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This month in Dealer Insight we feature LSH Auto UK, which opened a new BYD showroom in Stockport. Chinese electric vehicles are in the news and attracting a lot of interest from dealers. LSH belongs to a select club, being one of a handful of dealers to partner with the Chinese EV brand.
Vaughan Blackman, former LSH Australia general manager, was drafted into the UK as managing director at LSH Auto UK in early 2023, a timely move as Blackman had experience of agency with Mercedes-Benz in LSH Australia.
In this issue we have a Special Report on the UK Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which will have implications for dealers from next year.
The Mandate proposes 22% of new UK car sales by brand in 2024 must be zero-emission. This percentage will then increase in significant leaps every year until 80% by 2030. Some believe carmakers, in some cases, may artificially restrict the supply of petrol and diesel cars and maybe boost EV supply beyond what the natural market can stand to avoid fines.
We also cover the issue of stock push this month, which is reported to be broad and targeted, just as it was in the past before the pandemic and chip shortage happened.
No finger pointing at specific brands in this case but the thumbs up from dealer CEOs on the story and the attention it attracted on the Motor Trader website tells its own tale. Perhaps, the only surprise is that it has taken so long for this to come to pass.
And we talk to Stuart Mustoe, the new CEO of TrustFord, the factory-owned dealer group, which is making a big effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
The environmental credentials of dealer groups can only grow in importance. TrustFord has installed LED lighting and started installing solar panels.
It also has an energy champion on every site, someone that is responsible at the dealership to work with management team to ensure various green initiatives are being upheld, such as recycling or monitoring consumption wastage.
Since October last year it has run an intra-dealer competition to reduce energy consumption, which is good for its green credentials but also reduces – still much higher – utility bills.
The issue of the environment credentials will feature in a key note presentation at the Motor Trader EXPO taking place in Silverstone in October this year. It’s one to watch.