Auto Retail Agenda: 11 June 2018
10 June 2018
- STOCK PUSH THREAT OVER WLTP
- THREAT TO LONDON RETAILERS FROM DIESEL TAX PLAN
- SUZUKI NAMES BEST FOR AFTERSALES
- THEME EVENTS WORK, SAYS SUPERCAR RETAILER
- WHO’S WHERE IN AUTO RETAIL 2018 OUT NOW
- VW WANTS FUN REBRAND FOR EVs
- PAY AS YOU DRIVE FOR MERCEDES
- STOCKWATCH – Inchcape leads week of gains
- MONEY MATTERS – Media on mobiles up
- LAUCH DIARY – Dacia Duster, 2019 Jeep Renegade, Audi Q8, Peugeot 508 SW and Rifter, Volvo S60
- COMING UP – Cebit digital expo, inflation figures
- OUR BLOG – Show customers what cars can really do
Stock push threat over WLTP
Retailers need to be much more clued up on the imminent changes with the WLTP emissions tests and how manufacturers could push extra stock onto them.
The warning comes from Dave Kendrick, head of automotive at UHY Hacker Young, who says widespread ignorance in the trade about how the September change could affect them is worrying.
The analyst said: “One area that dealers must be switched on to is the deadline surrounding the WLTP changes and potential for excess manufacturer stock to be pushed out to the dealers, as well as ensuring that all stock held by the dealers is registered in time. From recent conversations it is somewhat worrying the lack of knowledge that appears to be out in the market on such a significant topic that is likely to unsettle the market in the short term.”
Threat to London retailers from diesel tax plan
More than 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries are to be hit by daily charge of £12.50 in a major expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone from April 8 next year and rolled out in 2021 as far as the north and south circulars. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said it will apply to diesels built before 2016 which don’t meet Euro 6 emissions standards.
Edmund King, AA president, said it will unfairly penalise businesses and lower income drivers who bought diesels in good faith following earlier government incentives. He called on Transport for London to fund a diesel scrappage scheme.
Suzuki names its best for aftersales
Suzuki has named its network’s best aftersales manager, aftersales advisor and technician which were awarded to Paul Coghlan of West End Suzuki in Dundee, Mark Sims of Stephen A Sims Cars Limited in Darlington and Barry Russell of Eastbourne Suzuki in East Sussex respectively.
More than 350 dealership staff entered the Aftersales Guild Awards with the top trio receiving certificates presented by Nobuo Suyama, Suzuki GB’s managing director, Dale Wyatt, director of automobile, and Denis Houston, director of aftersales.
Daniel Parkes, of Newmans Suzuki (Southampton) won the The Tim Crewdson Award, for being the apprentice who made an outstanding improvement during the last 12 months.
Themed events work, says supercar dealer
Supercar retailer HR Owen has said its themed events for owners and enthusiasts are worth the effort because they put the brands’ products and the dealership’s approach to customer service in front of a target audience.
Its Manchester Lamborghini recently attracted more than 300 people with a display of more than 40 cars, from Bugattis to rare Lamborghinis at its Supercar Sunday, one of a series of such events it stages throughout the year. As part of the day it opened its workshop to visitors and had models such as the Aventador S, Murcielago and Huracan Performante on view.
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WORLD NEWS
VW wants a fun image for EVs
VW says it needs a new, less Teutonic and a more fun brand image as it enters the world of electric vehicles and new thinking on car usage.
Pay as you drive for Merc
Mercedes-Benz is following BMW, Porsche, Infiniti and Jeep in trialling an app-based car subscription scheme in the US it says could appeal to younger motorists with pay-to-use rather than pay-to-own lifestyles.
STOCKWATCH
Closing prices at Friday June 8 and weekly movement.
