Car Dealer Magazine: Issue 178

FOUNDER

James Baggott

james@thebaize.com

Twitter: @CarDealerEd

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

James Batchelor james.batchelor@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @JRRBatchelor

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR

John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

STAFF WRITER

Jack Williams jack.williams@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @JournoJack25

MULTIMEDIA MANAGER

Jon Reay jon@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @JonReay

HEAD OF DESIGN

Graeme Windell graeme@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @graemewindell

CONTRIBUTORS

Jack Evans, Nigel Swan, Ted Welford

WELCOME.

Ten years. That’s how long we’ve been recognising the very best in the used car industry with our Used Car Awards.

It seems like only a few months ago that the idea was formed by us and Mike Brewer to celebrate a sector that is so often overlooked by the glitzier, more glamorous world of new cars. Since then, though, hundreds of the industry’s best have walked along the cobbles to The Brewery in London, enjoyed a glass or several of fizz and tottered up the steps to a beaming Brewer brandishing their trophies – plus the joke of Mike Brewer couldn’t organise a you-know-what in a brewery said a thousand times.

FINANCE MANAGER

Kate Gordon kate@blackballmedia.co.uk

SALES MANAGER

Kevin Day kev@blackballmedia.co.uk

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Michelle Searle michelle@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @cardealermich

The thing is though, recognising the best of the best never gets old. Unlike other industry awards dos – which are no less important, I should say – the Car Dealer Used Car Awards celebrate real people. We insist on having a party atmosphere, and while black tie is the dress code, the night is never stiff and overly formal.

Just like with every other year, 2022’s event really did mark real people. The room fell silent as Brewer told the audience of how Cameron Love saved the life of a customer who had collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest and whose heart had stopped. Without thinking about it, Love took control of the situation and used the showroom’s defibrillator. You can read more on page 63, but I’ve never seen an audience give their respect to someone collecting an award, let alone an Outstanding Achievement gong, like they did for him.

Another tug at the heartstrings was to come when Robin Luscombe won the Lifetime Achievement title. This straight-talking Yorkshireman was completely shocked to win – and I mean, completely stunned. Some time after the event, he took to his blog on his Luscombe’s of Leeds website, saying he’d travelled to The Brewery alone. He was therefore a little perplexed to see his wife, son and four of his longest-serving colleagues appear on the night – he later found out that they’d caught the train to London after his and even stayed in a different hotel to keep up the charade. Seeing someone react to an upstanding room of 650 people all sharing their admiration for him was quite something.

The best thing about this special Used Car Awards issue of Car Dealer is that I write this knowing that we’ll be doing it all again in 12 months. I hope to see you there.

JAMES BATCHELOR Associate editor

We insist on having a party atmosphere, and while black tie is the dress code, the night is never stiff and overly formal.

Merry Christmas

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Car dealer profits soar to record levels thanks to ‘Carlsberg year’ for motor trade

The top 100 most profitable car dealers in the UK made a combined earnings figure of £2.6bn in 2021 – a record year.

Soaring used car prices and demand post-lockdowns –combined with furlough support and business rate holidays –helped boost their coffers.

The Car Dealer Top 100, sponsored by Automotive Transformation Group, lists the most profitable franchised and independent dealers in the UK.

The list is ranked by EBITDA profit figures and compiled by Interpath for Car Dealer.

Automotive juggernaut car dealer group Arnold Clark once again topped the list as the most profitable dealer, racking up a £398.1m figure.

CEO Eddie Hawthorne told us that it was ‘a Carlsberg year’ for the motor trade.

Used car supermarket Motorpoint was the most profitable independent dealer, clocking up £32.3m of earnings in its financial year.

INTERVIEW EDDIE HAWTHORNE CEO, ARNOLD CLARK

Eddie Hawthorne is the car dealer that car dealers want to be. And after another year of record profits for him, the list of contemporaries that look on in wonderment at the Arnold Clark CEO grows ever longer.

‘He’s simply the best car dealer in Europe,’ said one gushing car dealer group boss when we asked him what he thought of Hawthorne. ‘The man is a magician. He’s been leading that business for years and still every year pulls it out of the hat.’

The admiration for Hawthorne runs deep in the motor trade. Mention his name to anyone running a car dealer and there’ll be a sharp intake of breath before the praise begins to flow. ‘He is, purely and simply, the car dealer that everyone in this industry aspires to emulate – me included,’ added another dealer boss.

Once again, Arnold Clark sits atop our list of the most profitable dealers, thanks to its incredible figure of £398m.

The Scotland-based business is quite simply a money-making juggernaut – one that manufacturers fear and car dealers want to copy.

The next best-placed dealer group, Sytner, was £152m adrift in second position. So, how does Hawthorne manage to clock up profits at a rate of £33m a month? What is his secret?

Chatting to Car Dealer on Zoom from his office in Hillington, he deftly dodges the question. ‘2021 was a lot of hard work for the motor trade but it was what I would call a Carlsberg year for the motor trade, and as a specialist in used cars we were able to take advantage of that,’ he said.

At the last count, Arnold Clark has 193 dealerships, 160 service centres and represents 28 brands in the UK. The group was founded in 1954 by Sir Arnold Clark, who used his demob cash from the RAF to buy a Morris Ten Four for £70, which he did up and sold for a profit. He got the buying and selling bug and opened his first showroom in Glasgow, rapidly expanding the business after that.

Sir Arnold died in 2017 and the business is still owned by his widow, Lady Philomena Clark, but the day-to-day running of it is left to Hawthorne.

‘It’s dead simple,’ he says modestly, when asked about his management style.

‘A car a day keeps Eddie at bay. We try not to get too carried away or complacent. We just focus on the basics – make sure customer calls are answered and it pays dividends.’

So where does the real cash get made?

‘Used cars really perform for us,’ explained Hawthorne. ‘And our contract hire and fleet hire divisions are performing exceptionally well.’

We reveal the most lucrative UK dealerships and James Baggott chats to the boss of the most prosperous of them all – a man labelled ‘a magician’.

Franchised 31/12/2021 398,100 4,741,200

Sytner Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 246,162 5,797,731

Franchised 31/12/2021 191,800 3,449,900

Lookers plc Franchised 31/12/2021 166,800 4,050,700

Vertu Motors plc Franchised 28/02/2022 117,294 3,615,052

Marshall Motor Holdings Ltd* Franchised 31/03/2022 106,147 3,008,706

C.E.M. Day Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 73,193 263,365

10 JCT600 Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 58,344 1,305,840

Ford Retail Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 51,562 1,813,596

8 Jardine Motors Group UK Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 40,399 1,585,959 11 12 Motus Group (UK) Ltd Franchised 30/06/2022 40,310 1,123,229 12 19 Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Ltd

Franchised 31/03/2021 33,682 705,320 13 21 SG International Holdings Ltd Franchised 30/06/2021 32,565 665,596 14 9 Motorpoint Ltd Independent 31/03/2022 32,300 1,322,300 15 24 Helston Garages Group Ltd

Franchised 31/12/2021 32,248 626,666 16 15 Swansway Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 31,651 838,460 17 39 Car Giant Ltd Independent 31/12/2021 30,386 362,627 18 16 Eastern Western Motor Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 30,279 818,080 19 20 Steven Eagell Ltd

Franchised 31/12/2021 29,179 702,721 20 13 Listers Group Ltd Franchised 31/03/2021 28,967 1,018,133 21 14 John Clark (Holdings) Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 28,680 910,283 22 22 Lloyd Motors Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 28,374 645,741 23 30 H.R. Owen plc Franchised 30/06/2022 27,116 536,229 24 27 Cambria Automobiles Ltd Franchised 31/08/2021 26,142 563,109 25 17 Decidebloom Ltd (Stoneacre) Franchised 25/04/2021 25,097 806,305 26 18 Greenhous Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 24,920 789,225 27 50 T. C. Harrison Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 24,312 279,059 28 55 The Trade Centre Group plc Independent 30/11/2021 20,640 258,013 29 25 Perrys Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 18,722 599,846 30 45 Porsche Retail Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 18,627 320,139 31 31 Williams Motor Co (Holdings) Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 18,416 505,418

42 McLean & Appleton (Holdings) Ltd Franchised 31/01/2022 18,041 343,011

26 WJH Holdings Ltd (Harwoods) Franchised 31/12/2021 15,976 581,186 34 29 Sinclair Motor Holdings Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 15,883 544,379 35 23 Johnsons Cars Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 15,689 629,132 36 28 Peter Vardy Holdings Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 14,703 560,690

Glyn Hopkin Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 14,207 451,904

476,977

248,420

Vindis Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 11,350 362,382

51 67 Stephen James (Automotive) Ltd

Franchised 31/12/2021 8,793 218,735 52 38 LSH Auto UK Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 8,660 364,980 53 71 Saxton 4x4 Ltd Independent 30/06/2021 8,626 195,302 54 89 Parkway Derby Ltd Franchised 30/11/2021 8,550 160,115 55 62 Vospers Motor House Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 8,421 238,897 56 47 Marsh Wall Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 8,367 312,944 57 56 Barretts of Canterbury Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 7,870 252,234 58 52 Donnelly Bros Garages (Dungannon) Ltd

Franchised 31/12/2021 7,864 264,399 59 80 Cotswold Motor Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 7,591 179,222 60 51 Drive Motor Retail Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 7,526 273,305 61 75 Riverside Motors Holdings Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 7,372 190,838 62 63 Endeavour Automotive Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 7,252 236,441 63 57 W. Brindley (Garages) Ltd Franchised 30/11/2021 7,239 248,783 64 66 Caffyns plc Franchised 31/03/2022 7,217 223,928 65 11 PSA Retail UK Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 7,035 1,170,105 66 73 Frank G. Gates Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 6,946 193,041 67 76 D.M. Keith Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 6,912 186,998 68 90 John Grose Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 6,856 158,964 69 68 William Morgan Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 6,804 213,614 70 83 Sandown Motors Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 6,592 174,412 71 98 D.K. Engineering (Holdings) Ltd Independent 31/05/2021 6,460 131,453 72 61 Motor Depot Ltd** Independent 30/09/2021 6,444 243,334 73 81 V12 Sports & Classics Ltd Independent 31/12/2021 6,400 177,404 74 93 Howard Garages (Weston) Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 6,136 155,057 75 69 Vantage Motor Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,928 206,858 76 82 Heritage Automotive Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,893 176,147 77 86 Cathedral Motor Company Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,810 166,249 78 78 Marriott Motor Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,731 185,321 79 74 JCB Medway Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,663 192,497 80 91 Brayleys Cars Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,547 157,841 81 65 Hartwell plc Franchised 30/11/2021 5,537 225,081 82 48 Mon Motors Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,515 305,971 83 70 Vines Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,421 196,243 84 36 Renault Retail Group UK Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 5,312 384,064 85 95 Ancaster Group Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 4,939 145,691 86 77 Redline Specialist Cars Ltd Independent 31/12/2021 4,784 186,731 87 96 Burrows Motor Company Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 4,737 141,610 88 100 W.R. Davies (Motors) Ltd Franchised 31/12/2021 4,284 124,614

124,806

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Some Stellantis new car buyers have been forced to pay three months’ worth of finance instalments, insurance and tax for new cars they haven’t even been able to collect.

Stellantis dealers have accused the manufacturing giant of ‘short-sighted’ practices as it ‘strong-arms’ them into registering cars still stuck in ports.

Sources say it is forcing its dealer network to register customers’ new cars that haven’t reached showrooms. One franchise holder even claimed the manufacturer had made it register cars that were still on a ferry or risk losing its bonuses.

Some new car buyers have also had to be told by dealers that if they don’t agree to register their car before it arrives at the dealership they’ll lose it completely. Many of these buyers have been waiting up to nine months for their vehicles to arrive.

Stellantis runs Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Fiat, Abarth and Vauxhall dealers in the UK. One Stellantis dealer who represents several of the brands said the current situation was ‘ridiculous’ and that customers were ‘furious’.

The dealers spoke under guarantee of anonymity as they feared further sanctions from Stellantis.

‘This is all down to logistics and not being able to get the cars to dealers,’ said one dealer group boss. ‘They are forcing us to register cars that we know are going to be three months away and it’s a very awkward conversation to have with customers.

‘We had one customer who had paid three finance instalments on their vehicle and they still haven’t seen it.

‘This is so short-sighted. It’s all about bonuses for the manufacturer and allocation with the factories. If they don’t register the cars, they lose the allocation.’

A tip-off sent to Car Dealer explained that some cars were even being taken off customers who had waited months for their new vehicle as they refused to pay before taking delivery of the car.

Stellantis’s problems with new car deliveries is so bad that dealers say they’ve been told to ‘go and pick the cars up from the ports themselves’.

A briefing sent to the network said these were ‘extraordinary measures’.

But another dealer said: ‘That simply doesn’t work. We can’t go and pick up individual cars. They need to get their transport sorted out and get these cars to dealers.’

Jim Holder, editorial director of What Car? and Autocar, told Car Dealer: ‘This smacks of arrogance in a market that is in a rare position of demand being greater than supply.

‘With that equation set to change rapidly in coming months as supply opens up and demand lessens as the cost-of-living crisis bites, it will surely have longer-term consequences.’

A spokesperson for Stellantis said: ‘Vehicle production continues to be constrained due to Covid and component shortages across the industry. More recently, the logistics sector in both the UK and across Europe is facing a shortage of drivers due to the war in Ukraine.

‘The consequence for our customers is that they have long waiting times and delivery date accuracy slipping. Facing this situation, we have taken various actions to ensure that customer orders are fulfilled as quickly as possible, focusing on “first come, first served”.

