Cox Automotive’s Phillip Nothard has said it is “vital” that car showrooms are able to re-open as soon as possible despite signs that many retailers continue to perform well against the odds in COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’.
Car dealers across the UK should be braced for “massive pent-up” demand from customers when the current COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’ restrictions are eased, according to Buyacar.
A Motor Ombudsman survey of 1,873 motorists has found that 62% would want to visit a car showroom in person before buying a new car.
CD Auction Group has axed listing and sellers fees on its dealer-to-dealer Vehicle Tradex platform in a bid to support car dealers keen to re-stock their forecourts during COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’.
Chorley Group managing director Adam Turner has thanked The British Army and Lancashire County Council for their help in getting a twice-weekly COVID-19 test procedure up and running for its entire retail operation.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has called on Government to redeploy business support measures for retailers ahead of the 2021 Budget.
Car retail bosses have voiced concern that a failure to re-open car showrooms in-time for the March number plate change will impact jobs and the economy, claiming “MPs fundamentally do not understand business”.
Garages and workshops should expect a reduction in demand for MOT tests this month as all vehicles that were eligible for the Government’s six-month Covid extension have now been tested.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed that used car dealers delivered four consecutive months of sales growth in 2020 – despite months of enforced showroom closures in COVID-19 lockdown.
Car retailers' average return on sales (RoS) of 0.94% during a heavily COVID-19 impacted 2020 has been hailed as “‘a very strong performance” by ASE chairman Mike Jones.
The UK’s COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’ trading restrictions mean that franchised car retailers are “suffering” more greatly than their European counterparts.
The Bank of England (BoE) has said that 70% of consumers will hold on to any savings they managed to accrue during COVID-19 lockdown.
More than a third of car buyers have recorded their intention to “buy a new car as soon as possible”, despite the current COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’ restrictions.
Vertu Motors has reported that it expects its pre-tax profits for the financial year ending February 28, 2021, to exceed analysts’ current £18 million forecasts.
The Peter Vardy Foundation has announced the launch of a new initiative to “help improve the lives” of young people in Scotland.
The latest national lockdown has impacted car sales with a 36% decline in orders for new cars and 45% drop in used, according to lead management specialist Dealerweb.
A slowdown in consumers’ car buying activity and uncertainty when the current COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’ restrictions will end was the catalyst for a fall in used car trade prices in January.
Auto Trader has reported a 1.6 million uplift in the volumes of visitors to its online car marketing platform and record consumer confidence amid KPIs which could indicate another post-lockdown sales boom.
TrustFord has seen its car sales volumes decline by around 40% during COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’ trading in England and Northern Ireland – but home delivery boom is driving commercial vehicle records.
Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) chief executive, Mike Todd, predicts that - aside from the impact of Brexit - three other key areas will continue to influence the automotive sector’s response post COVID-19.
