The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published April figures reporting robust growth in the new car market. Read more →

Thames Valley welcomed a new name for Toyota and Lexus when automotive retailers Jemca Car Group acquired Octagon Motor Company, growing its company by a third in the process.  Read more →

Law firm Clarkslegal has advised Eden Automotive Investments (part of the Eden Motor group) in its purchase of Alan Gibson, a multi-motor dealership based in Basingstoke.  Read more →

The MINI Plant at Oxford will lead the celebrations of a centenary of car-making in Oxford, on March 28 – 100 years to the day when the first “Bullnose” Morris Oxford was built by William Morris, a few hundred metres from where the modern plant stands today.   Read more →

Car dealership Whitequay is in administration. Staff at the sites in Reading and Southampton have been made redundant. Read more →

Berkshire-based BMW Group is looking for over 150 young people with a passion for the motor industry to take up apprenticeships available through its company and dealership schemes in 2013. The new recruits will join nearly 400 existing apprentices currently undergoing training across the company’s UK operations, and within its BMW and MINI dealer network. Read more →

Berkshire dealerships Lexus Reading, Toyota Reading and Toyota Bracknell are now under new ownership following the acquisition by Toyota Tsusho Automobile London Holdings, which operates under the Jemca Car Group name, from Octagon Motor Company. Read more →

The majority of franchised motor dealers think the car retail sector will not emerge from the recession for up to two years, according to research by accountants Baker Tilly.

Retailers blame the slow emergence on the end of the scrappage scheme, higher VED on cars, the return of 17.5% VAT and the introduction of showroom tax. However, the bleak prediction comes despite the majority of dealers expecting to remain profitable this year.

Baker Tilly’s latest Franchised Dealer Retailing survey, conducted with key decision makers in franchised motor dealerships last month, gauged their current views and future predictions for the motor retail industry, with results including:

• 77% think the industry won’t begin to pull out of recession until 2011 or 2012
• one in seven respondents (or their businesses) are looking to exit car retailing in the next two years
• Used cars continue to be vital for trading – despite 57% of dealers saying used-car demand was declining

Post-scrappage scheme support proposed by car makers to their dealers has helped only a few. Almost three quarters said they had not received any support following the end of the scrappage scheme.

• 80% of dealers expect to end the current financial year in profit
• 54%  think the new VED rates and showroom tax will negatively affect new car sales
• 34% felt the removal of the scrappage scheme would reduce retail sales

Chris Hurren, head of motor, Baker Tilly South East, commented: “It has been a tough period of trading. Predicting just another two years before the end of the recession might be wishful thinking on the part of the motor dealer.

“The survey highlights that the positive effect of the scrappage scheme was only felt by 36% of dealers, most likely reflecting that some car makers had budget priced models that sold well while other car makers simply did not have the right vehicles or stock to cash in on the scheme. Furthermore, the perceived lack of support from car makers following the end of the scrappage scheme has caused increased disappointment amongst dealers.

“As smaller dealers focus on used car sales over the next two years, I hope additional disappointment isn’t generated by false expectations for the end of the recession.”