‘Our focus has been to support these customers by increasing supply and pulling volume through the network at a faster rate.’

STELLANTIS says its dealers have been pushed to register cars that haven’t arrived in showrooms in an attempt to secure future production capacity at factories.

Paul Willcox, senior vicepresident and group managing director at Stellantis, told Car Dealer that fixing these issues was his ‘number one priority’.

He admitted that the demands Stellantis had made had caused ‘frictions’ with dealers, but said he believed they were ‘done for the right reasons’.

Willcox said the extreme measures were needed as Stellantis looked to improve its ‘stock turn velocity’.

He didn’t deny the majority of claims made by Car Dealer’s sources, and didn’t comment on whether bonuses were being withheld for franchisees that didn’t comply.

Willcox said that registering cars ‘in the system’ [stuck in ports] was needed as he looked to secure future capacity of new car stock from factories for next year.

But he told us: ‘We now have the situation you’ve identified that, obviously, some of our retailers have shown some frustration. We recognise that we’ve got to work our way through that. We don’t think it’s a long-term issue, we think it’s something we will resolve within the next four to six weeks.

We’re working furiously at the moment on this.’

In a Car Dealer exclusive, James Baggott reports on shock revelations.

GROUP MD ADMITS TO ‘FRICTIONS’ BUT SAYS DEMANDS WERE MADE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

Paul Willcox, senior vicepresident and group managing director at Stellantis

Close Brothers Motor Finance – Putting dealers first when it comes to funding

The ongoing global shortage of semiconductors used in car production, as well as other materials such as copper, aluminium and cobalt, has led to fewer new vehicles rolling off production lines, which has severely limited dealers in their recovery after forecourt closures due to Covid-19.

And with turbulent economic times ahead, dealers looking to grow their margins and improve their profits could consider how a stock funding plan could improve the outlook for their businesses.

Close Brothers Motor Finance offers flexible funding based on the preferences of its dealer partners, with options tailored to their business goals, a clear payment model and no hidden or nasty surprises.

A Close Brothers Motor Finance stock funding plan is a unique offering that combines access to stock funding to help dealers’ businesses thrive. As a funded partner, dealers are able to stock better vehicles, upgrade their forecourt, improve their premises and will have access to exclusive performance insight –delivered through a dedicated account manager with Close Brothers Motor Finance’s innovative, awardwinning Forecourt Insight Data Tool.

Gain Access to Award-Winning Data

Close Brother Motor Finance’s Forecourt Insight Data Tool helps dealers grow their margins and improve their profits. The tool combines Auto Trader’s best-in-class automotive data with Close Brothers Motor Finance’s award-winning knowledge of dealer partners, creating a powerful insight dashboard that aims to aid better understanding of regional trends, stock inefficiencies and consumer behaviour. This knowledge allows dealers to manage their forecourt and the price of stock effectively, and unlock their full potential for buying and selling vehicles in line with customer demand.

The data the tool can analyse is vast. Consider this: in just one month, Auto Trader saw more than 65 million visits to its marketplace. It works with 13,500 retailer partners and lists more than 400,000 vehicles. These stats, combined with the input of Close Brothers Motor Finance’s knowledge of its own dealer partners, means the tool can analyse 900,000 vehicles across the market every day.

Dealerships using this tool have been able to increase desirable stock. This means they can sell vehicles more quickly, as highly coveted vehicles typically take 32 days to sell – almost half the 63 days on average to sell less-desirable vehicles. We tried out the tool with some partners and they were impressed. One had been taking an average of 82 days to sell a vehicle in October and November 2021. However, in January, after they started using the tool, this fell to 59 days – a reduction of 28 per cent.

The Forecourt Insight Data Tool is only available to Close Brothers Motor Finance’s funded dealer partners and costs them nothing extra – they don’t have to do anything to access the tool either. Close Brothers Motor Finance believes in the importance of partnership, and providing dealers with the tools to successfully do their jobs and run their business is key. Close Brothers Motor Finance is the only provider offering this kind of plan alongside its award-winning Forecourt Insight Data Tool.

What dealers are saying

The stocking facility has allowed us to supply a wider range of vehicles, maybe something we wouldn’t normally stock, enabling our customers to have a bigger selection.

Martin Nixon Director, New Vehicle Solutions

We couldn’t have done it without Close Brothers’ funding – we used it to build our stock and we’re now looking to enhance our own site and possibly open up a second site.

Colin McNab

Director, Car Brothers NI

The Forecourt Insight Data Tool has helped us already. I had a BMW X5 that was in stock for just over 100 days, but as soon as we adjusted the price we sold the car within a week. This is an invaluable tool that will help us in the future, as we are such a growing business.

Mohammad Usman Director,

Cars4You

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CAR PRICE CONFUSION

Older compliant models are poised to rocket in value but some vehicles will become worthless.

Values of used low-emission cars are set to rocket as older models’ residual values collapse following the Mayor of London’s decision to expand the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone from August 2023.

Sadiq Khan’s announcement will see a new ULEZ covering the whole of Greater London – home to 8.9m people, or more than 13 per cent of the UK population.

The expansion will affect far more people than the original ULEZ, which only covered inner London areas. It’s a move that will see already strong residual values for low-emission and electric cars continue to rise, while older ULEZcompliant models are also set to rocket in value as cashstrapped motorists try to avoid the £12.50-per-day charge to drive in the capital.

Hillingdon Council leader Ian Edwards said: ‘Hillingdon remains vehemently opposed to these half-baked plans and we will do everything in our power to stop it from going ahead. London cannot be treated with a one-size-fits-all approach when the make-up of inner boroughs is incredibly different to ours.

‘Unlike urban parts of the capital, our residents don’t have the luxury of a frequent, multi-layered transport system. Many have little option other than to use their cars for everyday travel. Imposing the ULEZ charge is not only wrongheaded but is completely unfair and will hit the poorest in our communities hardest.’

Harrow Council leader Paul Osborn said: ‘This is an outrageous announcement. Harrow residents were overwhelmingly against this idea. We will join with other councils across London to make sure our residents’ wishes are listened to and acted upon.’

Council leaders from Croydon and Bexley are also opposed to the scheme, which will see around a quarter of a million non-compliant cars currently registered in Greater London forced off the road or be subject to a £12.50 daily ‘congestion charge’.

Ged Kitchen, a joiner from Tottenham, told us: ‘Not only will this make life even more expensive for those of us who are struggling to pay our electricity bills, mortgages and increased food prices, but the alternatives aren’t realistic for most people. And now my old van, which was an asset worth maybe two or three grand, is about to be rendered worthless. I can’t even sell it to raise funds.’

Anti-ULEZ campaigner Jude Currie – who has bought and rehomed several older cars threatened by the original ULEZ – said: ‘London is full of people who only drive out of necessity, preferring to use the city’s public transport infrastructure to get around on a day-to-day basis, so there are loads of older, low-mileage cars around that only get used occasionally, either to leave the city or just do weekly shopping trips. You can’t tell me that their environmental impact is really that big. Most people I’ve bought non-compliant cars from haven’t ever wanted to give them up. It’s a really unfair scheme that benefits nobody.’

Meanwhile, Khan has said a scrappage scheme will be introduced to try to persuade Londoners to buy newer vehicles, although the introduction of the expanded ULEZ is sooner than the expected delivery time of several new EVs, many of which are still delayed by the semiconductor crisis, with lead times of more than 12 months to delivery.

This in turn will push values of used EVs even higher. Hugo Griffiths, editor of car comparison site Carwow, said: ‘It is almost certain that non-ULEZ-compliant cars in the south of England will be hit with significant devaluation, while demand for cars that do meet the standards will soar, with prices for these likely to increase accordingly.’

According to European RV forecasting experts Autovista, residual values for EVs in the UK rose by four per cent in November 2022.

Unlike urban parts of the capital, our residents don’t have the luxury of a frequent, multi-layered transport system.

Cllr Ian Edwards Hillingdon Council leader

USED

AS ULEZ SET TO GROW TO 13 PER CENT OF POPULATION

Anti-ULEZ campaigner Jude Currie

Expanded ULEZ area

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An utterly extraordinary year – so who dares guess what 2023 has in store?

So, year-end then. Time for a mince pie and the inevitable mantlepiece moment where I pompously give you my view of the past 12 months.

January 2022 seems an entirely different universe now. Twelfth Night (the festival, not the Shakespeare play) had barely happened before Constellation dotted the ‘i’s and crossed the ‘t’s on its acquisition of Marshall Motor Group.

Cazoo started its year off with finalising a £67m deal to buy out Italian online car retailer Brumbrum, while rival Carzam appointed a new chief technology officer.

Boris Johnson gave his support for a new gigafactory for electric vehicle batteries, while the public were anxiously waiting for the much-anticipated Sue Gray report.

And to cap it all off, official data confirmed that Ford had lost its best-seller crown to Vauxhall in 2021 for the first time in 50 years.

Some 11 months later and it couldn’t be much more different. As I write, Cazoo’s tenacity and open wallet that it showed in January has become a rapid withdrawal from sponsorship deals and a mass clearance of (mainland) European operations – Brumbrum was just one of the many embarrassing casualties – while its share price, as of December 19, was down 98.8 per cent on its flotation value in August 2021.

Meanwhile, the shutters came down on rival Carzam in June, with the business owing its creditors £18.9m, prompting many car dealers to question the success of the so-called ‘online disruptors’.

Britishvolt, the much-vaunted project to build EV batteries on a mass scale, is finishing 2022 by looking for new investment after narrowly avoiding administration in November – now being seen as a serious blow to the UK’s hopes of leading the electric car revolution.

And let’s not talk about Boris Johnson, or the fact that we’re now on our third incumbent at Number 10 in a year, or that Sue Gray report.

This has all happened over the course of this year, don’t forget. It’s utterly extraordinary. And this is before you remember other headlines such as Hedin walking away from buying Pendragon, the worrying increase in dealers being held to ransom by cybercriminals and Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO leaving the British firm.

It’s Ford’s loss of market dominance and the car that secured the Blue Oval’s position as the nation’s favourite that I’m struggling to get my head around, though.

When the numbers were totted up, the Vauxhall Corsa came out as 2021’s best-selling car and in so doing became the first non-Ford to take the top spot since 1971, when Brits bought more Austin/Morris 1100/1300s than anything else. A staggering 50-year run by Ford came to an end.

Ford would argue that 2021 – and indeed 2022 – were hardly normal years in the world of new cars, and it still managed to secure eighth place in the best-sellers chart. But it wasn’t with the Fiesta as it has done since, well, seemingly forever but with its more off-roady brother, the Puma.

Come October of this year and seemingly out of nowhere Ford announced that the Fiesta was to disappear by mid-2023. Time had been called on the cornerstone of Ford’s ‘people car’ status – a car that had for 45 years served the nation as a supermini, a first car, a driving school car, a family car, a shopping car and a performance car.

By the time of us putting this issue to bed, Ford had added some more details about the decision to axe its icon, saying the production space in its Cologne factory was needed for its forthcoming new VW ID.4/Skoda Enyaq-based electric SUV. A tough but necessary decision, apparently. I’ve prattled on in a previous column about Ford being in danger of losing its founding principles of providing mass, efficient transport, so I won’t waste your time any further on the matter.

With that, that’s my mantlepiece moment. See you in the new year – heaven knows where we’ll be this time in 2023!

chat

2021.

James Batchelor

James – aka Batch –started at Car Dealer in 2010, becoming editor in 2013. He then worked for Auto Express and Carbuyer, went freelance in 2020, and became Car Dealer’s associate editor in October

Big Mike

OUR MAN ON THE INSIDE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE CAR BUSINESS

When opportunity came knocking to get one over on Neil the Eel it provided pure comic relief

Putting my clocks back at the end of October (the only time I ever put a clock backwards, I hasten to add) brought home memories of an old nemesis of mine, who worked for a rival dealership back in the late 1990s when I first set up as an independent.

Neil – or Neil the Eel, as he was known to many of us in the trade – was one of the slipperiest characters you could never wish to meet. His focus on life was to essentially get away with whatever he could, no matter how ridiculous or unethical it may seem, provided it benefited him. So much so, in fact, that alongside his used car lot, Neil also ran a ‘mileage correction’ operation from the same premises. If ever there was a definition of hidden in plain sight, that was it…

In addition, he had a few other ‘businesses’, including a screen-printing workshop specialising in (allegedly) counterfeit sportswear and another cash-only operation selling previously loved (and possibly missed) jewellery. He wasn’t a nice man, but somehow he managed to get away with everything, despite his unprincipled practices standing out like a polar bear in the Sahara.

That was until the week when I sold a Peugeot 405 that I’d taken in partexchange by putting it straight through the auctions over at Walsall.

The car had been used as a minicab in Wolverhampton, and while it was powered by the Peugeot-Citroen non-turbo XUD engine, therefore meaning that with 380,000 miles on the clock it was barely run-in, it was hardly retail fodder.

No self-respecting customer would have been actively seeking such a thing, and I’d probably not have agreed to take it in part-exchange were it not for the fact that the owner was chopping it in against an identical, much-lower-mileage 405 that was also destined for a life on the rank, was paying cash (back when cash was king) and was a pretty loyal repeat customer.

I allowed him roughly what I reckoned I’d get back for it and drove it over to the auction house, where I bought something a lot more saleable (a low-mileage Nissan Micra, if I recall correctly) to sell back at this end.