BCA 211.0 p (+15.4p)
Cambria 63.5p (1.2p)
Caffyns 425.0p (-4p)
Inchcape 762.0p (+22.5p)
Lookers 109.2p (+2.8)
Marshall Motor Holdings 165.5p (-1.5p)
Motorpoint 254.0p (+9.0p)
Pendragon 26.3p (-0.95p)
Vertu 51.2p (+1.2p)
LAUNCH DIARY
Second generation Dacia Duster remains UK’s cheapest SUV. New look outside and in, safer, two/four wheel drive. From £9,995.
2019 Jeep Renegade unveiled at Turin Motor Show with three and four cylinder petrol engines from 1.0 to 1.3 litres. On sale next year, prices tbc.
Audi Q8. Five seater SUV range topper introduces more athletic styling for the Q cars. launch summer 2018, prices tbc.
Peugeot 508 SW. Estate version of new saloon has premium hi-fi, PEUGEOT i-Cockpit and generous spec on latest gen driving aids to meet EuroNCAP standards. On sale January 2019, prices tbc.
Peugeot Rifter. Order books open for seven seater replacement for the Tepee, i-Cockpit, standard and long wheelbase versions, sliding rear doors.
MONEY MATTERS
Media on mobiles up
Almost a quarter (24%) of all media consumption will be on mobile this year, up from 5% in 2011, and is expected to climb to 28% by 2020. Going the other way, time spent reading newspapers has fallen 45% since 2011, printed magazines are down 56% during the same time frame and TV viewing time has shrunk by 3% between 2011 and 2018
Salaries rising
Employers are paying more to attract staff on permanent contracts to counter a shortage of candidates.
The monthly gauge of starting salaries from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) jumped to 63.4 from 60.5 in April, its highest since May 2015.
An REC report said: “Because of the lack of candidate availability we are seeing employers paying higher salaries to attract the right people.”
IT and engineering saw the biggest wage rises.
COMING UP
Monday – Cebit, International conference on digital economy, manufacturing, commerce in Hanover
Wednesday – Consumer price inflation for May 2018
OUR BLOG
Get people to enjoy their cars – it works
Adrian Frearson, that was his name, the energetic sales exec at what was then Greenhous Vauxhall in my native Stoke-on-Trent. When I was a young motoring writer for the local newspaper he invited me to spend one Saturday with him and a group of drivers who owned, or were thinking of buying, a Vauxhall Frontera 4×4.
He had arranged an off-road course over farmers’ land and woods, everyone enjoyed themselves and it soon became a regular event. Business resulted from it too with sales of cars, parts and accessories and workshop time all coming from Adrian’s efforts.
The point is, themed showroom events or activities can work because it gives owners and enthusiasts the chance to do something absolutely vital with their cars. Get to enjoy them.
In the modern context the opportunity for retailers to lift their profile and engage with a targeted audience is greater now than ever thanks to social media.
Off the top of my head I can think of a dealer which linked up with a national chain of baby care products to highlight how effective some of its models can be for young families. Over a weekend the chain bought in some staff who gave talks and demonstrations on child seats, tips on what to pack for a journey with a little ’un and so on. With a few give-away goody bags, a sandwich and a drink it went down a storm.
People posted their pictures on Facebook which were soon flying around and the images were all of this retailer and its cars surrounded by happy parents.
You couldn’t buy that kind of advertising.
I know of an SUV dealer which teamed up with a caravan retailer, got in some driving instructors to teach manoeuvring and between them in one day they saw and met more people who by definition are in that market than they probably would in a month of waiting for the showroom door to open or the phone to ring.
Getting bums on seats to try EVs and hybrids, showing suitable first cars for newly qualified drivers and maybe getting an insurer to come along, top models for towing, there are several avenues which can work with a bit of imagination.
HR Owen recently did so at its Lamborghini franchise in Manchester when it hosted a Supercar Saturday. True, not everyone can lay their hands on Lambos or Bugattis or attract customers for whom such a car is just one of several in their garage but everyone can have a bit of imagination and willingness to try something different.
What do you reckon?
John Swift
Editor
Auto Retail Agenda
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