Aftersales

Robin Brundle's Recyclus Group is the UK’s first industrial-scale recycler of lithium-ion batteries, dedicated to developing a stable supply chain for battery metals.

Steve Young, ICDP managing director and an AM Awards judge, ponders on the task for OEMs and franchised networks to ensure they adapt to change in the aftersales model if they want to avoid leaving an open goal for an increasingly professional and capable set of independent aftermarket players.

Vendigital’s Sheena Patel argues that the industry needs to come together to outline and define higher levels of standardisation

Motor industry organisations have reacted to suggestions that dealerships and garages should be able to do more to deter motorists from driving off in a car or van that has unresolved safety-critical faults identified by vehicle technicians.

James Lever of TekCor4 explains how unlocking the full potential of customer data can help dealers to retain more customers and boost their profitability.

AM met with Brian Robinson, franchise director at Belfast-based retailer Agnew, to discuss the highly unique challenges facing the dealership community in Northern Ireland.

Several years of lower new car sales, plus the demise of diesel cars, mean that workshops need to be planning now how they'll recover lost revenue in three, five and 10 years.

Vehicle repair workshops and accident repair centres are being promised savings, training and prizes from the exhibitors at the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2024 next week.

Executives from Blackshaws, Peoples Group, Infomedia and Real World Analytics share best practice in customer experience and retention.

Automotive retailers are becoming experts on electric vehicles themselves, but there are additional elements of support and aftercare needed to properly guide customers.

From CRM and service plans, to online booking and attracting older vehicles into workshops, there is plenty modern automotive leaders can do to attract extra service and maintenance work.

London's expanded ULEZ has led to spikes in sellers of older cars but may impact MOT testing as the oldest cars are scrapped.

S & R Miller showed it was more than worthy of retaining the AM Awards Independent Workshop of the Year title in 2023.

Passion for Porsche is helping Inchcape's Porsche Centre Portsmouth optimise the efficiency of its service workshops and identify opportunities for owners to keep their Porsche in great shape.

AM's latest industry special digital report, Running A Modern Dealership, has now been published. Industry experts, prominent suppliers and franchised dealers have shared their insights into the major aspects required in running a modern dealership, including used car retailing, EV sales, finance and insurance, omnichannel customer experience and aftersales efficiency.

Independent garage labour rates are rising quickly, but future bookings have fallen sharply.

As consumers are coming under increasing financial strain from soaring inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, so car dealerships are stepping up to help them through these challenging times.

With costs soaring, a constricted new car market and a used car market under pressure, the concern that routine vehicle servicing, maintenance and repairs (SMR) could be delayed, or cheaper alternatives sought by cash-strapped customers, is all too real.

Aftersales departments need to be prepared for a substantial change to their business model in the coming years as plug-in vehicle sales create a complex world with lower maintenance and new skills and equipment needed.

As the car retail sector becomes increasing digital-savvy, AM's Debbie Kirlew took a look at six key areas where strides are being made towards a true omnichannel customer journey.

Accurate customer data has always been important, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created a problem that could be losing service departments tens of thousands of pounds of potential profits each quarter.

Automotive Management (AM) explores how to overcome the workshop inefficiencies that are losing car dealerships thousands, perhaps millions, of pounds every year.

Car retailers' aftersales departments need to take action to keep pace with dramatic changes in the sector such as electrification, automation and digitisation.

Bowker Motor Group BMW Preston service engineer Harold Bowden speaks to AM for the latest instalment of the ‘8 Questions to…’ feature series.

Dealer attitudes suggest a level of uncertainty about a 2022 car retail market increasingly defined by vehicle availability, the transition to electric vehicles (EV) and moves from manufacturers towards an agency franchise model.