MT Interview

Norton Way recently began an electric vehicle charging scheme that powers both its Letchworth dealership and the cars on the forecourt. Motor Trader spoke to Neal Grainger, financial director of Norton Way Group on its EV plans. In March 2021, Norton Way announced that its Nissan dealership in Letchworth was taking part in an electric vehicle charging scheme to help ...

Motor Trader speaks to managing director and third-generation owner of Gravells, Jonathan Gravell, on the group’s family atmosphere and how it has earned several customer service awards. Gravells is a familiar and long serving face in South Wales, with the company founded in Kidwelly in 1932. It then took on Renault in 1954 making it the oldest Renault dealership in ...

What a year to take up the new job. Andrew Humberstone was appointed as managing director of Nissan Motor GB in January 2020. By the time he had got his feet under the desk in Nissan HQ in Maples Cross, West London, the pandemic had struck and he, like everyone else, was looking at a market under siege with showrooms ...

It came as a surprise for many when Mercedes-Benz Vans UK managing director Steve Bridge jumped ship in February to head up eStar Truck & Van as MD. Bridge had been with Mercedes-Benz Vans UK for 20 years. On his watch Mercedes-Benz Vans UK’s sales volumes rose from 25,000 vehicles a year to a peak of 44,000 units in 2019. ...

Volvo has set out a target to have its network fully accredited by the Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) scheme in 2021. The target was outlined at a briefing, which also covered its sales targets for EVs and Care by Volvo scheme. The scheme was developed by the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) and the Energy Saving Trust (EST)  in 2019. ...

Motor Trader talks to Peter Vardy, CEO of the eponymous group, on his plans for 2021 Peter Vardy, the Scottish family-run retail group, began 2021 on a high, reporting a 14.8% rise in pre-tax profits in 2019 to £6.3m on turnover up 0.5% to £471.2m. In results filed at Companies House it said its CarStore businesses offered the highest profit ...

Drive Motor Retail has worked its way to the top of the Vauxhall lead tables in a year fraught with closures, social distancing, and changes in customer behaviour. Drive Motor Retail Group recently announced a strong performance in the Vauxhall dealership 360 performance rankings for 2020 with its Hartlepool showroom ranked first out of 170 dealerships. Five of Drive’s dealerships ...

Interesting times at Cambria Automobiles. Earlier this month it announced its half year results, which were positive given the impact of the pandemic with showrooms shut for business. The dealer group saw underlying pre-tax profits rise 55.5% at £9.8m on turnover down 16% to £254.7m for the half year to 28 February 2021. So far so good. During the period ...

Now that the 2030 deadline for the sales ban on internal combustion engine vehicles is confirmed, Arnold Clark has got ahead of the game and opened up a centre dedicated to the showcase of AFVs, and the education of both visitors and staff In early January, Arnold Clark opened an Innovation Centre in Glasgow featuring electric and hybrid cars with ...

Following Motor Trader Awards success, Beechwood MD Rob Wood talks about making tough changes and still putting the customer first during the pandemic. Beechwood Mazda and Suzuki won the Motor Trader Industry Awards Most Improved Dealership Award in December 2020, with an entry that showed bravery and willingness to change through accepting the advice of others. A company that was ...