Guest Blog

Last year was anything but easy for UK dealers, with both new and used vehicle registrations down. With a mixture of Brexit, a predicted further decline in vehicle sales and uncertainty over diesel forecasted, difficulties are expected to continue over the next 12 months, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). So how can businesses adapt to ...

The FCA has cracked down on the motor finance sector this month, expressing their “serious concerns” over the way that lenders are rewarding car retailers and other credit brokers. But what does this mean for the industry moving forward, and what steps should lenders be taking in order to combat a potential spike in customer communications? With firms now expected ...

Until recently if you walked into a showroom to finance a car purchase, very few car dealers would ask what you earned. It could be argued this approach made dealer-organised lending an attractive proposition but at what cost? Historically – considering most car loans were secured on the vehicle – any concern as to how a customer made repayments was ...

Consolidation of retailers and the rapid pace of change within automotive technology has forced OEMs and dealer groups into a more collaborative approach, where manufacturer and retailer are shaping the customer experience together. The current climate in the UK automotive industry is creating a new eco system, where we are seeing closer collaboration and the rapid innovation vital for survival ...

My name is Mercedes Lopez. I’m 28 and I work at Kia RRG Bury as a Light Vehicle Technician, part of the Kia apprenticeship programme. I grew up a mechanic’s daughter, my dad works for the RAC and was always taking me to the Moto GP when I was a kid. I’ve always been around cars, but I never viewed ...

The FCA has published its long-awaited Motor Finance Report, and there’s no escaping that it will make for uncomfortable reading for many within the automotive industry. However, the research will inevitably mark a real positive catalyst for change. The report, which follows on from the FCA’s interim findings published 12 months ago and has been circulated to motor finance firms, ...

Last year the European new car market suffered its biggest monthly decline in a decade, largely as a result of the WLTP emissions testing regime. Coupled with Jaguar, Land Rover and Honda’s job cuts, and uncertainty over Brexit, many car manufacturers may wonder whether they should freeze their recruitment efforts. However, when it comes to the automotive aftermarket, garages need to ensure that they ...

With dealer margins under pressure, you need to look to new ways of generating revenue. An excellent opportunity may be right under your nose – your Dealer Management System. A good system can bring significant benefits, reducing costs, boosting sales and increasing aftersales revenues. However, you could be missing out on profit opportunities and incurring unnecessary costs if you are ...

Demand for quality used stock was strong throughout 2018 with average values rising at auction sustained by a combination of strong dealer demand and retailing success. These were increasingly driven by PCP finance with PCPs themselves benefitting from the strong values being achieved at auction. However, this virtuous circle looks set to come under pressure in 2019. Environmental changes mean ...

When most people go to buy a car today their first instinct is to turn to a laptop or mobile rather than their local dealer for guidance. This creates a great new opportunities to get in front of customers at a critical stage. We at Facebook looked at the path to purchase, the process people go through when they buy ...