The last five years of trading profitability have been some of the most dramatic in the history of the industry. Here is a run-down of the last five years’ EBITDA (which is earnings before...

The last 12 months have proven to be a somewhat unexpectedly difficult period for the UK automotive sector as the economy has struggled to perform as expected and the retail consumer faced significant...

Fears are growing among retailers for profitability through the first half of 2024 and beyond, with an increased number (34% versus 31% six months ago) anticipating that profit will be down. The...

Our main conversion KPIs remained constant in October with no major changes to the previous month. However, this consistency could be the building block to improved performance in 2024 as teams return...

Year on year comparisons of absorption rates show a fall in September, down to 70% compared 83% in September 2022, continuing to highlight the overhead challenges retailers face. September has...

Uncertainty looms over automotive as a blend of factors continues to shape the future market landscape. Economic pressures mean many potential buyers are postponing purchasing decisions. The...

The drive to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, five years ahead of Europe, and more than that the requirement for 22% sales of BEVs within the overall mix of registrations next year, are causing...

Retailer fears over profitability have eased, with a reduced number (46% versus 57% six months ago) thinking profitability will be down through the rest of 2023, and a growing number (15% versus 5%)...

May saw a fall in overhead absorption, down to 44% from 49% in the same month last year. And the six-month average is down to, falling from 60.69% to 54%, an 11% drop. While the average value of...

With the UK looking certain to go into recession in 2022, which the Bank of England forecasts will be prolonged, if shallow, sentiment among retailers over the country’s economic prospects has hit a...

Inflation will remain in double digits well into the first half of next year, largely due to the current high energy prices. It will fall back rapidly in the second half of 2023, but things are going...

Retail registrations rose 2.7% in November compared with the same month last year, but the market has fleet to thank for its surge, with fleet registrations growing 45.4%. The result is that the...

The short-lived ‘growth at all costs’ doctrine introduced by Liz Truss and Kwarsi Kwartang in recent weeks was said to be a challenge to the orthodoxies of HM Treasury economics. The ‘markets’...

In a strange set of October registrations figures, the continuation of September’s prioritisation of fleet by the OEMs was the least of the surprises. Perhaps more so was the strength of the...

Business costs, particularly around energy and wages, have risen sharply, but all the headlines about these being ‘unprecedented’ is nonsense. So says Vertu CEO Robert Forrester, with a reminder...

The UK automotive retail sector showed exceptional resilience and flexibility in the pandemic, followed by very strong trading in 2021. But continuing supply constraints, the headwinds of macro...

Consumer confidence is beginning to hit dealership footfall and vehicle sales, and while the cost of living increase is clearly a component of that, the continuing negative headlines in the media also...

Peugeot in the UK is still working out what its Allure branding means at a retail level, more than a year after it was announced by parent firm Stellantis. Speaking to Auto Retail Bulletin, managing...

The recent economic challenges and the industry headwinds have seen a dramatic change in sentiment among retailers for the coming six months. Outlook on the economy is now overwhelmingly negative,...

Smart’s relaunch in the UK gives the brand the opportunity to start afresh in both product and the way the cars are sold, according to the company’s UK CEO David Browne. Speaking to Auto Retail...