Car manufacturers exploring the agency model franchised car retail agreements “want to put the dealer last”, Suzuki GB boss Dale Wyatt has told his dealers.

The director of automobile sought to reassert the importance of a strong OEM/dealer relationship as he addressed retailers at the Japanese brand’s UK dealer conference earlier this week.

Wyatt, who spelled put his views on agency agreements via his LinkedIn profile last month, said that the franchise model came with a “questionable” return on investment (ROI) and risked a reorganisation that could distract OEMs and retailers for up to two years at a vital time for the industry.

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