NEWS

MAZDA is launching a simple post-scrappage deal for customers that eliminates the need for a trade-in motor. This, says Mazda director Mark Cameron, ‘ensures anyone who wants to buy a new Mazda can benefit from a great deal’. To remove ‘discrimination’ now scrappage funds have run out, the firm plans to market a range of [...]

SCRAPPAGE key car maker players have given Car Dealer Magazine their thoughts on the Exit Phase scheme. Ford, Kia and Toyota have all offered us their views. And it is Kia that is most outspoken! ‘KMUK is somewhat disappointed,’ said a spokesman, ‘that the scrappage scheme exit plan does not properly reflect the clear view [...]

SCRAPPAGE Exit Phase plans begin today with 37 car brands each handed an allocation from remaining funds. The managed run-down of the scrappage fund is being instigated to ensure closing-stage dramas are minimised. Car Dealer Magazine was briefed on the Exit Phase plans by the BIS on Monday, but sworn to secrecy. A senior spokesperson [...]

AUTOTORQ.COM has benefitted from being fast to market in developing a tool to aid scrappage sales. The firm was among the first firms to develop a car dealer devise for maximising scrap leads capture. This has resulted in an increase in customer leads of over 12 percent. The firm launched its online scrappage-boosting tool last [...]

FORD may be top new car seller in the UK but it holds 2nd place to Hyundai in the scrappage league. To date, Hyundai has sold 36,647 new cars under the scrap scheme. This compares with Ford’s 35,564 total – and the two brands are way ahead of the 3rd-placed manufacturer, Toyota. The Japanese firm [...]

GOVERNMENT officials have confirmed Car Dealer reports that the scrappage scheme was to be extended. The scheme will now run for an extra month and finish at the end of March. Lord Mandelson said this was to allow car dealers ‘more time to prepare for and operate the exit phase of the scheme.’ It will [...]

SCRAPPAGE shock will be eased if car dealers turn their attentions to profitable opportunities in Motability sales. Car industry consultancy Network Automotive says car dealers are currently underexploiting Motability sales. There is no doubt the end of the scrappage scheme will cause a sudden drop in new car sales, said MD Colin Bruder. However, focusing [...]

SCRAPPAGE has been a great success in broadening car dealer opportunities says Peugeot MD Jon Goodman. However, he says that when it comes to an end, Peugeot will look to other creative plans to incentivise cars, rather than launch a self-financed copycat scheme. ‘The scheme has brought people into car showrooms who would not normally [...]

MAZDA UK MD Jeremy Thomson has praised the official Exit Strategy for handling the end of the scrappage scheme. He said it will guarantee the Japanese brand will get sufficient and fair funding from what’s left of the scrappage pot. What’s more, the Japanese brand has also been planning for the end of scrappage, and [...]

CAR Dealer Magazine has sourced official information on how the final stages of scrappage will operate. Car makers have already agreed they will take part in a 2-phase quota system, to fairly allocate remaining subsidies. Today, BIS has finally revealed the logistics of how this will all work. It points out, too, that it’s a [...]

SCRAPPAGE has helped Hyundai to such big UK gains that the maker intends to continue success. The firm today thus launches TWO post-scrappage schemes – Trade & Upgrade and Happy Returns. Trade & Upgrade is a generous scrappage-type scheme, that will give owners of cars aged between 7 and 10 years old the same £2000 [...]

MINISTERS are to allocate quotas to car makers for the final funds from the scrappage cash pot. Officials say rebates for less than 82,000 cars remains as the scheme enters its final weeks. The rationing will be based on brand popularity, said business secretary Lord Mandelson. This, he said, will ensure the scheme runs down [...]

FLEET experts are expecting car firms to begin a company car charm offensive to drive 2010 sales. The BVRLA says that, without scrappage, it will be hoped fleets will pick up the slack. Indeed, there could be a double bonus for car firms and dealers. Whereas scrappage sales have driven small, cheap cars, fleet buyers [...]

SCRAPPAGE registrations have smashed the quarter-million mark after snaring a fifth of November sales. 21.6 percent of motors registered in November were under the scrappage scheme. This means the impact of it remains huge, said SMMT chief Paul Everitt. ‘Scrappage continues to have a positive impact on vehicle registrations, contributing to the 57.6 percent increase [...]

VOLVO says it will become the first premium brand to sell more new cars in 2009 than it did last year. New car sales to date stand at 31,393… with 2008’s year-long total of 31,655 in clear sight! This will also see the brand exceed its Q4 sales target of selling more than 10,000 cars… [...]

SMMT figures show November car registrations were up 57.6 percent on 2008 levels – in line with 2007 sales. This has led SMMT chief Paul Everitt to predict the market will exceed 1.975 million units. Could the 2009 UK new car market thus defy all odds and hit the magic 2 million mark? So far, [...]

ENGLISH Ford in Poole has a scrappage deal waiting for a driver who crashed right outside its premises! The Ford main dealer’s security barriers luckily ensured only 1 car will be scrapped – the driver’s classic Renault Clio 16v. What’s more, in an example of PR brilliance, the car dealer has just released images of [...]

FORD continues to lead the UK scrappage sales chart and has just recorded its 30,000th scrappage sale. Dave Quick bought a Ford Transit van, meaning Ford has now sold 1100 CVs through scrappage. Hendy Ford sales manager David Graham said ‘Dave Quick is one of a number of business people trading up to new Ford [...]

CLASSIC FM listener Chris Flynn was the lucky winner of a Subaru Legacy in a competition 11 years ago. More than a decade on, it’s time to change – and this time he’s paid for his new car. What’s more, it’s a Subaru car dealer that’s finally got him to open his wallet! Derek Slack [...]

SCRAPPAGE incentives are widely being credited as the driving force behind recent new car sales rises. However, the SMMT has just released data, showing that October sales would have gone up even without scrappage The market would have risen by 3.9 percent over 2008 levels – less than the actual scrappage-boosted 31.6 percent figure, but [...]