Motor Trade Insider

Car Boss – Buying Saab

Steve Bell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:39:04 +0000

With our plans afoot (albeit fictitious), about resurrecting and running SAAB, the Geneva Motor Show in March would be a perfect platform to announce our future plans. In the meantime..... The Paragon Automotive board have already been reading through documents that detail the buy-out offer for...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

Could car sales utopia be edging closer?

In51der — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:15:57 +0000

Car retailers are constantly looking at ways of improving the service they provide to their customers but also the perception of how people view the motor trade in general. The old adage is that if you have a good experience you may tell a few people, but if you have a bad one you tell [...]Related...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

When is a used car bargain not a used car bargain?

In51der — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:11:56 +0000

With the end of January in sight many dealers are breathing a collective sigh of relief at the fact that there are indeed customers about with money to spend on cars. However it is clear that buyers are taking their time to choose a car and are being selective about where they are buying from....

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

Americans holding on to their cars longer

MTI — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:05:07 +0000

Americans are holding onto cars longer, pushing the average age of a vehicle on the country's road to a record 11 years. The average age of a car last July was 11.1 years, while the truck average was 10.4, according to automotive research firm Polk. Unemployment and the economic factors have caused...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

Optimistic predictions and the same old mistakes

In51der — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:11:01 +0000

Whilst many car manufacturers are predicting growth this year, the franchised dealer network is nervous at the prospect of having registrations forced upon them in order to enable their car making masters to achieve these growth forecasts. There has been much said in the trade press along the lines...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

Move aside Renault there’s a new kid in town

In51der — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:20:02 +0000

The Chinese are coming! Well they’re dipping their toes in the car retailing water anyway. With most large car makers and dealer groups looking to exploit the economic spurt happening over in China it’s somewhat ironic that jauntily named Chinese car maker Geely will be coming to a showroom near...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

UK car production up 1.6% in December and 5.8% in 2011

MTI — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:30:05 +0000

Car production in the UK rose by 5.8% in 2011, industry figures show. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said manufacturing had ended the year with a 1.6% rise in December, producing a total of 1,343,810 vehicles in the year. The SMMT said record exports had been the main driver...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

Car dealers need the appliance of science to value their older part-exchanges

In51der — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:10:00 +0000

For car dealers and car buyers alike, getting the part-exchange right will be more vital this year than in recent times - given the likely dearth of retailable 3 year old examples. With the pivotal 3 year old sector some 500,000 units down customers wishing to trade-in for a new car may be sitting...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

January’s already proving tougher than expected

In51der — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:13:43 +0000

The one upside of a downturn (see what I’ve done there?) is that the roads are less busy; well that’s the theory anyway. However I really have noticed in my journeys up and down this green and pleasant land that most of my hold ups seem to be for accidents rather than pure congestion and...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.

“Challenging market conditions in 2012″ doesn’t really begin to cover it

In51der — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:43:40 +0000

Car Dealers competing for less business is the likely outcome for 2012 as the downturn looks to have set in for a while yet. Maximising every enquiry will be a vital factor in the success of the business as a result. According to many in the industry car makers are likely to push for registrations...

Motor Trade Insider - Advice, Information, Trends, Current events, News, Views, Opinions and Debate.