Nissan dealers take on new corporate identity

Two Nissan dealerships in Cornwall and South Wales have become the first in the UK to display the brand’s new corporate identity. The first two dealerships to make the change are Hawkins Motor Group’s Nissan dealership in Penryn, and Griffin Mill in Pontypridd. The refined new logo inside and outside showrooms is part of the… Continue reading Nissan dealers take on new corporate identity

Read Motor Group acquires Beechdale Motor

Read Motor Group has acquired Derby-based Beechdale Motor Group for an undisclosed sum. Beechdale has been in business since 1982, operated by John Oldfield. It holds the Hyundai, Alfa Romeo and Jeep franchises. Accounts filed at Companies House saw it deliver pre-tax profits of £266,875 on turnover of £29.9m in the year to October 2020.… Continue reading Read Motor Group acquires Beechdale Motor

The “online trend is here to stay” as dealers voice concern over online purchases

Almost half (46%) of car dealers say they worry about the rise in online car purchases. According to research from Close Brothers Motor Finance almost a third (30%) of dealers surveyed in Dealer Satisfaction Survey said they worry about customers turning to online car sale websites instead of dealer showrooms, while 16% are concerned buyers will… Continue reading The “online trend is here to stay” as dealers voice concern over online purchases

Riverside Motors buys Harratts Honda dealership in Wakefield

Yorkshire based Riverside Motor Group has acquired Harratts Group’s Honda site at Calder Park Wakefield for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes Harratts’ Honda dealership and assets at Calder Park, its Kia showroom, and a lease of premises at Darton, Barnsley for a period of 10 years. Riverside will represent Honda for Wakefield and Barnsley… Continue reading Riverside Motors buys Harratts Honda dealership in Wakefield

Dealers deliver record used car profits with rising prices

The average retailer delivering a bumper profit of over £60,000 in May, traditionally a weak month. The used car market continued to deliver record profitability levels. Margins remain very strong, with increased purchases prices being successfully passed on to the customer, according to dealer profitability specialist ASE. “As yet there is no sign of this… Continue reading Dealers deliver record used car profits with rising prices

DM Keith acquires Ringways Motor Group

Yorkshire-based DM Keith has acquired Ringways Motor Group for an undisclosed sum. DM Keith, which currently represents Skoda, Seat Cupra and Honda, is rated 93 in the Motor Trader Top 200 Dealer Groups with annual turnover of £149.9m. Ringways Motor Group is rated 134 in the Top 200 with annual turnover of £84.5m. It is… Continue reading DM Keith acquires Ringways Motor Group

carwow acquires car selling platform Wizzle

carwow has announced the acquisition of used car buying platform, Wizzle. Wizzle is the brainchild of Sébastien Duval who first set about building an app to help car dealers appraise and value used cars that had been driven onto used car forecourts. Wizzle now has more than 2,000 dealers using the platform who are buying… Continue reading carwow acquires car selling platform Wizzle

Threat of further lockdowns is biggest concern for dealers

The recovery from Covid-19 is the main concern for car dealers when thinking about the future of their business, according to new research from Close Brothers Motor Finance. Over a third (35%) of dealers surveyed in the Dealer Satisfaction Survey said that Covid-19 recovery and the potential for future lockdowns poses the biggest threat to… Continue reading Threat of further lockdowns is biggest concern for dealers

Used cars drive dealers to 1.35% return on sales in April

Profitable used car sales helped the average dealer deliver a return on sales of 1.35% in April. Dealer profitability specialist ASE said that despite months under lockdown strong profits from used car sales allied to cost cutting and use of government help schemes had driven the performance. Used car return on investment has risen to… Continue reading Used cars drive dealers to 1.35% return on sales in April

Dealers see ‘acceleration’ in used car prices

Used car prices on forecourts rose for the 14th consecutive month in May, driven by the growing imbalance of supply and demand in the market. According to the latest results from the Auto Trader Retail Price Index, which is based on daily pricing analysis of circa 900,000 vehicles, the average price of a used car… Continue reading Dealers see ‘acceleration’ in used car prices