Who is Big Mike?

Well, that would be telling. What we can say is he’s had more than 40 years in the car trade so has probably forgotten more about it than we’re likely to know.

Imagine my amusement, then, when said 405 appeared four or five days later across the road at Neil’s, wearing a new set of budget tyres, a freshly repainted bonnet (to hide the marks left by the taxi livery) and a £3,000 price tag, not to mention a mileage hair cut to the tune of 300,000 miles.

There and then, I had my ‘Baldrick moment’ and a cunning plan was hatched…

First, I gave my taxi driver friend a call to tell him I knew of another lowmileage 405 diesel if he was interested.

Then I gave my contact at the newspaper a tip-off – the display ads guys had no love for Neil as he’d pooh-poohed them in favour of Friday Ad, so

I had my ‘Baldrick moment’ and a cunning plan was hatched…

they put the reporter who also did the motoring pages (back in the glory days of journalism) on to the story, where he’d wait with tea and biscuits on my lot and watch the drama unfold.

The final piece of said drama would involve the local constabulary.

Regular readers of this column may recall that I accidentally became mates with a CID officer after selling him a Vauxhall Cavalier in the early Nineties – his name was Detective Sergeant Coates.

With DS Coates suitably tipped off and enjoying custard creams with me and the local newspaper hack in my caravan, the atmosphere grew tense as we awaited the arrival of the local private-hire magnate, soon to become key witness.

It played out beautifully – with pure slapstick appeal.

No sooner had the taxi boss realised he was looking at a hastily tarted-up car that he used to own than DS Coates wandered on to the scene – the one and only time in my life where I’ve ever heard a police officer genuinely say ‘Ello, ello, ello, what’s goin’ on ’ere then?’

Being the slippery eel that he was, Neil’s first reaction was to scarper – swiftly pursued by a CID officer and a newspaper reporter, as well as a fat car dealer and an inquisitive taxi driver (the latter two of whom simply wanted to see how it all ended) – in a scene that could have come straight from the closing credits of a Benny Hill TV programme.

The moment became even funnier when Neil attempted to pole-vault over a cardboard box using a broom handle, failed miserably and landed on top of it, whereupon the box exploded and discharged its contents of knock-off branded tracksuit tops all over a damp Midlands industrial estate. Justice had been served. Well, almost...

Imagine my dismay when the following week’s paper came out led by the headline ‘Jewellery heist discovered among fake sportswear haul’ with no mention of the hero of the hour (the fat car dealer), the Peugeot 405 or the mileage adjustment, which continued for several more years after Neil the Eel returned from a 12-month vacation at Her Majesty’s Pleasure…

With DS Coates suitably tipped off and enjoying custard creams with me and the local newspaper hack in my caravan, the atmosphere grew tense.

NIGHT OF A THOUSAND SMILES AT GLITTERING CEREMONY

Iwas delighted to welcome everyone back once again to The Brewery in London towards the end of November to celebrate the very best of the used car business. Not for nothing are our awards seen as the gold standard of the used car sector. It’s no simple task pulling together this annual event but it’s so worth it to see people having such a great time and being rightly recognised for all their hard work.

This year – just like last – used cars have been making national headlines as all eyes turn to this powerhouse of the automotive industry.

Used car prices have remained at record highs, thanks to the well-documented problems with supply. But the focus is now turning to what happens next.

With a combination of high inflation, rising interest rates and a cost-of-living crisis, everyone is wondering how the used car market will be affected.

But while that might sound depressing, there are still plenty of reasons to be cheerful. The new car supply issues surrounding the industry have dramatically reduced the number of cars in the system.

Over the past two years, two million fewer new cars than normal have been sold.

That, in turn, means there are fewer used cars to go around – which is keeping prices high.

Hundreds of nominations pour in from dealers, their business partners and customers across the UK via our survey link.

Each entry is scrutinised, taking into account online reviews as well as citations and publicity, with those not coming up to scratch eliminated.

The experts I’ve chatted to – many of whom were at the event – say there’ll be no cliffedge for used car prices. Whatever happens, we know that people such as those at this year’s awards will continue to make a success of the used car industry.

We take the judging of these awards incredibly seriously indeed. Well done to those who made the shortlist, and congratulations to those who picked up a highly commended place or one of our much-coveted winners’ trophies – you should be incredibly proud of your achievements.

A huge thank-you as well to every one of our sponsors for making the event happen –eBay Motors Group for sponsoring the pre-dinner VIP drinks and post-ceremony fun casino, GardX for hosting the official after party, and of course a massive thank-you to our headline sponsor Black Horse for putting its name to these awards once again.

Without all of our sponsors, we simply couldn’t stage this night – so thank you! We really do appreciate the wonderful support that you give us.

Congratulations once again to everyone – the countdown to UCA 2023 is now on!

JAMES BAGGOTT Founder, Car Dealer

We publish a long list of nominees who have impressed the judges – then the mystery shopping round whittles them down further.

A shortlist of nominees for the categories is published and a multi-point report then compiled and assessed for each contender.

At the awards ceremony, Mike Brewer announces the overall winner and two highly commendeds in each category.

ONE PARTNER. A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES.

We are pleased to reveal our first significant re-structure and re-brand in more than a decade. As the business undergoes extensive transformation to affirm our positioning as a global growth partner for dealerships and OEMs across the automotive and motorcycle industries.

Our reputation was established through our successful vehicle protection products that launched almost twenty years ago, and today we have re-centred our brand and proposition around the three core pillars of vehicle protection, insurance products and digital solutions. These will be known respectively as GardX Protect, GardX Assure, and GardX Engage (formally Fuel Digital), under the GardX Group umbrella to deliver a fully integrated proposition worldwide.

GardX Group CEO Billy Coutin said: ’After talking to both our teams and our trusted partners, we’ve focused on rationalising our brand, forging three clear offerings beneath the GardX Group name. We believe these three core pillars of our new proposition have created a world-first, that can provide a unique, fully integrated and digitally enabled value proposition that can only benefit our client partners. With the ever-changing automotive landscape and the potential headwinds that are on the horizon, it is vital we also evolve our company to support our clients and their future requirements’

To find out more, visit our website gardxgroup.com or email enquiries@gardxgroup.com.

DEALERS’ DEALER OF THE YEAR

NEIL McCUE WINNER

Our Dealers’ Dealer of the Year title is always one of the most hotly contested categories at the Used Car Awards and this year was no different.

The trophy is extra special as it’s our only award voted for by dealers, reflecting the esteem and respect the winner enjoys throughout the industry.

There can be no doubt that our two highly commended dealers – Robin Luscombe and Jamie Caple – rank among the very best the automotive world has to offer, but there could only be one winner.

This year, the prestigious gong was awarded to Neil McCue, chief operating officer of Snows Motor Group.

McCue has been with Snows for almost 20 years and has been in his current role for the past eight years.

Reacting to the win, he told Car Dealer: ‘Wow! This is totally unexpected, but I am very grateful to have been nominated – what a lovely trophy to win!

‘It’s wonderful to learn I have the respect of fellow dealers in the industry. We’re all in the same business, we all work really hard together, so to win this is a fantastic achievement and I’m really proud.

‘However, I don’t regard this as an award that’s personal to me; it’s about our team of people – all members of staff across every area of our fantastic business. They all work incredibly hard and I’m grateful to work for a company like Snows.’

Snows recently announced a huge rise in profits for 2021, in financial results published via Companies House.

McCue was right at the heart of that growth and James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, believes he was a worthy winner of the Dealers’ Dealer award.

He said: ‘Dealers’ Dealer is one of the most coveted awards of the night as it’s decided by nominations from fellow dealers in the industry.

‘Neil is a man who is clearly respected throughout the used car industry and within Snows Motor Group itself. I offer him hearty congratulations, and it was great to see him on stage collecting this well-deserved honour.’

HIGHLY

• Jamie Caple • Robin Luscombe

Category sponsored by GardX Presented by Dylan Haskell, chief revenue officer

Neil McCue with his trophy, flanked by Dylan Haskell, left, and Mike Brewer

Jamie Caple was highly commended

SERVICE & REPAIR OUTLET OF THE YEAR

WINNER

SPENCERS MOT AND SERVICE CENTRE

The used car industry isn’t all about sales – service and repair is just as important to a dealer’s bottom line as any part of their business.

Our Service & Repair Outlet of the Year category celebrates the very best firms that look after their customers and their cars to the highest standards.

Spencers Service and MOT Centre in Norwich left our mystery shoppers seriously impressed, and we were blown away by the outfit’s excellent feedback online and great website. In fact, this was the second year on the run that Spencers claimed the prize, leaving director Spencer Gray over the moon.

He told Car Dealer: ‘The awards are really important. We come every year and look forward to it. It’s one of the most prestigious times of the year for the car industry and the service industry. We are absolutely gobsmacked to have got back-to-back awards in 2021 and 2022, and to have the support of everyone around us is great.

‘This is such a prestigious event, and to even be nominated is just amazing.’

On hand to offer his congratulations was James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine. He said: ‘The Service and Repair Outlet category at the Used Car Awards shines a light on a hard-working area of the motor trade that can often be overlooked.

‘While car sales can sometimes seem more glamorous, it’s the service and repair side that has the tough and demanding job of keeping customers happy and their cars on the road.

‘In this category, our judges were searching for businesses that look after their customers and the cars they own to the highest standard. Spencers MOT and Service Centre does just that and, notably, is building up a great track record – the firm also scooped this very gong 12 months ago!

‘Our judges were blown away by the level of customer service offered by the company, which also offers car sales, and found the team to be friendly and courteous. There’s a great website, too. Well done to all concerned.’

Car Dealer Used Car Awards host Mike Brewer added: ‘It was great to see Spencers MOT and Service Centre enjoy some more well-deserved success at the Used Car Awards.

‘The whole team do a cracking job – well done to them all.’

Category sponsored by Warrantywise Presented by Rachael Taylor, dealer sales director

We are absolutely gobsmacked to have got back-to-back awards in 2021 and 2022, and to have the support of everyone around us is great.

Spencer Gray Director of Spencers MOT and Service Centre

Spencer Gray is pictured with Rachael Taylor and Mike Brewer

THE AWARDS IN PICTURES

USED EV DEALER OF THE YEAR

WINNER

R SYMONS

Electric cars are rapidly becoming hot property in the used market – and while most car dealers stock them, a dedicated bunch of specialists have made it their whole business. That’s why this year, for the first time at the Car Dealer Used Car Awards, we had a special category for EV dealers.

Our Used EV Dealer of the Year award celebrates the very best of those specialists and there can be no doubt that our two highly commended firms – EV Experts and Just EVs –are at the forefront of the used EV market.

They both impressed our judges with their excellent EV experiences, both in person and online, but in the end they were narrowly beaten to the top spot.

The winner of the inaugural Used EV Dealer of the Year award was R Symons, which blew our judges away with its service.

Our mystery shopper reported that the firm was quick to call back, offered a video of the car they were interested in and provided brilliant all-round advice.

After coming off stage, Richard Symons, the founder of the Hampshire-based dealership, paid tribute to his staff.

He told Car Dealer: ‘It’s fantastic. Honestly, it’s so good. We are a really small company but it is just a brilliant team.

‘I’m so proud of everyone around me. We’ve got a great bunch and I’m really proud of the work they put in.

‘Genuinely, we try really hard to do a really good job and I’m so proud of everyone here.

‘Hopefully this is an award for everyone here.’

Based in New Milton, R Symons was established in 2010 as a traditional dealership. Five years later, after becoming a Tesla owner, Symons decided to become an EV specialist, and since then the firm has gone from strength to strength.

The company is now the largest supplier of used Teslas in the UK, supported by a small but passionate team of staff.

It boasts an impressive showroom that houses a large selection of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Category sponsored by OnCue Communications Presented by Rebecca Chaplin, Blackball Media

I’m so proud of everyone around me. We’ve got a great bunch and I’m really proud of the work they put in.

Amie Goodchild and Richard Symons are pictured centre, flanked by Rebecca

Chaplin and Mike Brewer

Richard Symons

Founder of R Symons

, field sales manager

n the modern world a good omnichannel approach that embraces social media is key to

With that in mind, Social Media User of the Year has become one of the most competitive categories at the Car Dealer Used Car Awards in recent years.

In 2022, the gong was scooped by Premier GT, which fought off strong competition from highly commended firms Tom Hartley Cars and Emerald House of Cars. The dealership, based just north of Worthing, impressed our judges with the consistently Our mystery shoppers were blown away by its engaging videos and great photography,

Reacting to the win, Premier GT owner David Trigg said: ‘We have a great team at Premier

‘Zaak comes up with all the ideas and is brilliant with how he bounces them on. We get

Premier GT is a regular attendee at the Car Dealer Used Car Awards and has previously won the Best Use of Video trophy twice.

In 2020, it also won the title of Specialist Used Car Dealership of the Year.

James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, said: ‘Social media used to be seen as something that is “nice to have” in the used car arena, rather than an essential weapon in a dealership’s marketing armoury.

‘These days, all that’s changed – and keeping up with the ever-changing social media landscape seems to be half the battle!

‘Premier GT are absolutely at the top of their game, however, and are to be commended for their achievements in this hugely important area.’

Used Car Awards host and TV’s Mr Wheeler Dealer Mike Brewer congratulated the firm, saying: ‘Premier GT truly are social media experts. Whether it’s via Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter, their customers can easily find out what they’re up to and check out the great cars in their wonderful showroom. Nice one!’

