Editor’s Blog

Our annual look at the financial performance of the Top 200 Franchised Dealers in the UK shows a sector in good health. The sector is employing 6,000 more people that it was a year ago and the report reveals who is paying what to get the best staff they can. The pace of consolidation is less frenetic than in the ...

Dealers are investing more in their websites and digital marketing to improve their used car offer, boost the numbers of cars they sell and improve stock turn and profitability. In the November issue of Motor Trader we take our annual look at the operations of the Top 50 Independent Dealers in the UK who have turned in record performances in ...

It was a one off, an exceptional month. The September plate-change revealed just how difficult it was for some brands to get their vehicles compliant with the new WLTP rules that came into effect on 1 September. August sales had been higher than expected and September was always going to be difficult for some brands while others showed significant increases. ...

August year on year new and used sales volumes were boosted as dealers moved to clear non WLTP-compliant stock ahead of the 68 registration plate change, according to the September Glass’s Monthly Market Report. Glass’s chief car editor Jayson Whittington said there was a 23.2 per cent jump in car registrations last month compared to August 2017, which he attributed ...

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 ...

The volume of searches for diesel vehicles on Auto Trader continued a long-term decline in May, falling below 50% of fuel-based searches for the first time. Searches for diesel vehicles have fallen dramatically in recent years, dropping from 71% in November 2016. Average used car prices in the UK dropped slightly in May with diesel recording a steeper decline than ...

Remarketing Company of the Year Award 2018 Shortlist Aston Barclay BCA Manheim

In a move that some industry pundits may have seen coming – but not really believed would happen – Ford has announced that it intends to stop production of saloons (sedans, of course) in North America. This means that such well-known names as Fiesta and Focus (and related C-MAX), together with less familiar names such as Taurus and Fusion will ...

In a recent interview in Motor Trader Dave Hodgetts, MD of Honda UK, was asked about how franchise Honda dealers can get involved with digital selling. He responded by saying that dealers have mixed opinions about online sales. Some are ready to embrace the technology, while others feel it is an invasion of their territory. We continue the series of ...

After 16 years in charge – or even 17, depending on whom you ask! – Curtis Hutchinson has given up the reins at Motor Trader. I’d like to start by thanking him for his work on the title, from what I’ve seen and heard it has benefitted greatly from his experience and leadership. That said, a change is as good ...