Author: Tom Seymour
Smart UK has appointed Louise O’Sullivan as its recent chief executive, taking over the role effective from February 1. O’Sullivan replaces Jason Allbutt, who’s returning to Mercedes-Benz as sales director after two years as Smart UK CEO. O’Sullivan brings greater than 25 years’ experience across marketing, industrial strategy, network operations and automotive financial services. She joins smart UK from Volvo Automobile Financial Services UK, where she most recently served as deputy managing director and industrial director. In that role, she led industrial transformation, supported the transition to agency models and played a senior role in governance and leadership. Earlier in her…
Tom Seymour is an experienced freelance journalist specialising within the automotive and business sectors, with greater than 20 years’ experience reporting and analysing industry developments. As a daily contributor to Bauer Media’s B2B titles Fleet News and Automotive Management (AM), he covers topics starting from fleet operations and electrification to dealership performance, manufacturer strategy and the broader mobility landscape. Along with his writing, Tom presents and hosts webinars for AM, leading discussions with senior industry figures on key trends and challenges affecting the UK automotive retail sector. He also plays a central role in shaping and delivering content for the…
Chinese manufacturers and battery electric vehicles drove modest growth in Europe’s recent automobile market in November, in line with recent data from JATO Dynamics. Despite an overall decline in Tesla registrations and a 39% year-on-year drop for the Model Y, the Tesla Model 3 still held onto the highest spot as probably the most registered battery electric vehicle (BEV) in November. BYD greater than doubled its registrations compared with November 2024, recording 21,043 units. Leapmotor registered 6,022 units in November and 26,538 12 months thus far, matching volumes achieved by DS and overtaking Lancia, Maserati and Abarth throughout the Stellantis portfolio. Outside…
Lamborghini delivered a record 10,747 vehicles globally in 2025, underlining strong demand for its hybridised model range. While UK-specific volumes weren’t disclosed, the result underlines continued demand across European markets, supported by the brand’s dealer network. The Sant’Agata Bolognese-based manufacturer surpassed 10,000 deliveries for a second consecutive yr, setting a brand new all-time high despite what it described as “difficult global market conditions”. The performance reflects growing customer uptake of Lamborghini’s hybrid strategy. Stephan Winkelmann, chairman and chief executive of Automobili Lamborghini, said: “Despite difficult market conditions, we’re very happy with the outcomes achieved in 2025, which confirm Lamborghini’s ability…
Automotive charity Ben has launched a brand new financial wellbeing campaign as money worries proceed to put a growing strain on industry staff and their families. The campaign was launched today on “Blue Monday”, a day often related to low mood and increased stress. It goals to focus on the size of economic pressure facing automotive staff and encourage those affected to hunt support. Ben said cost of living pressures have turn out to be an on a regular basis reality across the sector. The charity continues to support 1000’s of individuals annually who’re struggling to make ends meet, with…
A big UK dealer group successfully tracked down a brand new automobile that had been lost in its group stock for over a yr after using inventory review technology. The vehicle was uncovered when senior managers carried out a routine review of overage stock across the group using Autofinity’s ViHUB vehicle inventory management and publishing platform. The automobile had been ordered for a customer, however the sale was never accomplished, and the vehicle remained in group stock for greater than a yr. The incident highlights how gaps in inventory visibility can affect dealer profitability, particularly as vehicles are depreciating assets. Autofinity said…
BYD has launched its ninth UK model, the Sealion 5 DM-i plug in hybrid SUV, priced from £29,995 on the road and available to order now. BYD said the brand new Sealion 5 DM-i is geared toward the family SUV segment, offering plug in hybrid technology at a price point designed to compete directly with similarly sized petrol powered models. The Sealion 5 DM-i shall be offered in two trim levels, Comfort and Design, each featuring high levels of normal equipment. Entry level Comfort models include automatic LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera…
Tom Seymour is an experienced freelance journalist specialising within the automotive and business sectors, with greater than 20 years’ experience reporting and analysing industry developments. As a daily contributor to Bauer Media’s B2B titles Fleet News and Automotive Management (AM), he covers topics starting from fleet operations and electrification to dealership performance, manufacturer strategy and the broader mobility landscape. Along with his writing, Tom presents and hosts webinars for AM, leading discussions with senior industry figures on key trends and challenges affecting the UK automotive retail sector. He also plays a central role in shaping and delivering content for the…
Cox Automotive Europe has secured its largest European contract so far, an extended term deal to construct a brand new digital remarketing platform for Stellantis. The agreement expands the firms’ 12 12 months relationship and can see Cox Automotive develop an intelligent software solution to administer buying and selling across the Stellantis used automotive portfolio in a consolidated digital marketplace. The system will handle vehicles across nine markets including France, Germany and Spain. Cox Automotive said the platform will use data from its European operations and expertise from its US parent to optimise remarketing performance and strategy. James Weston, senior vice…
The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) has warned that the Finance Conducty Authority’s (FCA) proposed motor finance redress scheme cannot meet its stated goals and is looking for a more targeted and workable approach. The association has submitted its response to the FCA’s consultation, which officially ended on December 12, with an expected announcement on the shape of the redress scheme before March next yr. The form of this latest scheme may be subjected to an extra legal challenge before any implementation. While lenders support a reputable programme for compensating customers who suffered loss from an unfair relationship under the…