Author: Aimee Turner
AI-powered communication platform AutoChat PRO has officially launched with Devonshire Motors as its first customer within the UK.For several years, AutoChat has been offered an AI assistant for dealership web sites. Now, with AutoChat PRO, it’s offering an AI assistant to dealership staff, including customer contact centre employees, receptionists, and sales staff.The primary version of AutoChat PRO enables the dealership to upload documents like brochures, tariffs, manuals, and technical documents into organised buckets.As a substitute of manually trying to find information, staff can depend on the AI assistant to quickly retrieve the required details from these documents, providing quick answers.“Within…
Hendy Group has opened a brand new multi-brand showroom in Tonbridge for Vauxhall and Peugeot. This £1 million investment on a brownfield site has created over 40 recent jobs. The Hendy Vauxhall and Peugeot facility offers state-of-the-art vehicle service and repair capabilities, Motability support, and specific sales and repair for the newest Vauxhall vans. To support the growing range of Vauxhall and Peugeot electric and hybrid vehicles, the brand new site includes charging bays for each the on-site team and visiting customers. The workshop incorporates a Class 7 MOT facility and eight bays for automotive and business vehicle servicing, ensuring…
Despite positive overall results for brand new automotive registrations in the primary half of 2024, there are worrying signs of slowing growth, in response to JATO Dynamics first-half evaluation of recent passenger automotive registrations in 28 European countriesRegistrations increased by just 4.4% from January to June, rising from 6,559,213 units in H1 2023 to six,847,842 units in H1 2024.Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, said: “Europe’s growth is becoming more moderate and stays removed from pre-pandemic levels. That is attributable to a more complex operating environment, including stricter emissions regulations, rising vehicle prices, and challenges in electric vehicle (EV)…
The Labour government, which has committed to reinstating a 2030 deadline for phasing out latest ICE automobile sales, is coming under pressure to determine whether to follow the EU and US in raising duties on Chinese EV imports.Britain’s business secretary Jonathan Reynolds is reported to be closely monitoring the situation and consulting with industry leaders on the subsequent steps after a gathering with EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis at a G7 ministers’ meeting on July 16.“Any solution would should take the UK’s auto sector exports under consideration and be calibrated for the UK economy,” stated a government summary of the…
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed it’s ditching five models from its lineup next yr on account of their lack of profitability. The five models being axed include the XE and XF sedans, the sporty F-Type, the E-Pace SUV, and the all-electric I-Pace SUV. By 2025, Jaguar’s lineup will consist of only one existing model, the midsize F-Pace SUV. The move which JLR spokesperson confirmed to media outlets is a component of a big transformation for the brand, which goals to go all-electric soon. Jaguar can be positioning itself as a high-luxe brand, targeting higher profitability. Jaguar plans to launch three recent models built…
US software house CDK Global is reported to have paid out a $25 million ransom to hackers following a devastating June 19 cyber attack which likely cost its US dealership clients $600m in direct losses.CDK’s software supports nearly 15,000 dealerships in North America by managing vehicle acquisitions, sales, financing, insurance, repairs, and maintenance.Keyloop, the UK’s dominant DMS provider, will not be a part of CDK Global. CDK sold off its international business, which rebranded as Keyloop in 2021.CDK initially described the incident as a “cyber incident” in media statements although reportedly referred to it as a “cyber ransom event” with…
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has announced the finalists for the IMI Skills Competitions following the national qualifier events in May and June. Students and apprentices, nominated by their tutors or employers, have been chosen under 4 key specialisms: body repair, refinishing, light vehicle technology, and heavy vehicle technology. The 24 finalists will compete within the live national finals from November 18-22. Richard Hutchins, IMI Skills Competitions manager, said: “The finalists include profession changers, industry returners, and, for the primary time, two women within the refinishing stream. Each finalist stood out for his or her focus, overcoming personal…
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is to be at the center of Motability Operations which is committing to maintain pricing low for it 760,000 disabled customers. Motability which operates the UK’s largest automotive fleet insists scheme customers proceed to get the very best value deals – at 48% cheaper than industrial leasing alternatives – at a time when the market is very unpredictable. Its latest price list until the tip of September incorporates a wide selection of recent EV models from various manufacturers several of which require no up front payment, including: Renault Megane e-Tech, EV60 160kW Evolution Comfort Range 60kWh, with…
As an employer of 78% of the 758,000 people working within the sector and which generates annual turnover of £100 billion, automotive retailers will now concentrate on how Labour plans to addresses the aspects which most impact their business – and just as importantly, the speed at which it’ll deliver.Labour was in actual fact the one party with a dedicated automotive policy which recognised the contribution the motor industry will likely play in achieving net zero goals.Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society for Motor Manufacturers, signalled its support for a bespoke approach to achieving net zero which, with the precise conditions, could…
The European Commission has today officially imposed anti-subsidy duties on electric vehicles (EV) imported from China, forcing manufacturers to place aside funds to pay for the tariff hikes. On June 12, the European Commission announced that it will apply provisional countervailing duties on Chinese-made EVs based on the outcomes of its nine-month investigation into the degrees of state subsidies received by different Chinese or China-based carmakers. This unfair support, it believes, leads to hefty distortions within the European market.The move by the Commission followed a May 14 declaration by the USA which said it is going to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs and certain…
