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The cost of motor dealers doing business is set to rise as a result of the measures included in the 2024 Budget yesterday. One of the biggest increased costs comes with National Insurance. The rate that employers pay in contributions will rise from 13.8% to 15% on a worker’s earnings from April. Sue Robinson, CEO of the National Franchised Dealers ...

Almost two years after launch Mercedes-Benz is claiming success for its agency model in the UK. In the year to September the brand registered 80,252 cars, an increase of 20% year on year while retail sales rose 29%. The road to agency has been a rocky one for many brands. Ford launched its agency model in the Netherlands as a ...

LSH Auto will welcome three Australian apprentices for a cultural and career development tour. Ray Sorrell, Louis Wade and Adriano Minna will experience a week-long tour of LSH operations next week Each apprentice will see first-hand the differences and similarities between apprenticeships in Australia and the UK and will be able to expand their knowledge and share insights with their ...

JLR is seeing a surge in demand for plug-in hybrid models, with global retail sales for the first half of the financial year up 29% compared to the prior year. It said more customers were using the technology as a stepping stone towards battery electric vehicles (BEV). In the UK, it has seen a 55% growth in PHEV sales in ...

The motor retail sector has given a mixed reception to the Budget with SMMT CEO Mike Hawes lambasting the absence of measures to boost EV sales among retail buyers. “The lack of substantive measures to support the new car market – in particular for electrified vehicles – is hugely disappointing. “We welcome the extension of the Plug-in Van Grant and ...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the Budget will raise taxes by £40bn as she delivers Labour’s first Autumn Statement in 14 years Reeves confirmed that National Insurance contributions for employers will increase by 1.2% to 15% from April 2025. The minimum wages will rise in April, with rates for over-21s set to go up to £12.21 an hour She announced the ...

The Financial Conduct Authority CEO Nikhil Rathi has called for clarity on motor the finance commission and the decision made by the Court of Appeal last week ruling in favour of the consumer. Two finance houses have said they will appeal the decision and Rathi aid it was in all parties interest that the Supreme Cout decide whether or not ...

Hendy Group is launching a new Apprentice Ambassador programme that will encourage more people into automotive careers. The scheme be launched at Hendy’s Apprentice Day on 31 October, which will honour the achievements of the Group’s 2024 intake of more than 50 apprentices. Hendy said existing and newly graduated Hendy apprentices can apply to add the Apprentice Ambassador role into ...

Group 1 turned in a strong performance in Q3 with year-on-year gross profit up 8.4% to $852.7m (£656m) and turnover up 11% to $5.2bn (£4bn). Group 1 has accelerated its UK growth.  For the quarter UK gross profits rose 68.6% to $1174.5 on turnover up 55.2% to $1.2bn. In July 2024, it bought four Mercedes-Benz UK dealerships, which is expected ...

I attended a podcast recording last night for Autocar, where the two regular co-presenters, Steve Cropley and Matt Prior were joined by a special guest, Jonathan Palmer.  Jonathan now owns and manages many of the UK racing circuits, a unique and superb driving experience centre, and now new locations in Navarra, Spain and Laon, France.  However, having abandoned a medical ...