News

BEV prices have moved just 0.8% between July 2024 and January 2025 (£160 on a typical £20,000 used car), according to the latest Indicata Market Watch used car pricing insights report. Sales of used BEVs accounted for a 5.9% share of the total used market in January, a record since the Indicata report was launched five years ago. Dean Merrit, ...

Warranty Solutions Group (WSG) findings, based on a sample of 1,000 LCV repair claims, revealed the Renault Master has the lowest claim rate of just 4.55% Although breakdowns are less frequent with the Renault Master, it also comes with the highest average repair costs. The top three most common warranty claims for the Master were starter motors / solenoids averaging ...

Dealers offering discounts on servicing and repair work to gain business in a tight market risk trading customer retention for eroded margins and long-term damage to their businesses. That’s the conclusion of the Bumper UK Automotive Aftersales Report 2024/25, which found that three-quarters of the 4,269 car owners polled for the forthcoming said they expect dealers to offer an initial ...

There have been some blogs and news items recently, including from our good friend Glenn Mercer, which relate to some recent positive developments in the world of Waymo.  They just achieved 200,000 rides in one week, double the level just six months ago and up from 10,000 two years ago.  At least within the defined areas where they are operating ...

The automotive industry is embracing the use of AI-powered tools to drive retailer growth and enhance customer experience. This includes chatbots from AutoConverse, Auto Trader’s Vehicle Highlights and heycar’s AI-powered search bar. AutoConverse noted a 43% increase in customer conversations with dealer chatbots compared with January 2024 – with a conversion rate of more than 48%. The chatbots provide a ...

John Clark Motor Group has officially opened a multi-franchise Seat, Cupra and Skoda dealership at Broomhill Road, Dundee. The site was previously the home for a former Peter Vardy Carz supermarket. Located opposite the John Clark Volvo & Mini dealerships, this location is the first within the Volkswagen UK network to introduce a multi-brand retail concept. The dealership will showcase ...

International Motors Limited (IML) has chosen Lloyds Banking Group to provide finance in the UK for Chinese brand Xpeng. The electric cars are being distributed through International Motors Finance, a joint venture business between IML and Black Horse, Lloyds Banking Group’s motor finance business. It will offer Hire Purchase (HP) or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) products, providing greater payment choice ...

Four Drive Motor Retail site locations are celebrating 2024 Vauxhall Customer Excellence Awards. Drive Hartlepool achieved the Gold award for the tenth year running while three other sites maintained their Silver status. Drive Redcar has held Silver status for seven consecutive years, while Drive Stockton-on-Tees and Drive Bury St Edmunds have maintained their Silver status for five and four years, ...

Vertu Van Centre in Hereford took the Gold Award at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles annual performance awards. The dealership was the top  performer in the network of 60 UK Van Centres and 30 Authorised Repairers. Volkswagen Van Centre Stoke took the silver award and Brian Currie Van Centre Milton Keynes was awarded the bronze accolade at the event. Recognising the ...

Subaru UK has appointed five new retailers across England and Wales in Q1, all dealerships will be open and fully operational by the end of March. Bovington Motors in Dorset, Station Garage in Kilgetty, and Crayford & Abbs in Norfolk are already open for business. Green 4 in Coventry will join the network on 1 March, while Invicta Subaru Crawley ...