Martin Forbes, MD at Cox Automotive, Retail, Media & Data Solutions on increasing his brands’ awareness and the new markets on his radar
Mazda UK’s Jeremy Thomson on giving his dealers a cost-efficient CI, solving their parts problem and why he wants a UK-Japan trade deal
AM spoke to industry experts to find out if some of the motor retail industry’s long-held beliefs still apply today.
Many motor retailers say they would like to emulate Apple or John Lewis, but to do so would require radical change
Learn the lessons of the UK’s most profitable dealer groups with ASE's profit clinic at the Automotive Management Live exhibition.
There may be some softening of demand over the year, but PCPs make getting a new car very affordable in comparison to HP or outright purchase. That way of funding their vehicle is very much part of the consumer psyche now.
The current car ownership model is ‘irrational’ and driverless cars will become a reality, but there are plenty of opportunities for the dealers.
Pressures on car dealerships are increasing, but for those that are willing to change their business model and diversify, there are opportunities.
Jon Roberts, managing director of Infiniti Retail Group, says test drives, new routes to market and common sense are key parts of the group’s growth.
Car buyers welcome choice and dealer profits benefit from personalisation, but does that variety slow down deals and are US-style stocking levels the answer?
As the price of new cars becomes more transparent, dealers will need to develop other distinguishing factors to gain the upper hand in the market.
When it comes to knocking a dealer down on price, most car buyers would rather avoid the hassle.
Classified sites believe telling car buyers how good (or not) a price is will boost sales and build trust, but some dealers fear it will drive down prices.
Car dealers are feeling the strain from falling margins, recruitment woes and manufacturer ‘micro-management’, delegates at the latest AM Round Table heard.
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Expert advice from the best practice masterclasses at Automotive Management Live
How well and how quickly you manage your leads is more important than how you generate them, whether in business or private sales.
Car dealers chasing new customers, whether private buyers or companies, need specialist knowledge, targeted marketing and an active digital presence.
Product innovation and expansion into new areas are stimulating growth in the industry – and bringing consumers back into dealerships in the process.
Logistics operators steer clear of the limelight, but without them, and their increasing innovation, the motor trade would – literally – grind to a halt.
Profitably selling new cars depends on many factors, including identifying leads, responding quickly, pitching the right add-ons and, sometimes, just smiling.
The target-driven used car salesmen of yesteryear are being replaced by dealership ambassadors, who ‘consult’ with their customers rather than ‘closing’ them.
Managing director Steve Hodgson believes organic growth, not loan-backed acquisition, is the right route for Hodgson Newcastle.
The car market collapse, warranty hysteria and supply issues after Japan’s tsunami were a triple whammy for RRG Group in the North West of England. Yet it made it through intact, and bounced back fast. Now its Japanese owners have given its management clear instructions: acquire, expand and spread the risk.
Vertu Motors’ year end results, published today, reveal turnover up year-on-year 8.9% and above the one billion mark for the first time, at £1.09 billion (2011: £999m).
