NEWS

Keeping data up-to-date. Maximising your sales potential. Bringing back lost customers. Controlling your stock… When you’re running a car dealership, there are so many plates that need to be kept spinning it’s difficult to make sure that one doesn’t crash to the ground. And if your business is based in more than one location, life [...]

If you’re looking for a way to generate more income at your dealership (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), Armour Automotive has something to offer that could be music to your ears. The company is in the vanguard of technology and has a fantastic product that really could capture your customers’ imagination and drive additional [...]

You probably don’t want to think about it, but your happy and smiling customer who has just left your showroom in their shiny new car could well have an accident in it. The statistics say it’s very likely and could range from a 5mph shunt in the local Tesco car park to, worse, a high-speed road traffic accident. [...]

The internet is making consumers increasingly demanding… and it’s up to car dealers to meet that challenge. that’s according to Alex Rose, associate industry manager (automotive) for Google, who gave a fascinating insight into the workings of the international internet and software corporation at the Car Dealer Profit clinic. Rose, based at the company’s London [...]

WE take a festive five minute break by looking back at some of our best feature issues in 2011. You could say the last 12 months has been Car Dealer’s best year yet – and we think you’d be right. Car Dealer was the first trade publication to break the news of Tesco entering the [...]

Interview: Robert Llewellyn The Red Dwarf star and EV evangelist is the face of the Green Apple Awards for Car Dealerships. JAMES BATCHELOR chats to him about why you should enter the gongs. OWNING, buying and driving an electric car is no bohemian dream for Robert Llewellyn, comedian, actor, electric car fanatic and the face [...]

IN contrast to the dealers who hold one or more manufacturer franchises or an independent trader selling what he can, a specialist dealer has a completely different customer who they need to speak to, and a totally distinct business model. It’s this very situation that becomes clear in our Ewards and allows a specialist dealer to [...]

IT’S a double celebration this week for Macclesfield-based company Carloan4u. The firm has been shortlisted for Business of the Year for the inaugural Macclesfield and Wilmslow Business Awards 2011, while this week marks Carloan4u’s first venture in the world of television with their first TV advertising campaign on ITV1 going live. It’s also been a [...]

In an age where approximately 46m people in the UK have internet access, consumers are able to hit the high streets and shopping centres armed with all of the information they need about the product they want. And car buyers are no different. Those in the market for a new or used car are increasingly [...]

BEING green. Those are two words that are increasingly becoming the norm in everyday vocabulary for everyone ranging from MPs in Westminster to your grandmother. It’s the thing that we should all be doing and the motor industry is quickly learning it needs to catch up. That’s why Car Dealer is supporting the Green Organisation’s inaugural [...]

Volvo’s sales director tells JAMES BATCHELOR the company has a big task on its hands getting its message across… but that the public’s perception of the firm is changing With the Polestar concept and the C30 electric, has Volvo turned a corner in terms of its public perception? To be honest, I think it is [...]

A recent google aftermarket report showed that non-dealer third party retailers like Halfords, Kwik Fit and Mr Clutch took 50 per cent of the overall aftersales market due to better price, location convenience or brand loyalty. This is not great news for a struggling motor retail sector. However, there is a lot for dealers to be positive [...]

Are dealers ‘tyred’ of fighting with local garages and retailers, asks GForces’ Tim Smith Recent research shows the UK replacement tyre market was worth around £1.29bn in 2010, with business distributed between fast-fit chains, independent garages, online tyre specialists and franchised dealerships. A 2010 US Tyres Review, studying hundreds of independent dealers across North America, revealed a [...]

SELLING a car is not only just about getting the customer to sign on the dotted line, there’s a whole number of factors linked to the deal. But there is one element that is often overlooked – the valuation of the customer’s part-exchange. If that wasn’t bad enough, the past few months have also been tricky [...]

JAMES BATCHELOR grabs the chance to speak to Audi’s UK boss about the RS brand and its dealer network How important is RS? It’s very important. Originally we only ever had one model at a time and the RS name began with the RS2. That was seen very much as a bespoke, one-off, almost a [...]

Former car salesman Duncan Chappell takes the reins of our 911 for 2011 bid Cast your mind back to the last issue and you’ll remember our 911 for 2011 update saw us post a small profit off the back of three car sales. As the former car salesman of the Car Dealer team I knew there had to [...]

BMW UK’s head of small cars talks to JAMES BAGGOTT about the firm’s new M car that’s already nearly sold out What sort of buyer will you be targeting with the 1M? The car was conceived to be the youngest and most affordable M car. The target buyer will either be in a high-end 1 [...]

An increased number of engine types in the Mini reflects the expanding range of models available. The director of Mini UK talks to JAMES BATCHELOR Why has it taken so long for a diesel engine to appear in the Cooper S? It’s taken so long because we were looking closely at the potential demand for [...]

Car Dealer and TV’s Mr Wheeler Dealer Mike Brewer are launching a unique used car awards for 2012. Aimed at celebrating the very best in the used car industry, the Wheeler Dealer Used Car Awards will be powered by Car Dealer – and will be open for dealers of all shapes and sizes To be [...]

There are always some who arrive early to the party – especially when it comes to new technology. Manufacturers hope that by diving in first they can steal a march on their rivals and capitalise when the new-fangled idea really takes off. And that’s pretty much what’s happening now with electric cars and the automotive industry. [...]