Author: Tim Rose
The Cupra Raval might be the primary electric supermini from Volkswagen Group heading to its franchised dealers next yr, giving them an enormous opportunity to compete for more EV customers. That is in line with Seat and Cupra chief executive Markus Haupt, talking to Automotive Management’s sister brand CAR last month, when he also talked frankly in regards to the cost-driven limitations for Seat, which can deal with refreshing its internal combustion engined cars while its business case for an EV develops. Its Ibiza and Arona models are being refreshed, which shows the corporate remains to be investing in Seat in…
The Financial Conduct Authority has revealed its proposals for compensating as much as 14 million automobile buyers who’re eligible for mis-sold motor finance claims. Automobile loans providers will likely be expected to assist customers who took out motor finance as way back as 2007, under the proposed motor finance redress scheme, due to “widespread failures to adequately disclose the existence and nature of commission and contractual ties” between motor finance houses and dealerships and brokers. The FCA estimates people would receive around £700 per agreement, on average. Based on the variety of consumers the FCA estimates could participate within the scheme,…
Plug-in cars accounted for nearly two in every five (35.5%) of September’s recent automotive registrations, because the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recorded the strongest plate-change September since 2020 at 312,687 units. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for nearly one in 4 (23.3%) registrations, while plug-in hybrid (PHEV) demand rose most rapidly to account for one in 10 (12.2%) of the market. Nevertheless recent automotive orders for petrol and diesel cars was still double that of BEVs, at 153,917 units versus 72,779, yet it was still a brand new record for a month’s sales of pure electric cars. Three of the UK’s…
It’s Dealer AI Week at AM-online, aimed to assist UK motor retailers understand more of the chance presented by this modern technology. During this five-day event, run in association with AG Analytics, AutoTrader, CitNOW Group, Keyloop, Motortech AI and Novaco, AM-online and our Dealer AI Week partners will present a range of reports, news articles, opinion pieces and video interviews. As well as, on Tuesday 16 there might be a dedicated webinar featuring industry experts, and registered audience members will have the ability to have interaction with the panel. This special themed week goals to equip dealership professionals with the clarity and confidence to embrace AI solutions and show how…
Carmaker Lotus has revealed it’s cutting 550 jobs within the UK “to secure a sustainable future” as global aspects are leading its Vision 80 technique to falter. The China-owned company, which has its headquarters and a sports automotive factory in Norfolk plus an engineering and technology base in Warwickshire, said the step is vital, however it stays committed to the UK. After it was bought by China’s Geely Holdings in 2017, and it announced its Vision 80 plan to ramp up automotive sales and profits before its eightieth birthday in 2028, it has launched a series of latest models, a…
The Financial Conduct Authority says it would now work hard to “bring greater certainty for consumers firms and investors” following the landmark judgement by the UK’s Supreme Court regarding the ways motor finance firms have paid commission to automotive dealers. The patron credit regulator was already looking into historic use of discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs), which it banned in 2021, following some Financial Ombudsman Service rulings when other rulings judged by the Court of Appeal brought that work to a halt. It had already hinted that it found there was some “issues” to consumers from DCAs and, depending whether the…
Two salespeople who suffered racial discrimination while working on the Stellantis&You dealer group have been awarded hundreds of kilos in damages. The AM100 dealer group must pay Adebayo (Anthony) Oguntokun £60,500 in damages plus £27,000 interest and £13,000 for future medical treatment after an employment tribunal ruled he had been the victim of significant racial discrimination while working at its dealership in Staples Corner, London. It must also pay Fardowsa (Fathia) Omar, who worked at the identical dealership as a sales executive, £58,000 damages plus about one other £196,000 for lack of earnings, interest costs and future medical costs, because the tribunal…
Halliwell Jones and Lloyd Motor Group are investing to make sure North of England motorists have higher access to the specialist 4×4 automobile brand Ineos Automotive. Lloyd Motor Group is becoming the official Ineos dealer for Newcastle and the North East of England, providing test drives of recent and used Grenadier 4x4s at its existing Lloyd Select showroom in Newcastle, plus opening two sites near Carlisle under a Lloyd AllRoad specialist 4×4 brand. The primary site is ideally placed to serve the agricultural and farming communities, situated near an agricultural auction site. A second recent retail hub for Carlisle will open to provide customers…
Because the motor industry’s own charity Ben marks its one hundred and twentieth yr of being here to support past and present automotive employees and their families, Automotive Management asked chief executive Rachel Clift to stipulate its strategic vision. Ben is within the strategy of stepping away from provision of care homes to grow to be focused on the health of the automotive family in our every day lives. Tell us more about how that has come about. With our decision to effectively divest and transfer our care services and retirement village to acceptable operators, effectively skilled providers of care…
Automotive Management recently took delivery of a MG ZS for a protracted term review to evaluate the opportunities it offers the UK’s MG dealerships. MG has gained significant market share within the UK since 2020 largely by offering great value for money to personal buyers and fleet customers alike, and this ZS is certainly one of the kingpins of its sales success. Badged Hybrid+, it’s powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and e-motor, helped by a 0.9kWh battery that runs the automobile in EV mode for considerable periods. It’s quite satisfying seeing the rev counter drop to zero when cruising…