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The National Franchised Dealer Association (NFDA) facilitated the visit of Navendu Mishra MP to Lookers’ Volvo dealership, in the MP’s constituency of Stockport, on 26 April.
The visit builds on NFDA’s parliamentary engagement programme. Mishra and his team were shown around the dealership by David Cooper, franchise director at Lookers, as well as NFDA representatives.
Challenges impacting the sector at the local and national levels were discussed and the NFDA emphasised concerns regarding the ongoing skills shortage and the need for wider apprenticeship reform. The current levy system is a convoluted process which employers have found difficult to navigate.
In addition, those present also discussed the UK currently ‘patchwork’ system of charging infrastructure as some regions lag behind. Stockport features in the bottom 20% of the country for devices per 100,000 people.
The switch to electric was discussed further in terms of price incentives for consumers. It was concluded that the Government does not currently have plans to address the issue. Most recently, a House of Lords Committee’s EV report already ruled out introducing incentives for EVs.
Sue Robinson, NFDA Chief Executive, said: “NFDA thanks Navendu Mishra MP for visiting Lookers Volvo in Stockport to discuss the current challenges facing our sector.
“As the year progresses, NFDA will continue its programme of parliamentary engagement to ensure the concerns of dealers and consumers alike are addressed.”