Blogs

Against the backdrop of faltering economic growth, many OEMs are responding to the restoration of new car supply and ongoing pressures to comply with the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate by increasing marketing spend and introducing new tactical offers and incentives. Driving demand for EVs The SMMT estimates that discounts for EVs across the full year will be worth around ...

The Jaguar rebranding events last week have certainly succeeded in getting the Jaguar name into many headlines even as they stop production of all models so you can no longer buy a new Jaguar.  There’s been a huge amount of comment, mainly negative, on social media and the general press.  I’m sure that my comments will overlap with many of the views ...

The core of ICDP’s activities is our collaborative research programme which has been running for over thirty years at a European level. This brings players from across the distribution sector – sales and aftersales, manufacturers, dealers, parts distributors and suppliers of services and technology – together to develop a better understanding of the challenges facing us all, and how to ...

Following my post last post, it was good to see a number of readers of this blog joining our webinar on Tuesday alongside ICDP members and some representatives from the press. The webinar was for the formal publication of our Top 50 European dealer group ranking that we produce annually, and the presentation slides are available to download from the ...

The government’s potential relaxation of EV sales quotas is a critical moment for the UK’s electric vehicle market. While this step may ease immediate pressures on carmakers, as they have been requesting internationally, it’s crucial not to lose sight of the long-term goal: establishing a robust EV ecosystem that includes well-equipped, highly trained technicians to service these advanced vehicles when ...

The used car market is expected to remain robust in 2025, with diesel and petrol performing similarly in price trends. Hybrids will continue to show resilience, and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will stabilise after previous declines, though variability by model may continue. BEVs continue to attract cautious dealer interest, and although some prices have plummeted since 2022, recent buyer demand ...

I feel fortunate to have spent most of my working career in a period when the automotive industry and the world at large have been pursuing a path of globalisation. As a car enthusiast I can look back or see at classic car shows examples of products that were very much a reflection of the culture of a specific country ...

The Autumn Budget will pose challenges for the automotive sector, especially with regard to the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT). With this in mind I have outlined five essential steps for dealers to navigate these changes effectively: 1. Reassess Remuneration Strategies Employer NICs are set to increase by an average of £900 per ...

The shockwaves from the landmark ruling at the end of last month are still being felt across Britain’s automotive retailers.  The Court of Appeal found it unlawful for dealers to receive commissions from finance companies unless the payments had been properly disclosed and customer consent was given. It’s important to balance this issue. While it has caused uncertainty, a new ...

With many motor dealers already experiencing the challenge of increased overheads and squeezed margins, the extent of the changes to Employers NIC and living wage will provide additional unexpected cost pressures for auto retailers. That being said, it was pleasing to see the inclusion of measures to support the uptake and manufacture of electric vehicles in the UK, although some ...