Emerald House of Cars

Tom Hartley Cars

Members of the Premier GT team with Lee Arnold, left, and Mike Brewer, right

Emerald House of Cars was highly commended in this category

BEST DEALERSHIP USE OF VIDEO

WINNER

ACKLAM CAR CENTRE

Middlesbrough-based independent dealership Acklam Car Centre won the hotly contested Best Use of Video trophy at this year’s ceremony. Assessors were looking for dealerships that excelled in using video in a variety of ways to increase the number of used cars sold, while delivering great levels of customer satisfaction.

Key to success were healthy levels of social media interest, engaging footage and compelling evidence that the format was well integrated into the sales processes of businesses competing in this all-important category.

Manager Chris Andrews said he was delighted to pick up the Best Use of Video award, adding: ‘It’s very satisfying to get recognition for the effort we put in on the video front, and it feels fantastic to be a winner!

‘We get great feedback on our videos, and we’ve had people from all over the world getting in touch with us to say they’ve watched them and have enjoyed them. We do put a lot of effort in.’

James Baggott said: ‘At Car Dealer Magazine, we are passionate about video ourselves, and we truly recognise its importance to the success of the modern-day used car dealership.

‘The team at Acklam Car Centre are clearly experts in this field, and the videos on their website are of exceptional quality. The team should be incredibly proud of what they do, and their success at our awards is well deserved.’

Mike Brewer said: ‘Nice photographs of cars are all well and good, but video is where it’s at these days.

‘The team at Acklam Car Centre are smashing it out of the park with fabulous films showcasing the great cars they have in stock. Nice work.’

Acklam Car Centre has been established for more than 20 years and has enjoyed considerable growth over the past few years, partly because it has kept up to date with developments in digital marketing and social media.

The company focuses on buying the very best stock, pricing it correctly using its live pricing strategy and ensuring that customers are at the heart of the business.

Targa Florio Cars

Category sponsored by Visitor Chat Presented by Philip Tissot, company director

Chris Andrews is pictured holding the trophy, with Philip Tissot second from left Targa Florio Cars was highly commended in this category

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

WINNER

WILSONS EPSOM

With more people researching online than ever, getting your website right before customers visit your dealership is vital.

Great used car dealer websites let customers complete the parts of the buying journey they want to do in advance, simplifying the whole process.

Our two highly commended firms – Frosts Cars and Fratelli Cars – both impressed our judges with their great website experience but taking top spot was Wilsons Epsom, which operates a smooth and easy-to-use website. Our judges also commented on how great the site looked and how brilliantly it worked.

A delighted Scott Billings, aftersales director at Wilsons Epsom, told Car Dealer: ‘It’s testament to all the hard work that people have put into it.

‘We’ve got a massively strong team working towards the website, pulling it together and looking at it every single day.

‘Everyone plays a massive part in making sure their section is up to date, whether that be sales, aftersales, parts or anything.

‘It’s about making sure of it, looking at it and changing it.’

He added: ‘The Used Car Awards are a very special occasion. It’s a nice thing to have recognition for what we’re doing.’

James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, said: ‘With more and more customers doing their research online, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, having a top-dollar website has never been more important.

‘The Used Car Awards judges were looking for a great online experience with simple navigation and plenty of information about stock.

‘A fresh and modern design was also a big plus.

‘Wilsons Epsom bagged a highly commended spot in this category at the 2021 Used Car Awards but have gone one better this year – and they are deserved winners.’

Used Car Awards host Mike Brewer added: ‘The quality of a website can have a big effect on the success of any business. Wilsons are playing an absolute blinder with their site and I’m sure it’ll help the company continue to flourish.’

Category sponsored by CarGurus Presented by Amanda Symonds, managing director

Amanda Symonds is pictured with, from left, sales director Spencer Chamberlain, finance director John Butler, sales director Stuart Hill, Scott Billings and Mike Brewer

The Fratelli Cars team collect their certificate

BEST USED CAR ONLINE SALES EXPERIENCE

SUV PRESTIGE WINNER

SUV Prestige won the prize for providing the Best Used Car Online Sales Experience to customers.

The judges remarked that the website run by the Wetherby-based outfit was smart, well designed and backed up by brilliant levels of help and advice, all resulting in a superb mystery shopping score.

Not only that but the dealership’s MD Steve Dhesi was named Used Car Dealer Principal of the Year for 2022 as well!

Dhesi said: ‘This is the first time we’ve entered any awards. We were so happy to be nominated for four of them, then to be shortlisted for two and win both of them.

‘Everybody goes 110 per cent every single day. We have got a fantastic team and we’re really, really proud of them.

‘This award goes to them. The way we treat our family and kids, we treat the SUV Prestige family the same way.

‘I am so proud to have got these awards. There is a great atmosphere here and this is certainly a ceremony we want to be coming to for the next 10 to 20 years.’

James Baggott said: ‘The Best Online Sales Experience category is a hugely important one at the Used Car Awards, and its significance grows year after year.

‘SUV Prestige are entitled to feel very proud of themselves to beat off plenty of competition.’

Mike Brewer added: ‘Providing a great online sales experience is crucial to a dealership’s success. Those who do it well will succeed, while those who aren’t so proficient risk falling by the wayside.

‘I’m pleased to say that SUV Prestige are smashing it out of the park!’

SUV Prestige is one of the largest independent prestige car dealerships in the UK, stocking up to 300 high-end sports and luxury vehicles.

With a state-of-the-art preparation centre on site, its expert teams of vehicle technicians, bodywork and detailing specialists ensure that every car sold or serviced receives supreme levels of care and attention.

Category sponsored by Codeweavers Presented by Shaun Harris, commercial director

Pictured from left are Steve Dhesi, his wife Satinda Dhesi, their daughter Lucinda Dhesi, Shaun Harris, Owen Denning, Harry Leighton and Mike Brewer

The DCC team receive their certificate

SPECIALIST USED CAR DEALERSHIP OF THE YEAR

WINNER

TOM HARTLEY CARS

The used car trade is an industry with immeasurable variety, and our Specialist Used Car Dealership of the Year award is one that celebrates those businesses that ply their trade with certain types of cars they know and love.

The gong this year was keenly contested but the prestigious prize was scooped by Swadlincote-based Tom Hartley Cars. The world-famous dealership is run by a family team with an incredible work ethic, and it impressed our judges to take top spot.

The firm offers a personal service to buyers, who benefit from its lifetime of experience in selling supercars.

Reacting to the win, the firm’s co-owner and founder, Tom Hartley, told Car Dealer: ‘We are over the moon. It is fantastic.

‘Last year I got a Lifetime Achievement Award and I still haven’t got over that. It was a very special day but this is just as good.

‘We have a fantastic team of people who all do their bit and all make this possible.

‘We have had a very good 2022 and are looking forward to an even better 2023.’

His business, which he co-owns with son Carl, has bought and sold luxury and performance cars for 50 years.

Vehicles from high-end manufacturers such as McLaren, Lamborghini and Ferrari grace the showroom, which sits in a stunning 50-acre estate, complete with a beautiful lake that provides a unique photographic backdrop.

James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, said: ‘Many congratulations to Tom Hartley on another win at the Used Car Awards.

‘It was great to see him pick up the Lifetime Achievement Award last year, and to grab another gong just 12 months later is a remarkable achievement.’

Used Car Awards host Mike Brewer added: ‘Is there no stopping Tom Hartley?

‘He and his whole team have done incredibly well to be judged Specialist Used Car Dealership of the Year 2022, and I offer everyone involved my sincere congratulations.

‘It’s a banging result.’

Category sponsored by Blue Motor Finance

Presented by Will Haylock, regional development manager

Tom Hartley is pictured holding the trophy, accompanied by his son Carl and flanked by Will Haylock and Mike Brewer

The Premier GT team lark about while collecting their certificate

USED CAR DEALER PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

STEVE DHESI, SUV PRESTIGE WINNER

SUV Prestige managing director Steve Dhesi made it a double triumph on the night for the thriving business when he was named the Used Car Dealer Principal for 2022.

The Wetherby-based dealership also won the trophy for Best Used Car Online Sales Experience. Dhesi fought off countless other nominations to be named the top used car dealer principal.

Described as an inspiring team player and a boss who leads from the front, he has overseen the introduction of an exciting omnichannel approach at his business that has taken it from strength to strength.

Dhesi said: ‘This is the first time we’ve entered any awards. We were so happy to be nominated for four of them, then to be shortlisted for two and win both of them.

‘Everybody goes 110 per cent every single day. We have got a fantastic team and we’re really, really proud of them.

‘This award goes to them. The way we treat our family and kids, we treat the SUV Prestige family the same way.

‘I am so proud to have got these awards. There is a great atmosphere here and this is certainly a ceremony we want to be coming to for the next 10 to 20 years.’

James Baggott said: ‘The win for Steve Dhesi, our 2022 Used Car Dealer Principal of the Year, is truly something to shout about.

‘Leadership isn’t easy at the best of times, let alone when the economic landscape is changing so rapidly and the technology that powers the used car industry is also moving at a fast pace. Well done indeed, Steve!’

Mike Brewer added: ‘My congratulations to our new Used Car Dealer Principal of the Year, Steve Dhesi. Well done, sir, and I hope the trophy looks the business in your office.’

SUV Prestige is one of the largest independent prestige car dealerships in the UK, stocking up to 300 high-end sports and luxury vehicles.

With a state-of-the-art preparation centre on site, its expert teams of vehicle technicians, bodywork and detailing specialists ensure that every car sold or serviced receives supreme levels of care and attention.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

• Julian Stockton Angus MacKinnon

• David Trigg, Premier GT

Category sponsored by Aston Lark Presented by Adam Marsh, new business account handler

Steve Dhesi with his wife Satinda, Adam Marsh and Mike Brewer

Julian Stockton receives his certificate

David Trigg was also highly commended

Talent has the change your business

Northridge Finance is proud to support Used Car Future Stars, recognising and rewarding the best young talent in the motor dealer sector.

We all know we need the next-generation of stars to power the future of motor retailing. Northridge salutes these young people who best reflect our values of service, innovation, initiative and teamwork.

These values, together with our solid foundations, have made Northridge a trusted financing partner for decades. Through changes and challenges, we have continued to invest in platforms and processes to deliver a whole new level of service.

This includes our current development of a new front end system that will bring our intermediaries one of the best POS platforms in the industry.

At Northridge, we have our eyes on the future, and like these Future Stars, we have the power to change your business.

For further information contact: dealersupport@northridgeuk.com

Proud sponsor of Used Car Future Stars Award

FUTURE STAR AWARD

WINNER

GREG ASHLEIGH, EMERALD HOUSE OF

Emerald House of Cars social media content creator and video expert Greg Ashleigh was named Future Star at this year’s awards.

In this particular category, the judges were looking for an individual who, although a fairly recent entrant to the motor trade, was showing huge promise and potential.

Ashleigh joined the automotive industry three years ago and certainly ticked all the right boxes for the judges.

They quickly realised he’s an enthusiastic and conscientious member of the team at the West Midlands car dealership, where he specialises in making videos of vehicles the company has in stock.

Delighted by his success, Ashleigh said: ‘I joined the industry in 2019, having previously worked in the painting and decorating industry. I’ve only been making videos for two years and here I am winning an award – it feels amazing!’

He added: ‘This is just epic. It’s something I never thought I would achieve.

‘My little girl wrote me a letter saying, “Daddy, I hope you win the trophy” – so Esme, here you are, we did it!’

James Baggott said: ‘Many of those who receive certificates and trophies at our Used Car Awards are stalwarts of the industry, and we love rewarding people who have worked hard over many years to achieve success.

‘But it’s also great to honour those who have only recently arrived in this magnificent industry of ours, and Greg was clearly delighted to be our Future Star for 2022.

‘His videos are excellent, he has a positive, can-do attitude to everything he does, and I’m sure he can look forward to a long and successful career in the motor trade.’

Mike Brewer added: ‘Well done indeed to Greg Ashleigh – this is a very well-deserved success. The letter from his little girl was wonderful! No doubt his family will be chuffed to bits, as will the team at Emerald House of Cars. Nice one!’

Emerald House of Cars, which is based in Wednesbury, has enjoyed previous success at the Car Dealer Magazine Used Car Awards, including taking home the Newcomer Dealership of the Year trophy in 2018.

Category sponsored by Northridge Finance Presented by James Dempster, head of sales

Greg Ashleigh receives his trophy from Mike Brewer, right, and James Dempster

Freddy Moncur receives his certificate

Pictured

CARITE WINNER

Carite won the hotly contested Best Used Car Customer Care trophy at this year’s awards. Assessors were not only looking for consistently high scores in online reviews, they also wanted to see a great website and have friendly conversations with members of the team, as well as receive a prompt and efficient response to their inquiries.

The judges noted that the Swindon-based dealership’s excellent feedback online was backed up by a well-designed, easy-to-navigate website, while interaction with colleagues was pressure-free and informative.

Tim Maddocks, the managing director of Carite, said on the night: ‘I’m super-excited. I’m a bit emotional but very excited at the same time.

‘It wasn’t expected but it was so nice to be recognised.

‘We have all got a passion for the job and the same goal at the end to get out what we want.

‘From the start to where we are now six years later is absolutely amazing.

‘It’s a good business. We get smarter and more dedicated every single day and this award gives us even more confidence. It means so much.’

