The problem of dwindling new car margins is nothing new. In fact, it’s been manifesting itself for some time now and, whilst some manage to buck this trend, the general picture is one of a gradual and continual decline. There are myriad reasons for this, ranging from the online B2C providers/introducers, OEM target pressures, Diesel gate and Brexit. All have ...

House of Fraser is now contemplating having to close stores to cut costs and try and stay in business. This is just the latest retail giant to reconsider its position on the high street, with Marks & Spencer doing the same just recently. Maplin and Toys “R” Us simply went bust. The finger of blame originally pointed at these businesses ...

Cooper MINI Tonbridge has delivered the 1,000th company-branded Mini to it’s long-term customer Utility Warehouse. The dealership, located in Kent, is part of Inchcape UK. Cooper MINI Tonbridge has been the the official supplier of the utility provider’s cars since 2003, when the company fleet was started. Since then the Utility Warehouse fleet, all of which feature the ‘pink pig’ company ...

In an exclusive interview with Motor Trader, Fraser Cohen, managing director of the Glyn Hopkin Group, talks about the company’s 25th anniversary, together with recent company performance and how to get more women involved in the retail motor industry Glyn Hopkin is celebrating its 25th anniversary. What are the major accomplishments for the business over that time? To start, I ...

There has been an extensive debate over the years about the impact of online customer reviews on a business’ reputation, and, ultimately, the bottom line. How can we make sure online reviews come from genuine customers? How can we give context to those reviews? How much of an impact do negative – and possibly unverified – reviews have on a ...

Toyota is planning to reintroduce the Camry nameplate to the UK after a 14-year absence. The all-new, eighth-generation Camry Hybrid will take over from the out-going Avensis as the company’s D-segment offering. The addition will increase Toyota’s European hybrid line-up to eight models, ranging from the compact Yaris to the RAV4 SUV. The Camry has been the best-selling passenger car in North ...

Mitsubishi Motors UK has opened its first retail store. The retail outlet is located in the intu Lakeside shopping centre in West Thurrock, Essex. Development of the installation has been managed by Mitsubishi and automotive retail specialists Rockar. The store has multiple vehicles on display, plus interactive digital displays and analogue content designed to encourage customer interaction with the brand ...

London Motor Company (LMC) has sold a second vehicle using the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. The first Bitcoin transaction was completed in May this year. LMC is an independent used vehicle dealership based in Grays, Essex. Established in 1980, the business offers a variety of digital retailing solutions. Company owner, Spencer Kent, said: “We decided to accept Bitcoin as we like to ...

Black Horse and Jaguar Land Rover have announced a one-year extension to their existing six-year financing partnership. The new agreement will see the car finance arm of Lloyds Banking Group continue to provide finance products for customers buying new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles through 2020. Both companies are on strategic three-year business cycles and the additional year will bring ...

Online vehicle marketplace Motors.co.uk has introduced SMS functionality to its site. The new feature makes it easier for interested buyers to contact vehicle sellers. Following related consumer research, Motors.co.uk found potential car buyers wanted more flexibility in contacting dealers, including SMS and online chat options. Survey participants were reported to value an SMS contact solution over having the option of a ...