Dealers have been warned pre-registration activity in the UK will increase this year compared to last by Ford of Britain boss Mark Ovenden.

At the Geneva Motor Show this morning the managing director of the UK's biggest car company by registrations said the UK will be expected to take the brunt of product supply due to the weak European market. But Ovenden then said Ford doesn't get dealers to self register.

Pre-registration activity contributed to a summer of discontent among UK dealers in 2012. A 'straw poll' of dealers by KPMG said this activity accounted for 98,500 registrations each year - or, according to AMi data (www.am-online.com/ami), 18 units for each of the 5,500+ franchised outlets in the UK.

Ovenden also said the Ford retail network would shrink gradually, but there would not be a rapid "cull".

The average Ford network return on sale of 0.6% will also need to improve this year, but no target has been set.

Also this year, Ford's new CI standard will begin roll out following a successful trial. "Dealers will at least be expected to have ordered the new materials before the end of the year."

There will be differing sizes of CI package that dealers can choose from," Ovenden said. And there will be no financial support from Ford - dealers will pay, but Ford Credit assistance will be offered.