James Baggott said: ‘The Best Used Car Customer Care category is one of the most keenly contested every year at the Car Dealer Used Car Awards.

‘That’s hardly surprising really – every customer-facing organisation wants to deliver wonderful customer care!

‘Carite absolutely aced the mystery shopping round, which is no mean feat, and online feedback showed that countless customers had received similarly impressive levels of service and communication.

‘This is a well-deserved win for the team.’

Mike Brewer added: ‘It looks like Carite are getting it right when it comes to used car customer care!

‘Well done to everyone concerned – a banging result and welcome peace of mind for car buyers in the Swindon area and beyond.’

Category sponsored by RAC Dealer Network Presented by Lee Coomber, RAC client director at Assurant

from left are Lee Coomber, Robin Smith, Craig Applegate, Jack Chappell, Tim Maddocks, Tom Ellis and Mike Brewer

Lorraine and Paul Richards from Crompton Way Motors pick up their certificate for being highly commended

Congratulations to Car Quay!

‘Used Car Sales Team of the Year’

Motorway, the UK’s fastest growing used car marketplace for premium, privately-owned used vehicle stock would like to congratulate Car Quay on winning ‘Used Car Sales Team of the Year’.

USED CAR SALES TEAM OF THE YEAR

WINNER

CAR QUAY

The hard-working staff at Car Quay picked up the Used Car Sales Team trophy for providing excellent customer care and supplying top-quality used vehicles. Jamie Caple, managing director of the Derby-based business, said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to win – and as the trophy rightly says, this is for our sales team, every single one of them.

‘They come to work, they put their heart and soul into the business and treat it as their own.

‘We have the best team in the world. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are.

‘There is not a single person in my business that I don’t want to spend time with.

‘Everyone brings something to the party. This just means the world.’

James Baggott said: ‘There’s an old saying that teamwork makes the dream work –and it definitely seems to be the case at Car Quay!

‘Jamie’s lucky to have so many wonderful people in the business.

‘Our painstaking mystery shopping revealed to the judges that everyone involved in sales there is passionate about what they do and determined to deliver great cars and service to their customers.

‘Car Quay are worthy winners of this award – there’s no doubt about that.’

Mike Brewer added: ‘I send my personal congratulations to the team from Car Quay –this is a banging result for all involved.

‘It’s exactly the type of company I really admire, with everyone pulling together to get great results day in, day out.

‘Great stuff, team – and keep up the good work!’

Beck Evans

Category sponsored by Motorway Presented by Alex Buttle, co-founder

They come to work, they put their heart and soul into the business and treat it as their own.

Jamie Caple Managing director of Car Quay

The Car Quay team receiving their award

Automotive retail is changing faster than ever before. One thing that will never change is our commitment to giving more power to you. Because...together, we do more.

DAYS TO TURN AWARD

WINNER

CEDAR SPECIALIST CARS

Cedar Specialist Cars scooped the trophy for Days To Turn at this year’s Car Dealer Used Car Awards.

We collaborated with Auto Trader for this category to find the dealers who are selling their cars the fastest.

The online marketplace’s data team looked at nearly 13,500 dealers to help us identify the best – with those nominated then subjected to our own mystery shopping.

Mansfield-based Cedar Specialist Cars impressed our judges with an excellent stock turn rate coupled with brilliant customer service.

It’s a true family business, too, with Sean Cantillon as managing director, ably assisted by his wife Samantha and mother Sally-Ann Cook.

Cantillon has been in the industry since 1999, working his way up having started as a work experience mechanic.

While at Geoff Cox Car Sales, he was voted Dealer Principal of the Year at our 2016 Used Car Awards.

Having managed other companies for a number of years, he took the plunge to form his own business and Cedar Specialist Cars was established in 2018.

The trophy was presented by Marc Thornborough, brand director at category sponsor Auto Trader.

Cantillon said on the night: ‘It’s very nice to win. We never gear ourselves up and expect to win, but it’s so nice to get it.

‘We’ve got a good team behind us and we’re so proud. The atmosphere here has been amazing and it’s great to win.’

The company itself says on its website: ‘With over 20 years’ industry experience across large main dealers we have taken the very best, disposed of the worst and created an awardwinning car-buying experience that is totally unique and our customers love.’

Category sponsored by Auto Trader Presented by Marc Thornborough, brand director

We’ve got a good team behind us and we’re so proud. The atmosphere here has been amazing and it’s great to win.

Pictured from left are Marc Thornborough, Sean Cantillon, Samantha Cantillon

and

Mike Brewer

Sean Cantillon Managing director of Cedar Specialist Cars

More

Colin

USED COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DEALER OF THE YEAR

WINNER

PERRYS AYLESBURY COMMERCIAL CENTRE

Selling commercial vehicles is an art that not everyone can master – but there are rich rewards for getting it right.

Our judges were looking for a professional service backed up by excellent reviews, and our two highly commended firms – Anchor Vans and Vansdirect – both offered our mystery shoppers great service.

However, our winning dealership – Perrys Aylesbury Commercial Centre – provided a really standout service to our mystery shoppers.

Based in the county town of Buckinghamshire, the dealership has a wide reach, also covering Oxford, Luton and Reading, as well as Milton Keynes.

The dealership gave a superb service to our mystery shoppers both online and on the phone and it also has impressive online reviews.

That all meant it swept the board to walk away with the trophy for Used Commercial Vehicle Dealer for 2022.

The award was presented by Ryan Scaife, head of sales (south) at category sponsor Close Brothers Motor Finance.

Paul Stratford, of Perrys Aylesbury Commercial Centre, said on the night: ‘It’s a surprise. We weren’t expecting a nomination, so to go all the way through and win is fantastic.

‘The customer is at the centre of everything we do.

‘It is all about the customer journey.’

He added: ‘It has been a successful year for us. The shortages in supply have made us concentrate harder and work harder.’

And Stratford was full of praise for the glittering awards ceremony too, commenting: ‘The event is pretty bang up there.

‘It is a very exciting evening.’

Anchor Vans

Vansdirect

Category sponsored by Close Brothers Motor Finance Presented by Ryan Scaife, head of sales (south)

It’s a surprise. We weren’t expecting a nomination, so to go all the way through and win is fantastic.

Paul Stratford

Perrys Aylesbury Commercial Centre

Perrys Aylesbury Commercial Centre collects its award from Ryan Scaife and Mike Brewer

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

SYTNER WINNER

Sytner was the inaugural winner of our Diversity & Inclusion trophy at this year’s Used Car Awards.

This vital category was added for 2022 as we sought to celebrate the automotive businesses that put diversity and inclusivity at the heart of what they do.

Judges assessed the entrants’ nominations and wanted to see evidence of a policy at work in the businesses.

And Sytner wowed them by demonstrating a clear commitment to diversity and inclusion – even appointing a specific head to lead the company’s drive.

Earlier this year, it also launched a network group to create better equality for women in the automotive industry and the company itself.

Alexandra Ridler, broker accounts team leader at category sponsor MotoNovo Finance, presented the award to Sytner.

Jodie Williams, head of diversity and inclusion at the group, said on the night: ‘I think it is amazing to be recognised for the work we have done around diversity and inclusion.

‘We have got some amazing things coming up but it’s brilliant to be recognised in the sector for the work we’ve done.

‘We have been on an amazing journey surrounding diversity and inclusion.

‘We’ve got a diversity and inclusion forum, we’ve set up colour network groups, we’ve got a gender network group and then we also have a Q and A group.

‘They are driven by colleagues, they are supported and they are given the space and autonomy to really effect real change.

‘It is great to celebrate this with peers in the industry. It is important to celebrate success and to come together as a whole group.’

At the time of her appointment at Sytner, Williams said: ‘I’m passionate about creating cultures which are diverse and reflect the communities in which we operate, where individuals can be their best self. It’s very important that diversity and inclusion is recognised and supported within businesses and industries.’

Category sponsored by MotoNovo Finance Presented by Alexandra Ridler, broker accounts team leader

The Sytner team receive their trophy from Alexandra Ridler, with Mike Brewer on the right

Mazda Motors UK was highly commended TrustFord also received a certificate for being highly commended

Mazda Motors UK

TrustFord

AUCTION HOUSE OF THE YEAR

BEST USED CAR CATEGORIES

Categories sponsored by G3 Vehicle Auctions Presented

USED SMALL CAR OF THE YEAR

USED MID-SIZED CAR OF THE YEAR

USED EXECUTIVE CAR OF THE YEAR

PEUGEOT 208 MAZDA CX-5 SKODA SUPERB

PEUGEOT’S 208 was named Used Small Car of the Year for 2022.

Our judges voted for the French supermini on account of its strong packaging and desirability in the second-hand market.

Its impressive range of versions and powertrains also helped seal the deal.

Peugeot couldn’t attend the awards night so the gong was collected by a representative.

THE Mazda CX-5 was voted Used Mid-Sized Car of the Year because of its high desirability, high residuals and fun-to-drive character.

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda Motors UK MD, said: ‘It is an all-round family favourite. We have moved into a more premium space, and I think people appreciate that the car offers at a more affordable price something that the more premium brands do.’

SKODA’S Superb scooped the Used Executive Car of the Year trophy.

The Czech-built limo impressed our judging panel with its quality feel, smart image and value-for-money proposition.

Skoda product manager Harriet Venters said: ‘This feels amazing. There are so many things about the Superb but it’s the customer reaction to the car that really means so much.’

USED SPORTS CAR OF THE YEAR

USED SUV OF THE YEAR USED AFV OF THE YEAR

PORSCHE 911 AUDI Q7 MG ZS EV

PORSCHE’S iconic 911 was awarded the title of Used Sports Car of the Year 2022.

Judges felt it offered the very best blend of heritage, handling and desirability.

Matt O’Brien from Porsche Cars GB said: ‘It’s great to pick up a trophy here. The fact there are so many people here shows what a huge event it is, so to pick up an award is really pleasing for everyone.’

AUDI’S Q7 drove off with the Used SUV of the Year title for 2022.

Judges were swayed by its impressive packaging and desirability.

Michael Otton, Audi UK’s national sales manager, said: ‘This is absolutely incredible. We are really thrilled that the Q7 has won. It’s the flagship SUV for the Audi brand. A massive thank-you to Car Dealer!’

THE all-electric ZS EV from MG clinched the Used AFV of the Year award.

The British brand’s crossover was voted best alternatively fuelled vehicle by our judges, who remarked that the MG – with its good range and decent equipment levels – offered tremendous value for money, significantly undercutting many rivals.

A representative was given its trophy.

by Gareth Jones, digital director

Gareth Jones and Mike Brewer hand over the trophy in recognition of the 208’s triumph

Mazda UK managing director Jeremy Thomson receives the award for the CX-5

Matt O’Brien, pre-owned and corporate sales manager at Porsche Cars GB, with the 911’s gong

Audi UK national sales manager Michael Otton poses proudly with the trophy won by the Q7

MG scooped the Used AFV trophy for its all-electric ZS EV at our awards night

A Superb moment for Skoda product manager Harriet Venters as she is given the trophy

USED CAR OF THE YEAR

Category

sponsored

by G3

Vehicle

Auctions Presented by Gareth Jones, digital director

USED CAR OF THE YEAR MAZDA CX-5

The prestigious Used Car of the Year 2022 trophy went to the Mazda CX-5 – selected for standing out above all others during a turbulent time for the industry in 2022. Judges voted overwhelmingly for it, recognising its superb blend of comfort, practicality and handling, while also noting how it’s been one of the quickest to sell.

James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer, said: ‘The CX-5 continues to impress the used car market, and for this reason it’s a very deserved winner of the overall Used Car of the Year gong.’ Collecting the award, Mazda Motors UK MD Jeremy Thomson said: ‘I am super pleased, both for Mazda but also for our dealer network, for whom this will mean a lot. We have 120 dealers and the used car business is the main source of income for all of their businesses, and the CX-5 is one of the most important cars they sell.

‘This is brilliant, brilliant news, so thank you so much to Car Dealer.’

After the event, Mazda Motors UK sales director Peter Allibon said: ‘The success of the CX-5 in the pre-owned market is both a testament to how good the car is and the hard work of our dealer network.’

Jeremy Thomson is pictured with the trophy, flanked by Gareth Jones and Mike Brewer

MANUFACTURER USED CAR SCHEME OF THE YEAR

WINNER

NISSAN

Japanese carmaker Nissan took home the Manufacturer Used Car Scheme of the Year trophy at the 2022 Car Dealer Used Car Awards.

It’s an award that’s highly fought over every year by car manufacturers, as by winning the trophy it shows their used car offering delivers peace of mind for dealers and customers alike.

Judges were looking for evidence of a decent warranty, breakdown cover, a comprehensive check of the used cars before sale and a website that was easy to navigate.

Taking the highly commended places were Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, but it was Nissan that triumphed.

The judging panel said Nissan’s Approved Used Cars scheme was ‘excellent’ and backed up by a fleet of vehicles that used car buyers just can’t get enough of.

James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, said: ‘This award is one of the most keenly contested every year by manufacturers, as taking the spoils gives brands huge clout in a highly competitive arena.

‘The judges were looking for a manufacturer that prioritises giving clear assistance to consumers, but at the same time delivers great back-up and support to dealers. Huge congratulations to Nissan on this well deserved success.’

Collecting the trophy at the glittering awards night, Gary Huggett, head of used cars & RV management for Nissan Motor GB, said: ‘This feels great. It is always good to be acknowledged by peers and Car Dealer.

