INDICATA’s latest Market Watch report saw used diesel car sales fall to a record low in August while used petrol sales rose to 54.6% and hybrids and BEVs comprised 22.5% and 6.6% respectively. However, Group Sales Director Jon Mitchell expects the Prime Minister’s announcement to inject new life into diesel sales and expects used prices to rise.
In the first half of 2023, the total number of individual dealers making bids rose by 42%, and the total number of offers made by those dealers increased by 99%. Even more of those bids are turning into transactions, with dealer purchases from online auctions in the first half of 2023 growing by 60% compared to the second half of 2022.
There are signs that new and younger drivers are increasingly choosing to learn and drive an automatic car. In 2017/18, 163,790 driving tests were conducted in automatics. By 2022/23 this figure had doubled (up 98%) to 324,064. AA Driving School's data shows that in January 2022, 86% of its franchisees were teaching in manual cars and 14% in automatics. As of July 2023, the number of instructors using manual cars decreased to 81% and those teaching in automatics increased to 19%.
September’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows that 45% also believe there will be better stock supply and 43% that demand for electric vehicles (EVs) will increase. However, just 25% expect there to be an improvement in consumer confidence.
There is greater agreement when it comes to the current EV stock supply that is available, with 37% agreeing that more electric cars that meet everyday needs are important while 28% point out there are too many expensive, executive EVs in the market.
Annual figures show sales of new electric cars are up nearly 90% compared with 2022, while sales of second-hand models have risen 82%. However, the latest data from AA Cars suggest that interest in EVs may be cooling.
A new feature added to 1link Disposal Network that is being used by VWFS under the five- year deal is the Claims Portal, an online tool that provides the means to resolve any vehicle damage issues quickly and easily through digital channels between vendor and buyer, either by returning the vehicle or agreeing on compensation.
According to data from iTrackLEADS, May marked the fourth consecutive month of rising enquiries this year. However, the number of enquiries converting to test drives fell from 8.3% to 7.7%, which created a 4.6% fall in the overall number of test drives.
More time and money are needed to recondition vehicles, and as the industry knows, consumers are well versed with their statutory rights and consumer rights, which can come into play long after the car has left the forecourt.
Southampton Car Centre, one of a number of businesses specialising in pre-owned vehicles operated by Snows, provides the same levels of quality and service as the company’s network of franchised dealerships, which are located across the South and South West of England.
