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Chevrolet
Chevrolet has enjoyed a strong start to 2012 with sales in the year to date up 40.3 per cent, having seen year on year demand grow 9 per cent during the March plate-change. Furthermore the brand is preparing its network for what it expects to be a bumper year for new car sales. “This will be a record year for Chevrolet. The question is how far will we break the record?” said Chevrolet UK managing director Mark Terry.
Dealers recently started selling the new generation Aveo supermini and will sell the Volt plug-in electric hybrid from May. The brand has a 92-strong dealer network and will discuss open point opportunities at the event.
Geely
Geely, the Chinese carmaker, will be launching in the UK by the end of this year by which time it hopes to recruit up to 40 dealers. Next year it plans to have 100. The brand confirmed its debut here will be led by the Emgrand EC7, a family segment saloon and five door hatchback, priced from around £10,000. UK sales are being handled by the newly formed Geely Auto UK, a subsidiary of Manganese Bronze, the London black taxi maker and distributor. The brand is looking for small independently owned businesses with high profiles in their local markets.
“We are starting with a clean sheet so we are open to new ideas from the people on the front line of retail sales and service. There will be no extravagant sales targets and no forced selling from us to our dealers. We want dealers to be profitable and have freedom to run their own businesses,” said Matthew Cheyne, market development director.
Seat
Seat is looking to expand its 124-strong dealer network by filling 11 open points. Key locations include Surrey, west London, south Birmingham and East Anglia. This is set to be a busy year for the brand with four new model launches, the largest new product offensive in the brand’s history. Leading the new models will be the all-new Mii city car.
“Seat UK’s dealer jigsaw is almost complete. We have great representation from a broad range of businesses nationwide, with only a handful of open points to fill,” said Jason Cranswick, Seat’s national franchise manager. “I’m looking to ensure that we add partners who share Seat’s vision for profitable growth and success.”
SsangYong
SsangYong’s relaunch in the UK started last year. It now has 52 dealers in its network and is looking to fill a number of sites across the UK with open points in Inverness, Aberdeen, Borders, Newcastle, Teesside, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Nottingham, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Coventry, Watford, Leicester, Reading, Exeter, Southampton, London/South East, Mid and North Wales. This year will see the debut of an all-new sports utility pick-up.
“We have worked really hard over the past few months to talk to as many prospective dealers as possible, and this is really paying dividends” said Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK.
Fiat Group
Each brand in the expanded Fiat Group is currently recruiting dealers. Fiat currently has 164 UK sites and has identified 14 open points. Priorities are in Leeds, Birmingham, London NW, Nottingham, Bedford, Sunderland and Huddersfield Alfa Romeo, which enjoyed a 30 per cent sales growth in 2011, has 54 sites and 21 open points. The sporting brand is keen to recruit dealers in Leeds, Swansea, Aberdeen and Basingstoke. While Chrysler Jeep is looking to nearly double the size of its network. It currently has 48 sites and is looking for an additional 44. Key locations include Liverpool, Birmingham, Birmingham SW, Slough, Portsmouth, Brighton, Guildford, London N, London NW, London SW, London SE, Milton Keynes, Watford, Sunderland, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Swansea, Maidstone, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Peterborough, Plymouth and York.
IM Group
The IM Group will be represented by Great Wall, Subaru and Isuzu, all of whom are actively recruiting dealers. Subaru currently has 30 dealers, Isuzu 100 and Great Wall 30. This year looks set to busy for all three with Subaru launching the XV Crossover and BRZ and Isuzu unveiling the D-Max. While Great Wall shortly makes its UK debut with the GW Steed pick-up.
“There are open point opportunities for each brand and we’re happy to discuss representation with interested parties,” said a spokesman.
Proton
With new models being readied for launch Proton is looking to increase its 74-strong dealer network.
“Proton is planning the introduction of four completely new models before the end of 2013, and are looking for capable and ambitious new dealers to support these launches,” said Simon Park, Proton’s general manager for sales and marketing.
Mia Electric
Mia Electric will make its UK debut at the Motor Trader Open Points Roadshow as the brand seeks to establish a network of dealers with its first two plug-in vehicles the Mia and Mia L. Dealers interested in learning more about this business opportunity can meet the importer Venture Automotive at the event.
Venture Automotive is looking for new and used car retailers and is headed up by Paul Evans who was part of the team that introduced Seat to the UK in 1986.