‘It’s been a hard, tough year for all of us, so this recognition is fantastic.

‘I think we have a consistent focus on our customers and work very closely with our dealer network, and that is what has really helped us win.

‘Our dealer network does a fantastic job for us and this is as much for them as it is for us.’

Speaking after the awards night, Michael Auliar, Nissan Motor GB sales director, said: ‘Throughout 2022, we have brought lots of exciting new products to market, but used cars are an incredibly important part of our offering, and thousands of our valued customers choose a used car from Nissan every year. We are thrilled to have picked up this trophy.’

Category sponsored by AutoProtect Presented by Adam Head, northern zone sales director

This feels great. It is always good to be acknowledged by peers and Car Dealer.

Gary Huggett Head of used cars & RV management Nissan Motor GB

Pictured from left are Adam Head, Gary Huggett and David Ardern from Nissan Motor GB, and Mike Brewer

NEWCOMER DEALERSHIP OF THE YEAR

award from Moneybarn’s Naomi Eades, centre, and Mike Brewer

SCUDERIA PRESTIGE AUTOMOBILE

tarting up in the used car business is never easy – and we applaud all the firms that stick their neck out and take their first steps in this business. That’s exactly what the Newcomer Dealership of the Year gong at the Car Dealer Used Car

The overall victor this year was Scuderia Prestige Automobile. Collecting the award were general manager David Casey, director Leonardo Hu and marketing manager Jacob Elliott. A delighted Hu said: ‘Winning this award means a lot. We have been working very hard in the last two to three years and this is a very big achievement for the whole team and one I think is well deserved. Our approach to customer service is simple – we treat everyone that comes into the business as we would like to be treated ourselves.’

Elliott said: ‘As soon as a customer walks in, we make sure they are greeted and all their

‘It doesn’t matter what they are there for, we are as welcoming as possible.’

Casey commented: ‘It is very important to all of us that the customer gets the best experience. Our Google reviews say it all and we are very proud of the feedback that we

He added: ‘The Used Car Awards is an excellent event. There is a great atmosphere and we are just delighted.’

Scuderia Prestige Automobile, based in London Road, Camberley, opened in 2019 and has established a well-earned reputation for supplying excellent prestige and luxury cars while delivering great levels of customer service.

James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, said: ‘In this category, judges were looking for proof that these firms were working hard on great customer service, and looked for top scores in the mystery shopping.

‘Scuderia Prestige Automobile emerged as deserving winners.’

Awards night compere TV’s Mike Brewer added: ‘Well done to the team at Scuderia Prestige. They will have worked their socks off over the past three years to get where they are today and I’m delighted for them.’

Category sponsored by Moneybarn Presented by Naomi Eades, sales manager

USED CAR SUPERMARKET OF THE YEAR

WINNER

CARSHOP

When it comes to competition it doesn’t get much more competitive than in the car supermarket world. Keeping standards high and customers happy is key, and our judges looked for clear evidence of that in the Used Car Supermarket category.

Coming top gives huge marketing clout to any winner, and Sytner-owned CarShop won thanks to its incredible online scores and seriously impressing our mystery shoppers with its brilliant service.

Among those collecting the award were CarShop’s digital marketing manager, Sergio Collado, and Sytner Group’s head of brand, Ben Scholes.

A jubilant Collado said: ‘It is amazing to be recognised for all the hard work that has gone on this year.

‘There are thousands of people who have put a lot of effort into making this possible.

‘We have thousands of used cars in stock at 12 locations across the country and are proud to offer the best service in the industry.

‘It’s not just about having a lot of people working for the business, it’s about having the right people working for the business.

‘Despite only having worked in the business for the past year and a half, I think I can say that I am working with the best people in the industry.’

Scholes added: ‘CarShop understands its audience. It’s an incredible business to be a part of and its levels of service are impeccable.

‘A lot of people are responsible for this. CarShop has an incredible process that allows people to get great cars.

‘It’s all about understanding who your audience is and relating to it.’

CarShop is part of Sytner Group, which enjoyed a a 77 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to more than £178m last year.

Highlights during the year included being given the opportunity to represent Bugatti in Manchester, as well as acquiring used car supermarket Autoworld Willenhall from Renault Retail Group. The latter was immediately closed for refurbishment, rebranding, recruitment and training, and it reopened as CarShop Wolverhampton in October.

Carbase was highly commended

Fords of Winsford receives its certificate

Category sponsored by Mann Island Finance Presented by Andy Muir, head of sales

The Sytner Group and CarShop teams collect their award from Andy Muir and Mike Brewer

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR

WINNER

CAMERON LOVE, HOLDCROFT NISSAN

The moment the winner of the Outstanding Achievement category was read out was a special one at the 2022 Used Car Awards.

Awards host Mike Brewer said the way the room came to a halt and audibly gasped as the story of our winner’s endeavours were read out was ‘truly special’. This year, the recipient was Cameron Love, a used car sales controller from Holdcroft Nissan in Crewe.

The used car manager was in his dealership earlier this year working hard when customer John Ryder collapsed on to the floor.

The 82-year-old had suffered a cardiac arrest and his heart had stopped. Our winner immediately sprang into action and took control of the situation. He grabbed the dealership’s defibrillator – a device that can help restart a heart –and attached it to Mr Ryder.

While his colleagues called for an ambulance, our award winner managed to successfully provide the emergency care that Mr Ryder needed, saving his life.

Brewer said: ‘This award really could have only gone to one man this year. It’s an amazing story and one we are truly honoured to mark with this gong.

‘The fact the customer came back and bought a car from Cameron is just the icing on the cake. Amazing.’

Speaking to Car Dealer, Love said: ‘I am just humbled to be here and happy that Mr Ryder has survived and is carrying on with his life.

‘I just did what anyone else would do. It came naturally and there were also members of the team doing bits in the background.

‘The main thing is that he survived, and I am humbled to be here.

‘I want to say thanks to the rest of the team, thanks to everyone who put me forward for this and thank you to Car Dealer.’

Category sponsored by Trade To Trade Underwriting Presented by James Vaughan, co-founder

It’s an amazing story and one we are truly honoured to mark with this gong.

Mike Brewer

Cameron Love with his trophy, flanked by James Vaughan, left, and Mike Brewer

Cameron goes up to the stage

ONE PARTNER. A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES.

We are pleased to reveal our first significant re-structure and re-brand in more than a decade. As the business undergoes extensive transformation to affirm our positioning as a global growth partner for dealerships and OEMs across the automotive and motorcycle industries.

Our reputation was established through our successful vehicle protection products that launched almost twenty years ago, and today we have re-centred our brand and proposition around the three core pillars of vehicle protection, insurance products and digital solutions. These will be known respectively as GardX Protect, GardX Assure, and GardX Engage (formally Fuel Digital), under the GardX Group umbrella to deliver a fully integrated proposition worldwide.

GardX Group CEO Billy Coutin said: ’After talking to both our teams and our trusted partners, we’ve focused on rationalising our brand, forging three clear offerings beneath the GardX Group name. We believe these three core pillars of our new proposition have created a world-first, that can provide a unique, fully integrated and digitally enabled value proposition that can only benefit our client partners. With the ever-changing automotive landscape and the potential headwinds that are on the horizon, it is vital we also evolve our company to support our clients and their future requirements’

To find out more, visit our website gardxgroup.com or email enquiries@gardxgroup.com.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

WINNER

ROBIN LUSCOMBE

The winner of our Used Car Awards Lifetime Achievement category this year was a man who has dedicated more than 40 years to the industry.

Robin Luscombe, managing director of Luscombe’s Leeds, received a standing ovation when he received the gong at the glittering ceremony.

Luscombe heads up a franchised business that represents leading brands MG and Suzuki, while selling used cars from manufacturers such as Mitsubishi, Audi and Mazda.

As well as having a highly regarded sales operation, Luscombe’s Leeds also operates a busy service and repair centre plus MOT testing station.

The company, based in Low Road, Hunslet, has been in operation since 2010 and is well known in West Yorkshire.

Before founding his own business, Luscombe spent 30 years working at a franchised dealership representing Suzuki. Then, just over a decade ago, he decided it was finally time to branch out on his own – and he hasn’t looked back since.

Luscombe said: ‘I’m never speechless but I almost am. I’m in complete surprise and shock. I’m staggered.

‘This is just a completely different award. Thirteen years ago I gave up a very good job earning good money and my wife was brave enough to put everything on the line and gamble it on the fact I could sell cars.

‘She gambled everything on me and I pulled it off. It was a fairly brave move and this is recognition that I never ever ever expected.

‘This goes to people who run the big groups, so for someone like me to win an award like this is unbelievable. This is a memory I will never forget.’

Awards host Mike Brewer said: ‘There are some figures in the used car industry that stand head and shoulders above all others – and Robin Luscombe is one of them.

‘I just love the ethos of his business – the way they ‘‘help people buy cars’’ rather than sell cars to them, and the fact that they provide advice and guidance at every stage of the process. I also enjoy reading Robin’s Diary, which is updated regularly on the company website. Well done, sir, and congratulations on a stellar career in the motor trade.’

I’m never speechless but I almost am. I’m in complete surprise and shock. I’m staggered.

Robin Luscombe, centre, is pictured with Victor Coutin, left, and Mike Brewer

Category sponsored by GardX Presented by Victor Coutin, chairman

Robin Luscombe

Lifetime Achievement winner Robin Luscombe

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USED CAR DEALERSHIP OF THE YEAR: UP TO 50 CARS

WINNER

CROMPTON WAY MOTORS

It’s one of Used Car Awards host Mike Brewer’s favourite categories – and this year the Used Car Dealership of the Year for dealers up to 50 cars didn’t disappoint.

The winner was Crompton Way Motors, based in Bolton. The dealership was also a finalist in the Used Car Website of the Year category and received a highly commended place for Best Used Car Customer Care.

But it was the up to 50 cars category where the business sealed the win in 2022. Brewer said: ‘This is a category I love, because it sums up what UCA is all about.

‘And that’s about celebrating everyone in this industry – be that the guys who sell a few cars from a small dealership, right up to the big groups and car manufacturers.

‘Crompton Way Motors gave our mystery shoppers a sterling service with plenty of help and advice, and has enviable online reviews.

‘It really was a well-deserving winner in a fiercely fought category.’

Crompton Way Motors is a family-owned-and-run business that has been trading for more than 14 years.

It prides itself on its reputation and says online reviews are very important to its success.

Crompton Way Motors gave our mystery shoppers a sterling service with plenty of help and advice, and has enviable online reviews. Mike Brewer

Category sponsored by Black Horse Presented by Tim Smith, head of motor finance

Lorraine and Paul Richards from Crompton Way Motors with Tim Smith, left, and Mike Brewer, right

Jim Reid Vehicle Sales & Service was highly commended

USED CAR DEALERSHIP OF THE YEAR: 51 TO 100 CARS

WINNER

PLYMPTON CAR CENTRE

The winner of the Used Car Dealership of the Year (51-100 Cars) category for 2022 was Plympton Car Centre.

The firm, based in Market Road, Plymouth, won the prize thanks to an excellent mystery shopping score and amazing online reviews.

Established in 1994, Plympton Car Centre has become recognised locally as a trusted supplier of quality used cars.

This isn’t the first time that the company has enjoyed success at the Car Dealer Magazine Used Car Awards – it was declared Used Car Sales Team of the Year at the 2021 ceremony.

Stewart McMinn, director of the business, said: ‘We are absolutely ecstatic. It has been a hard year, we work hard and we are chuffed to bits to win this.

‘Great customer care is something that we strive for every day, and we really enjoy what we do.

‘We aim to treat everyone equally. With us, everyone gets the same high level of customer service.’

Used Car Awards host Mike Brewer said: ‘It’s great to see Plympton Car Centre do well at the Car Dealer Magazine Used Car Awards.

‘The trophy they won this year is another reason to celebrate and another great feather in their cap. Well done!’

Plympton’s Wayne Russell added: ‘We aim to treat everyone equally. With us, everyone gets the same level of satisfaction regardless.

‘We didn’t know who the mystery shopper was, we just treated them as we would any customer who comes in.

‘Car Dealer is massively important for the industry. It is something that I look at every day. I am in the WhatsApp groups and it is massive.’

Category sponsored by Black Horse Presented by Tim Smith, head of motor finance

The trophy they won this year is another reason to celebrate and another great feather in their cap. Well done!’

Mike Brewer

Trophy winner Plympton Car Centre with Tim Smith, left, and Mike Brewer

USED

DEALERSHIP OF THE YEAR: OVER 100 CARS

BECK EVANS WINNER

The winner of the Used Car Dealership of the Year (Over 100 Cars) category for 2022 was Beck Evans.

The luxury and prestige used car dealership in south-east London picked up the accolade thanks to an impressive collection of online reviews and top mystery shopping scores. Beck Evans is a family-run business based in Cray Road, Sidcup.

This isn’t the first time the company has enjoyed success at the Car Dealer Used Car Awards, though, having picked up trophies in previous years.

And at this year’s event, Beck Evans was also highly commended in the Used Car Sales Team of the Year category.

The business is part of the Beck Evans Group. With brothers Samuel and Daniel Evans at the helm, the team have been supplying new and nearly new cars to customers in the UK and around the world since 1970.

Director Daniel said: ‘Winning the Over 100 Cars award is wonderful recognition for the effort the team have put in throughout the whole year.

‘We’re passionate about customer care and it’s a constant topic of conversation at Beck Evans.

