News

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) and the British Motor Show have renewed their partnership for 2023. It also announced an all-new Tech Hub sponsored by the IMI. The IMI Tech Hub will feature a replica of a full-sized garage service bay and ICE and EV cars, with engaging workshops helping visitors learn more about the technological advances in ...

UK automotive manufacturers have reduced the carbon footprint of production to its lowest level on record. the SMMT has reported that the industry reduced emissions per vehicle made last year by -2.8%, while at the same time producing a record-high proportion of electrified vehicles (EVs). Electric vehicles require more energy to produce, but manufacturers have been able to advance the ...

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has appointed Tom Macintyre as head of direct sales in the UK, starting on 1 September 2023. Macintyre joined Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in August 2021 as head of product planning, having previously built a successful career at Volkswagen Financial Services. Cian O’Brien, director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “We are delighted to offer Tom this opportunity to ...

The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market has grown for the sixth consecutive month by 31.0% to 34,630 units in the best June since 2019. According to the latest figures published by the SMMT, 169,926 new vans, pickups and 4x4s were registered in the first half of 2023, up 17.7% compared with the same period last year, as once ...

GWM ORA UK has announced a new partnership with Sinclair Group. The brand will launch initially with one site in Swansea. GWM ORA UK has announced six new retail group partnerships this year already and is on track to achieve a total of 20 full sales sites by the end of 2023. Toby Marshall, managing director, GWM ORA UK, said: ...

Flear & Thomson is updating its Kia showrooms in-line with the latest brand evolution and style. The new showroom at Stirling is complete, while Dunfermline is currently under construction and the dealer group’s third Kia site at Perth will follow with a refit in due course. Also, Raymond Massie has been appointed as Flear & Thomson’s group sales operations manager. ...

Email reminders are prompting owners to book services. According to new research from Marketing Delivery found that, on average, 34.5% of eligible customers made a service booking in response to an email reminder during the first five months of 2023, compared to 24.2% during the same period last year. The increase in conversions is highest among owners of older vehicles. ...

An increasing in advertising and cut price deals helped drive sales of new EVs in June. That’s the view of Auto Trader commercial director Ian Plummer commenting on the June sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders. “Our figures show the electric share of the new car market enjoyed a much-needed boost in June – taking 15% ...

The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has called on the government to introduce incentives to narrow the gap between EVs and traditional petrol and diesel ICE vehicles. NFDA CEO Sue Robinson said the difference in price was hampering sales, particularly in tough economic conditions with high inflation. “Ongoing economic turbulence, including rising interest rates and inflation is impacting consumer spending ...

Wilsons has appointed Aston Barclay as its remarketing provider. The family-run new and used car and van dealer group operates 11 franchises in Surrey and will sell 1,500 vehicles per annum at Aston Barclay’s weekly Wednesday Chelmsford dealer sale. Wilsons will send dealer part exchanges to Aston Barclay from its Stellantis, Nissan, MG, Renault, and Hyundai franchises. It will also ...