling 235,000 vehicles worldwide - 29,868 cars in the UK - due to a fault with an electric water pump. The fault, which could potentially be a fire risk, is known to affect vehicles, including the Cooper S and John Cooper Works models, built between March 2006 and January 2011. Owners will be contacted in the coming weeks to … [Read more...]
One of the biggest challenges facing car dealers in 2012 is competing for a smaller piece of the pie in a shrinking market. With fewer cars and therefore less choice, dealers are going to have their work cut out to be the first choice for consumers with the money to actually buy a car. We often talk about how dealers are “upping the ante” … [Read more...]
The unseasonably mild weather in most places is putting some dealers in danger of static 4wd’s which they have bought at a premium in anticipation of the familiar snow which usually greets us at this time of year. The converse to this however is that convertibles are actually selling, although not in great numbers, for canny buyers who believe … [Read more...]
Decembers’ new car registration figures are in so who won the league? Who made it into Europe? Who got relegated? We can now take a look at the final table for 2011 and check the standings of the various top 20 manufacturers we have followed throughout the year in the Car Makers Premier League. As the SMMT themselves say 2011 was … [Read more...]
Well the mince pies are gone, the champagne bottles are empty, the gym membership has been renewed and the resolutions are already being broken. It’s well and truly back to the grindstone for car dealers and like many high street retailers there are some encouraging early reports of brisk business. It usually takes until perhaps the middle of … [Read more...]
The internet really is a wonderful thing, and has completely changed the fortunes of the used car industry for the better. Whereas in days gone by, spending hours visiting showrooms and dealerships was the norm, now there’s no need to even leave your living room. Read on to find out why harnessing the power of technology can help you bag a … [Read more...]
Car Buzz have created an infographic showing the best selling cars in 2011, plus the best selling manufacturers and key trends. … [Read more...]
December 2011 new car registration figures: New car registrations were down 3.7% in December according to the latest figures released today by the SMMT. 119,188 cars were registered in the month, with the market 3.7% or 4,629 units down on December 2010 (which let's not forget was down 18% on December 2009) and down 4.4% over the year. … [Read more...]
‘When Paragon met.... SAAB’ The last twelve months for some car manufacturers could have easily deserved entry into one of our old “Death Watch series”. However after we had to pull the last one for “legal reasons”, I’ve come up with another idea; how many of us have always hankered after owning and running our very own car … [Read more...]
If the buzz we are hearing is to be believed then social media is set to play an ever increasing role in how car dealers do business in the coming year. The fact is that many dealers who used to think just signing up for a Facebook and Twitter account was some kind of silver bullet are now realising that it’s how these accounts are managed and … [Read more...]
You were prepared for sleepless nights. You knew you’d spend the GDP of a small country on new baby kit. You’d braced yourself for the avalanche of lurid plastic about to descend on your beautiful home. What you might not have fathomed was that your driving life was about to change forever. From the type of car you own to your driving style … [Read more...]
As we welcome in 2012 it is worth reflecting on what a very challenging year in the motor trade 2011 was. It was a year which saw many dealerships suffering, some having to call in the administrators and some sadly going under completely. Many car buyers deciding to delay or cancel their decision to buy another car in favour of sticking with … [Read more...]
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