‘We are always talking to the team about the best ways to respond to customers, the need to get back to customers quickly and the follow-up processes we all need to do.

‘The Car Dealer Used Car Awards are great at recognising dealerships from small independents to the big, franchised groups.

‘They give you an opportunity to compare yourselves against your peers and it’s great to know we’re doing well – we certainly put the effort in! Essentially, we want to provide good service and great value for money. That’s what we’re all about.’

Host Mike Brewer said: ‘It’s great to see Beck Evans do well at the Used Car Awards. The trophy they won this year is another reason to celebrate and they should all feel incredibly proud. Well done to the whole team!’

Samuel added: ‘This has been the hardest year there has ever been in the motor trade, but this award helps us to look forward to 2023.

‘It’s a massive morale booster that will hopefully help us to go forward again.’

Category sponsored by Black Horse Presented by Tim Smith, head of motor finance

The Beck Evans team with Tim Smith, left, and Mike Brewer, right

USED CAR DEALERSHIP GROUP OF THE YEAR

WINNER

HENDY

Our Used Car Dealership Group of the Year for 2022 was Hendy. The south coast-based business picked up the accolade thanks to a top performance from across its dealers in the mystery shopping.

Hendy Group, which has a history stretching back over 160 years, represents 21 car manufacturers.

The company is proud to be a close-knit, family-run business, with the fifth generation of the Hendy family currently at the helm.

Although the firm has grown a lot since it was founded in 1859, its core values of honesty, quality and customer service are still very much central to its operations.

Awards host Mike Brewer said: ‘Well done to everyone at Hendy – a blinding result and something to truly celebrate.

‘Although a big company, the Hendy used car team deserve praise for their attention to detail and the great levels of customer service they deliver.

‘Hendy Group as a whole has a long and proud history and, I’m sure, a bright future. Congratulations to all concerned.’

A delighted Richard Reed, head of brand performance at Hendy Group, said: ‘We are over the moon. We were up against some really strong opposition, and when we won it we were ecstatic.

‘I think the secret to our success is teamwork. We love our people, we love our customers and we love the outcomes we achieve.

‘This trophy means so much to us.

‘Once we let our colleagues know we have won, the entire Hendy team will be over the moon. It’s fantastic!’

Category sponsored by Black Horse Presented by Tim Smith, head of motor finance

We are over the moon. We were up against some really strong opposition, and when we won it we were ecstatic.

Richard Reed Head of brand performance at Hendy Group

The Hendy team with their trophy, flanked by Tim Smith, left, and Mike Brewer, right

VIP DRINKS RECEPTION AND CASINO

The awards got off to a fine start with a VIP drinks reception and ended in style with a fun casino, both hosted by eBay Motors Group.

Chief operating officer Phill Jones said: ‘The Used Car Awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on the achievements, hard work and the people in our industry.

‘They highlight the hard work, character and camaraderie of the industry.

‘It’s great to see the room buzzing with people catching up and celebrating. The event reaches to the heart of our industry and represents everything that is brilliant about used car retailing and those involved. We are extremely proud to be sponsoring the awards again this year.’

John Lewis vouchers worth £150, £350 and £500 were the fun casino prizes.

Raffle raises thousands for automotive industry charity

Sponsored by eBay Motors Group

A raffle in aid of automotive industry charity Ben raised £4,105. Prizes comprised a pair of tickets to the Silverstone Classic from Mike Brewer, an Apple iPad from G3 Vehicle Auctions, a £250 Amazon gift voucher from Codeweavers, an Apple iPad courtesy of Motorway, a £200 Amazon gift voucher from Warrantywise plus a space on the RAC Dealer Network Golf Day in 2023.

The fun casino had prizes of up to £500 in John Lewis gift vouchers up for grabs

Posh frocks and black ties were the order of the day when it came to attire

CAR NEWS ROUND-UP

VOLVO has revised its electric XC40 and C40 Recharge models, making various powertrain tweaks to maximise the range.

An electric version of the popular XC40 was introduced last year, with Volvo following it later in the year with a coupe-styled C40 version. Competition is fierce in this class, however, with the Swedish firm now making a number of changes to the two cars to expand their appeal.

A key change is that Volvo has switched the drivetrain type on single motor versions from frontto rear-wheel drive.

These versions now pack a 7bhp uplift in power, and although its 67kWh usable battery remains the same, the changes have improved the XC40’s range from 263 to 285 miles, while the C40’s improves from 271 miles on a full charge to 294 miles.

Set to arrive in the UK next year, both models mean the Astra will now be available with the choice of four powertrains: electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol and diesel.

It also boosts the number of fully electric Vauxhall

vehicles currently on sale to six. Both Astra models are powered by a 114kW electric motor and a 54kWh battery which, Vauxhall says, will return up to 258 miles in between charges.

Thanks to 100kW DC charging compatibility, the electric Astra will also be able to manage an 80 per cent charge in as little as 30 minutes.

AUDI

Performance models of RS6 and RS7 promise more power

AUDI has introduced Performance versions of its sporty RS6 and RS7, packing more power and a range of exterior changes.

The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine has been boosted by 30bhp and 50Nm of torque, with the models now producing 621bhp and 850Nm of torque.

The changes have come from fitting larger turbochargers and an increase in boost pressure in the engine, with the RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback now able to accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds – two tenths of a second quicker than before.

HONDA has confirmed pricing for its latest Civic Type R. Available to order now, the latest incarnation of the famous hot hatch will cost from £46,995, with this latestgeneration model boasting a revised gearbox and fresh styling tweaks.

The new Type R uses the same 2.0-litre powertrain but it’s linked to a modified six-speed manual gearbox that brings faster and more responsive shifts. Power has seen a modest increase from 316bhp to 325bhp, too.

VAUXHALL has continued its electric car offensive with the introduction of battery-powered versions of its Astra and Astra Sports Tourer.

VAUXHALL

500e takes brand into electric realm

ABARTH has revealed its first electric model with the 500e – a hotter version of Fiat’s 500 EV.

To be sold alongside petrol versions of the 595, the 500e signals a new era for the brand – its first new model in more than half a decade.

The 500e ‘performs better than petrol’ thanks to improved weight distribution, better torque and a wider wheelbase. No range has been given, but expect slightly less than the 199 miles claimed for the 500.

FORD

Ranger given Platinum trim

Most powerful S-Class can get to 60mph in 3.1 seconds

MERCEDES has revealed the most powerful S-Class in its history with the AMG-derived S63e.

The first model in the current generation of S-Class to receive the sporty AMG treatment, it uses a mighty plug-in hybrid setup that features a 4.0-litre V8 engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear axle.

FORD has announced a more luxury-focused Platinum trim level for the brand’s new Ranger pick-up.

Described as the most luxurious Ranger yet, the Platinum sits above the Wildtrak and beneath the flagship adventure-focused Raptor in the pick-up’s line-up.

Styling changes include a new unique grille.

Inside sees perforated and leather upholstery, with the front seats electric, heated and ventilated. There is also ambient lighting.

ABARTH TOYOTA

BMW

Limited-edition 3.0 CSL ends M anniversary celebrations

BMW M is bringing its 50th-anniversary celebrations to a close with a new limited-edition model – the 3.0 CSL.

Restricted to 50 units, the 3.0 CSL harks back to the legendary 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ of the 1970s. The most recent incarnation uses the most powerful straight-six ever in a BMW road car, with the 3.0-litre engine kicking out 552bhp and 550Nm of torque, driven to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

It’s underpinned by specially tuned Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers.

These put out 791bhp and a monstrous 1,430Nm of torque, allowing this 2.6-tonne luxury saloon to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph, although the limiter can be raised to 180mph. A nine-speed automatic ’box is also used, with drive sent to all four wheels.

SKODA

Concept taster of next C-HR crossover

Pricing for new Enyaq vRS

SUV

announced

THE new SUV version of Skoda’s Enyaq iV vRS will start from £52,670, says the manufacturer.

TOYOTA has given a strong glimpse of what its next-gen C-HR crossover will look like with a new concept car.

The C-HR has been a hugely important model for Toyota, helping to introduce a bolder design direction for the firm at its launch in 2016.

Offering a clear link to the current model as well as to the electric bZ compact SUV concept, the C-HR Prologue gets a striking ‘hammerhead’ front end design. Highlights include a concave grille and thin LED headlights.

Joining a coupe derivative already on sale, this SUV brings greater practicality and interior space than its more glamorous sibling. It’s also cheaper, undercutting the coupe’s £54,370 starting price by £1,700.

The Enyaq iV has two electric motors that put out 295bhp and 460Nm of torque, taking it from 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 111mph. It also

PARTNERSHIP

Hendy Maserati showroom opens

HERE ARE TASTERS OF STORIES YOU MAY HAVE

NEWS DIGEST

CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR THE FULL STORY

HENDY Group has opened a showroom in Poole for the luxury brand Maserati.

Based at Hendy’s Performance Centre in West Quay Road, it will showcase the full range of the Italian marque as well as offer servicing for the cars.

CEO Paul Hendy said: ‘Maserati is synonymous with unique design, innovation, performance and passion, and we look forward to being part of the brand’s future in the UK.’

Hendy now has franchises for 21 brands across 65 sites.

DONATIONS

Automotive exec airlifted to hospital after horror fall on top of Kilimanjaro during charity climb

The 54-year-old sales director for Hella was one of a 15-strong team climbing the near-6,000m mountain when he tripped and fell on the way down, rolling nearly 40m. Grinham cracked his head through to the skull and smashed an eye socket. And it happened on such a steep part of the mountain, he had to walk for 90 minutes to where the helicopter had landed. Now back home in Halesowen, he is starting to recover.

WITHDRAWAL

SWANSWAY Motor Group has been getting into the festive spirit by donating Christmas items to those in need in the north of England and Wales.

The firm once again launched its Santa Patrol campaign, giving away gifts via charity partners. It liaised closely with them and collected specialist orders that were bespoke to their needs.

Swansway Motor Group director David Smyth said: ‘We hope our Santa Patrol donations bring a smile to the faces of those who are most in need.’

HEDIN Group has withdrawn its offer to buy Pendragon, citing ‘challenging market conditions’.

The Swedish firm said a risky economic picture had led it to pull out from making a final offer for the group, whose retail brands include Evans Halshaw and Stratstone.

In September, it made a preliminary and conditional cash offer of 29p per share, and Pendragon was granted two extension deadlines.

LUXURY dealer group H.R. Owen has become the UK’s sole retailer of Hennessey vehicles.

The revered American brand joins the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari and Lamborghini in H.R. Owen’s stable.

The firm will now sell the outfit’s Special Vehicles range, including the Venom F5, pictured. H.R. Owen CEO Ken Choo said: ‘Hennessey is the perfect addition to our portfolio of partners, with a storied heritage.’

Hedin walks away from Pendragon bid

Hennessey joins H.R. Owen stable

Swansway’s Santa Patrol brings cheer

Time for a mince pie and the inevitable mantlepiece moment where I pompously give you my view of the past 12 months.

James Batchelor p17

AUTOMOTIVE executive Spencer Grinham needed 17 stitches in his head after a horror fall on Mount Kilimanjaro during a climb in aid of industry charity Ben that saw him airlifted to hospital.

SHANTY CANDIDATES

FESTIVITIES

‘Jungle Queen’ Jill visits dealership

BITE-SIZE

Click on the text box for the full story

THE sales director of an Isuzu car dealership in Exeter is spearheading an initiative to raise money for the RNLI with a festive sea shanty.

Joe Chatting, who works at Livery Dole, is a member of The Out of Tunas, which was formed earlier this year. The Maidencombe-based group have released a single entitled Shanty Christmas in aid of the RNLI, with the amalgamation of nautical and festive lyrics giving a glimpse into the life of a sailor during Christmas.

SURVEY

KIA’S new logo is still unrecognisable to customers almost two years after the manufacturer started using the redesigned badge.

A survey by Rerev found that 44 per cent of the 1,062 people quizzed misread the name in the new badge.

The most common mistake was reading it as KN, with 26 per cent of respondents making that error.

Three per cent thought it said KM and two per cent just K, with another two per cent seeing KV.

FOUR wannabe sales executives swapped the usual stuffy interview location of a boardroom for the back of a race car at 110mph!

The candidates, who had applied to work at car supermarket Big Motoring World, were quizzed while being driven by professional speed demon and YouTuber Sid North – with their reactions caught on camera. The interviews took place in a BMW M5 Competition at Cadwell Park racetrack – and all four ended up securing work with the company.

I’M A Celebrity winner Jill Scott enjoyed an evening of Christmas festivities at Mercedes-Benz of Stockport.

The triumphant Lioness and ‘Jungle Queen’ didn’t have far to travel, as she lives in Northenden.

At the event, hosted by automotive dealer group LSH Auto, Scott enjoyed sampling food and drink from local artisan stallholders, chatted to showroom staff and enjoyed a performance by Lady Barn House School Choir (pictured).

CUTS

Carvana to axe eight per cent of staff

DECLINE: Online used car dealer Cazoo’s share price tanked to a new record low of 13 cents as this issue was publishing –making it worth just over £79m. It was valued at £6.5bn when it launched on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2021.

GROUNDBREAKING: Fiat has made history by opening the world’s first metaverse-powered car dealership – a sign of what digital showrooms could look like in the future. It has launched in Italy to sell the limited-edition 500 La Prima by Bocelli.

