NEWS
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VW launches aftercare plan for older vehicles
The pioneering All-in plan, launching this spring, will be available for customers who drive a vehicle from Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, Seat or Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles that is over three years old, and boasts access to a comprehensive suite of benefits.
Is flexible leasing the key to EV take-up?
Flexibility to lease an electric car for as little as a month could convince drivers that this is the future of car ownership and access to vehicles, to suit rapidly changing lifestyles alongside both domestic and work scenarios. Sales of electric cars are predicted to continue to grow as the Government’s 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars approaches
LEASING & FINANCE
Pandemic has changed used car buyer online expectations
Startline Motor Finance said that there has been a shift towards assuming facilities offered by dealers will match the speed and convenience of retail processes that are commonly available through retailers in other sectors.
Consumer car finance new business down 27% in February
The consumer new car finance market reported a fall in new business volumes of 34% in February compared with the same month in 2020. The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members in the twelve months to February 2021 was 92.8%.
AFTERMARKET & WORKSHOP
Shortage of Vehicle Technicians is costing the UK motor dealers millions
Ingenia is seeing more CVs being submitted where people working in dealerships or bodyshops have questionable backgrounds. This is due to companies having to consider/recruit lower level skilled staff hoping they can be developed to a satisfactory level. Unfortunately, many of these recruits do not reach the required standards quickly enough before they are moved on.
New online compliance solution for workshops
Vehicle workshops can confirm their assets, insert site data and submit their request at the click of a button, before receiving a prompt, tailored quote for an annual inspection. Together with a nationwide team of Bureau Veritas inspection engineers, it means complete peace of mind in an end-to-end compliance solution.
DEALER INSIGHTS
The financial benefit of online sales
Data indicates that, as per 2020, based on an annual used car market of 6.75 million sales, the industry could save £9.5 billion each year. Even a more conservative approach, based on a phased 30% transition to greater online selling, the sector could save £4.7 billion.
With digital, the mountain must move
With only 40% of us going as far as actually visiting a manufacturer’s website during our purchase journey, carmakers can no longer rely on people going to their brand, instead the brand must actively engage them first. In other words, the mountain must move to meet the customer on their turf – most likely on ecosystems such as Facebook or Amazon.
JOBS
Snows appoints new Sales Manager at Mazda Chichester
Rabbetts started his career in 2001 as a trainee with Cambridge Garage Volvo and was headhunted a year later by White Rose Volkswagen in Petersfield. By 2011 he was General Sales Manager, running split sites for both its new and used vehicles.
Lookers creates new role to drive EV strategy
A veteran of the company, Hall started working at Lookers as a trainee assistant in the VAG Oldham showroom and was recently working as a Franchise Director. He will head up the group’s strategy on electric vehicles and sustainability.
