Editor’s Blog

Check out the April issue of Motor Trader, which features our annual look at the Top 200 Dealer Groups in the UK by turnover. Dealers turned in an impressive performance in the latest report with profitability and return on sales showing strong gains. While turnover fell 17% to £63.6bn, profitability increased with average return on sales for the entire MT ...

This month we look in depth at the agency model and try and assess the implications for dealers of all sizes, customers, carmakers and intermediaries. It is early days yet, but we chart what different carmakers are doing and also some plans in the pipeline and try to gain some insight into how profitability will be impacted and whether the ...

This month we launch the first of a series of features looking at Electric Vehicles (EVs). Sales are rising, and dealers and carmakers are responding to the challenges presented, in terms of charging, infrastructure, values, battery replacement, sales and aftersales. Motor Trader has also launched an EV channel on the website and a weekly EV  e-newsletter. In October we will ...

The past year has been an extraordinary one with dealers having to adapt to a rapidly changing market. Cazoo has spent the year sponsoring major sports events to build its brand in the UK and Europe, buying in logistics, refurbishment, fleet and leasing services to ramp up sales. It is joined by cinch (owned by Constellation which also owns BCA ...

Dealers are now beginning to see an acceleration in interest in electric vehicles as carmakers gear up to meet the government’s net zero emissions by 2050. This month we saw The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) reveal that it has now accredited over 200 dealers on its Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) scheme, which has been reopened. Volvo is one carmaker ...

Over the past few weeks we have a series of results from dealer groups showing how they have performed in the first half of the year. The results have been positive in many cases. Pent-up demand and rising consumer confidence have been good for business. But some have warned that the second half is going to be – is – ...

The big story this month comes from Stellantis, which has outlined plans to overhaul the distribution of its car brands in the UK to be complete by 2027. It has terminated the current distribution contracts for networks. In the UK. Stellantis distributes Alfa Romeo, Citroen, DS Automobiles, Jeep, Peugeot and Vauxhall cars. In the UK, the intention is for Alfa ...

It has been a busy time for dealers as they emerge from the pandemic and look to their business in 2021, dealing with new vehicle shortages and the impact that is having on the used car market. Many of the bigger dealer groups are looking to expand. Stoneacre Motor Group hit the acquisition trail this month with the acquisition of ...

Last year was a particularly tough one for dealers as they came to terms with the impact of three lockdowns with showrooms temporarily closed for business.The pandemic threw into sharp relief the relationships dealers have with suppliers, and carmakers and showed just how far the government was prepared to go in providing relief to companies facing massive cashflow problems.In the ...

Welcome to the April issue of Motor Trader and welcome, too, to showrooms opening earlier this month with dealers working to cater for the pent-up demand for cars and services halted in the lockdown. This time around we look at motor finance in our survey of 200 dealers. The new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) finance rules have been in place ...