The average UK motor dealer produced a bumper result in September making a profit for the month of over £75,000, beating the 2013 performance by £8,000.

This pushed the rolling 12-month return on sales percentage back above 1.5% with the average site making £230,000 this year, according to ASE figures.

ASE chairman Mike Jones said: "Whilst this is clearly a strong result, profitability for the third quarter matched that in 2013 despite the increase in new vehicle registrations. This is a clear indication that, whilst more metal is being moved through the dealerships, profitability is static."

He also said there are signs that the increased registration pressure is feeding through to used car stocks, with total investment per site up £150,000 in September.

"Whilst we expect an increase in a registration month as a result of part exchange vehicles, the rotation of demonstrator fleets and self-registered vehicles, the rise is normally limited to £100,000.

"This increase in stocks will start to impact negatively on the used car return on investment unless the vehicles are liquidated quickly."

Aftersales performance has continued a "slow and steady" increase with overall labour efficiency rising for the 13th consecutive month.

"Whilst the increases are all small this is adding profit straight to the bottom line and brings parts profit with every hour worked."

Overall profitability for the year looks strong with all signs pointing to a record overall result.

"The rate of increase over 2013 has definitely slowed and many dealers have self registered cars to shift, however 2014 should still produce a return of £230,000 per site on average."

ASE September performance stats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASE rolling performance stats for 2014

 

Key ratio Benchmark Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14
                 
Average dealership profit   £96,000 £9,000 £5,000 £31,000 £3,800 -£15,000 £75,000
Net profit as % of sales 3.00% 1.55% 1.55% 1.52% 1.54% 1.51% 1.48% 1.50%
Overhead absorption % 80% 57% 57.90% 56.10% 56.50% 56.40% 56% 56.40%
Used: new sales 1.5:1 0.88:1 0.88:1 0.87:1 0.87:1 0.87:1 0.87:1 0.87:1
Vehicle sales expenses as % gross 50 61.7 61.6 61.7 61.6 61.68 61.9 61.9
Sales per salesman 150 202 200 201 199 198 198 199
Used vehicle stockturn (days) 45 56 55 55 54.7 54.73 53.7 54.6
Return on used car investment % 100 81.2 82 82 81.7 82 82.6 80.6
Overall labour efficiency % 100 81.4 81.5 81.7 81.8 82 82 82.1
Service gross profit % on labour 75 75.9 75.8 75.8 75.8 75.8 75.8 75.8
Service expenses as % gross 40 56.7 56.9 57.2 57.2 57.3 57.6 57.5
Hours per retail job card 2.5 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65
Parts gross profit % 22 22.4 22.3 22.3 22.3 22.2 22.2 22.2
Parts expenses as % gross 40 44.4 44.6 44.8 44.7 44.7 44.7 44.5
Parts stockturn 8 7.7 7.7 7.75 7.79 7.84 7.85 7.62