Scottish car retailers have been told that they can resume unaccompanied test drive provision to boost their retail recovery from April 5.
Car dealers across Scotland have been left “bitterly disappointed” by news that showrooms are unlikely to be allowed to re-open their doors to customers until April 26.
Further clarification on the legality of car sales test drive provision has prompted rendered the decision over whether to offer customers contact with vehicles “a purely moral decision”, it has been claimed.
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”.
Vospers Abarth Exeter is the performance brand’s UK car retailers to trial a virtual reality (VR) home test drive package to coincide with the launch of the new limited edition Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro.
The Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) has warned that Trading Standards operatives will be checking up on car retail operations to ensure test drives are not illegally conducted during COVID-19 ‘Lockdown 3’.
The number of test drive bookings recorded by AX has more than tripled since June, as pent-up consumer demand sees customers flocking to dealerships.
An opportunistic car test driver was apprehended by Derbyshire police after allegedly attempting to flee JCT600’s Mercedes-Benz dealership in Chesterfield in a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.
A survey from Auto Trader has found that 70% of drivers would prefer to lease an electric vehicle (EV) for a two to three year period, before buying it outright.
Hyundai Motor UK is set to launch a 10-day electric vehicle test drive event across its franchised dealer network.
An 18-day Polestar 2 customer test drive tour was ‘fully booked’ in eight hours as the Geely-owned performance electric vehicle (EV) brand continues to gain traction without a physical retail presence in the UK.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that a “one metre plus” social distancing policy will be introduced from July 4 as part of a series of COVID-19 legislation easing measures.
Tracker, is helping dealers comply with new rules to protect themselves and the public, whilst also protecting stock when it comes to unaccompanied test drives.
Vertu Motors chief executive Robert Forrester has told BBC Breakfast how the car retail sector will “trust customers” to take unaccompanied test drives as showroom retailing gets back underway.
Brayleys Cars’ Oxford Kia dealership has become the latest franchised retailer to launch a new car rental facility as part of the Korean brand’s ‘Try Before You Buy’ initiative.
Used car dealers told CarGurus that they have come face-to-face with snakes, parrots and a rifle on test drives in a survey to determine the most bizarre things car buyers brought along for the ride.
Volkswagen has launched 48-hour test drives for prospective e-Golf buyers alongside a television advertising campaign to promote the adoption of its electric vehicles (EVs).
Over half of car buyers would buy a car without taking a test drive, according to a new Opinium survey of over 2,000 UK drivers.
Toyota’s new Supra sports coupe will offer the brand an opportunity to “look at the customer journey” and experiment with home test drives and a handling fee for its franchised car retailers.
Dealerweb data has revealed that dealers saw used car finance grow at 15.4% in November against the same month last year.