PURCHASE: Vertu Motors has completed its £182m acquisition of the lion’s share of Helston Garages after receiving Financial Conduct Authority approval. It sees Ferrari added to its portfolio and Volvo returning to it, giving Vertu 188 franchised sites.

ONLINE used car dealer Carvana has announced another round of job cuts as it battles to slash costs.

The US-based firm, which is said to have inspired Cazoo and is wellknown for its car vending machines, is set to axe around 1,500 jobs, or eight per cent of its workforce.

It’s facing higher costs as well as rising interest rates and a softening in demand for used cars. CEO Ernie Garcia said in an email that ‘painful choices’ had to be made.

EFUELS: Mazda has completed a 1,000-mile road trip in an MX-5 using fossil-free petrol. It was driven from the company’s HQ in Essex and took in four race tracks around the UK to show the potential real-world usage of the sustainable efuel.

JOBS: Jaguar Land Rover is looking to hire tech experts who have recently been laid off by tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter. It has almost 800 roles available across the world as part of its plans to become more data-driven.

Kia’s new logo fails to click with people

Job interviews go screamingly well...

Sales director leads festive tune for RNLI

I had my ‘Baldrick moment’ and a cunning plan was hatched.

‘It’s rather entertaining, with sharp steering plus a very balanced and comfortable ride.’

CHINESE BRAND

GWM ORA ‘BELIEVES’ IN DEALERS AND PLANS TO APPOINT A DOZEN MORE RETAILERS

by James Batchelor @JRRBatchelor

New Chinese entrant GWM Ora won’t adopt an agency sales model in the UK, and instead plans to appoint around a dozen dealers in the next 12 months.

The brand, backed by the IM Group in the UK, has already signed up Peter Vardy, Lookers and Wessex Garages to its books and intends to increase the size of its network in line with growing customer interest.

Peter Vardy will offer the Ora UK brand at its Carz Glasgow site, while Wessex Garages will present the brand at its Bristol showroom.

Lookers, meanwhile, has decided to offer Ora UK at its Wolverhampton and Braintree locations

But the company has decided not to follow an exclusively online sales policy or an agency model, as it ‘believes’ in dealers and physical showrooms.

Speaking to Car Dealer, GWM Ora UK’s sales and marketing director, Toby Marshall, said: ‘Retailers are important. We want them to be brought into the brand and want them to grow with us and help us to expand.

‘They are powerful people and they can get the word out there and explain our line-up.

‘We very much see them as partners. We are starting with four sites and we will take on more organically.’

When pushed, Marshall revealed that Ora is aiming to appoint one new dealer a month, taking the total up to 16 by the end of 2023.

Ora intends to have a ‘hub and spoke’ make-up to its network, with ‘hubs’ offering sales and service, and more numerous ‘spokes’ offering aftersales.

The network will never total circa 150 dealers as rival Chinese firm SAIC does with MG, but will be around the 60 mark ‘even when we’re selling 20,000 cars-plus’, Marshall said.

‘They won’t necessarily be multi-franchise PLCs – we want to find the right person for the right area, so we are talking to dealers big and small.

‘We don’t just want to stay with the big dealer groups,’ he added.

By the end of November 2022, GWM Ora was offering various features for customers online, consisting of a configurator, a part-exchange valuation tool, plus reservation and delivery date functions.

But the online tools will work hand in hand with the brand’s dealers, said Marshall.

Computer-generated images that were revealed to us here at Car Dealer showed that the

• New Chinese brand GWM Ora aims to appoint a dealer a month in 2023

• Sales and marketing chief says firm ‘believes’ in dealers and rejects agency sales

• Company has already signed up Peter Vardy, Lookers and Wessex Garages

We want to find the right person for the right area, so we are talking to dealers big and small.

Toby Marshall GWM Ora UK’s sales and marketing director

The retro-styled electric saloon due in 2023

dealerships that GWM Ora is planning will have ‘simple’ exterior branding.

Meanwhile, on the inside, the showrooms will have ‘friendly, warm and welcoming’ decor, furniture and fittings that are in keeping with the 100 per cent electric Funky Cat’s cutesy image.

For the time being, the only model that Ora UK is offering is the Funky Cat – initially as a high-spec First Edition for £31,995.

It comes with a 48kWh battery and offers a range of up to 193 miles.

Over the course of the next 12 months, however, larger battery versions are expected to appear, along with a sportily styled GT model.

Dealers will also be able to sell a D-segment electric coupe saloon called internally ‘Next Cat’ but whose name will change.

Great Wall Motor (GWM) was founded in 1984 and is the market leader in the domestic market for luxury SUVs.

It has a joint venture with BMW, and Ora is its electric-only brand.

It’s the second time that the company has arrived on UK shores.

IM Group launched the Great Wall brand in 2011, when it offered the Steed pick-up. However, the vehicle and the Great Wall name both disappeared from the UK in 2016 after the pick-up couldn’t meet new Euro 6 emissions regulations.

Artist’s impression of an Ora dealership

We want them to be brought into the brand and want them to grow with us and help us to expand.

Toby Marshall GWM Ora UK’s sales and marketing director

ORA FUNKY CAT

The Funky Cat is a new electric hatchback from GWM Ora, but what does this quirky-looking EV feel like to drive? James Batchelor found out.

WHAT IS IT?

The Funky Cat comes from one of China’s leading carmakers, Great Wall Motor, and Ora is its EV-only brand. The firm hopes to finally establish itself in Europe as an alternative to more traditional brands, and the family hatchback-sized Funky Cat is its first move.

WHAT’S NEW?

Great Wall has been in the UK before with its rather underwhelming Steed pick-up, but this time around it’s going after the electric hatchback customer with its Ora brand. That’s no mean feat as this sector is dominated by the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3, Vauxhall’s Corsa-e and Mini Electric. There’s also the small matter of the MG4 – a car built by GWM’s big Chinese rival SAIC, which undercuts nearly all of its competition on price and range.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The battery is paired with an electric motor that powers the front wheels. In terms of charging, an 80 per cent top-up with a standard wallbox takes five hours and 24 minutes, while a three-phase 11kW on-street charger cuts that to three hours and 12 minutes. Plug it into a 100kW ultra-rapid charger and an 80 per cent fill-up takes about 45 minutes.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

It’s rather entertaining, with sharp steering plus a very balanced and comfortable ride, and more than enough poke. A 0-60mph time of just over eight seconds is nothing to write home about for an EV but it certainly feels quicker than that, and there’s a pleasing linear feel to the way it accelerates.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

The styling really marks out the Funky Cat. While most electric family hatchbacks favour a modern – even futuristic – look, GWM Ora has gone for a more retro appearance. The huge headlamps and curvy bonnet perhaps ape a Porsche 911, while two of the four colour combinations have a slightly ’50s Americana flavour to them. That said, the rear light bar is more on trend – even if it does strobe like KITT from Knight Rider.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

There’s a solid feel to the interior – the doors

thunk as they do in an ID.3, but the material

Power

quality far exceeds the German electric hatchback in every respect. Most surfaces are either covered in stitched faux leather or squidgy soft-touch plastic, and the switchgear all feels good – the row of chrome ventilation controls are even Mini-like in look and feel.

The Funky Cat gets two 10.25-inch screens, and although there’s plenty of functionality, the menus are a little clunky and tricky to use on the move.

While we’re on the subject of things that could be better, the passenger space is more than adequate but the boot, at 228 litres, is a little on the small side.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

This is where the Funky Cat ends up having its tail between its legs, as for the time being there’s only one high-spec First Edition offered.

There’s no criticising the equipment that’s thrown in as standard, as it gets those screens, electrically adjustable front seats and a 360-degree parking camera. In fact, the parking aid is just the start, as the Funky Cat has received a full NCAP five-star safety rating on account of its suite of safety gizmos. However, there’s a but... When the Funky Cat was first mooted for the UK, a price of £25,000 was hinted at, but this First Edition costs from £31,995. While cheaper versions are set to follow, that’s a whole heap of money for a car from an unknown

Cabin

The Funky Cat has a plush interior with quality switchgear and doors that thunk when closed.

Style

The retro look really marks out the Ora from its rivals.

brand. For comparison, an MG4 Trophy Long Range can travel further (270 miles) and costs £31,495, while a Cupra Born has a 20 per cent larger battery, is more powerful and is nicer to drive, albeit costing £4,500 more.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Autocar said: ‘Its divisive but undeniably charismatic form is a welcome addition to the electric hatchback ranks.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

The car’s cutesy styling and quality interior are the only things that make it stand out in a marketplace that’s currently focused on range and affordability. There’s a good car that drives very well beneath the lavish spec, though, and the Funky Cat does add a sense of fun and character – the name being a perfect example.

Forthcoming cheaper models will probably make more sense, but on this first impression, there’s much to like about the Funky Cat.

It’s rather entertaining, with sharp steering plus a very balanced and comfortable ride.

COOL STUFF

So here we are – the end of the year is getting near.

It feels like the past 12 months have flown by, don’t you think?

But as we focus on Christmas and the move into 2023, it’s a great time to take a look at some of the very best cool products and ideas that have come out at the tail-end of 2022.

Callum Lounge

Chair

£8,500

Ian Callum may be known for his sleek vehicle designs – particularly during his time at Jaguar Land Rover – but more recently he’s turned his attention to something a little more comfort-orientated. At £8,500, the Callum Lounge Chair represents a hefty outlay, but it’s built with the same exacting specifications as you’d expect from a performance car.

It’s built around a carbon-fibre structure, for instance, which is then clad in a moulded plywood shell and a eucalyptus veneer. You can even choose from one of 10 leather options, giving it a really personal feel.

Apple

Phones break – and anyone who’s had their smartphone land face-down after dropping it know the wincing pain that accompanies it. So being able to fix a smartphone yourself could be handy and take away some of the faff that comes with trying to find somewhere to replace components.

That’s why Apple is creating the Self-Service Repair Store. Customers will be able to complete their own phone repairs via the service, which gives access to more than 200 individual parts, as well as tools and repair manuals. Plus, if you’ve not got the right tools, Apple will rent them to you.

Bowers & Wilkins is a much-trusted name in the audio industry, having created some of the best sound equipment for decades.

It’s just announced a collaboration with McLaren, too, on a new set of headphones that combine a great sound experience with go-faster looks. The snappily titled Px8 McLaren Edition features the same orange highlights as many of the firm’s road cars but incorporates Bowers & Wilkins’ clever Carbon Cone technology for a crystal-clear sound.

Car manufacturers have a long history of producing perfumes and aftershaves – with varying degrees of success – and one of the latest is Bentley.

Its Momentum Unbreakable features a stone-plated bottle inspired by the stone veneer finish inside Bentley vehicles – it’s sustainable, too, being sourced from quarries in India.

Inside, the eau de parfum is said to feature a ‘rich, warm palette of woods’ with highlights of mandarin and lavender.

Picture of the month

WITH Christmas just around the corner, this seemed very appropriate...

Ferrari is to pay for conservation work on Cimabue’s fresco masterpiece ‘Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and Four Angels’, which dates from around 1285-1290 and is in the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi in Assisi itself.

The intricate work should take about a year.

Bravissimo, Ferrari!

Diesel sales are in a downward spiral – no thanks to fuel prices

Diesel sales have really slowed down for us over the past couple of months, which I guess is to be expected with the daylight robbery going on at the fuel pumps.

However, some of these cars should have been gone within a week, yet two months down the line we’re still sitting on them with prices at rock bottom.

Is everyone experiencing the same?

Samuel Welwyn

Yes, diesels have definitely fallen out of favour recently.

Halfpenny

It had to happen eventually. City dwellers have been punished for owning diesels for years. I guess the rot is spreading.

Metcars

Everyone bar the King is tightening their belts, and a big old lumpy diesel isn’t cutting it. Plus, there are congestion zones now starting around the country, and the greens don’t like smelly diesels do they?

It’s me

Search for Car Sales Memes on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give them a follow!

Got a beef about the industry? Or do you want to praise something? It couldn’t be easier to have your say! Sign up to our forum at CarDealerMagazine.co.uk/forum

We’ve teamed up with Car Sales Memes to bring you a few of their funniest captions and slogans each month. Enjoy!

BUSINESS NEWS

A ROUND-UP OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE WORLD

SMOKING

Tobacco giant says new products are attracting millions

LUCKY Strike and Camel cigarette maker British American Tobacco has reported an influx of new consumers after rolling out new smoking products such as vape pens, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco.

The FTSE 100-listed tobacco giant told investors that it was on track to meet its target of bringing in £5bn in revenue and becoming a profitable business by 2025.

New ranges of smoking products have helped bring in a further 3.2m people using its non-combustible products in the first nine months of the year, it said.

Unemployment

rate

rises and vacancies fall

BRITAIN’S rate of unemployment has risen again and the number of vacancies fell back further, latest figures show.

The Office for National Statistics said the unemployment rate rose to 3.7 per cent in the three months to October – up from 3.6 per cent in the previous quarter. Vacancies dropped by 65,000 to 1.9m in the three months to November.

Monsoon to open more stores in turnaround

FASHION retailer Monsoon has revealed plans to open more stores after bouncing back from nearcollapse during the pandemic.

Bosses at the firm and sister brand Accessorize have hailed ‘strong’ trading over the past year. The group now plans to open 22 stores over the next year, after opening 19 last year. Sales jumped by 43 per cent to £258m during the year to August 31.

INVESTMENT

GLOOM BOUNCEBACK

BT’s digital network division Openreach is postponing its investment in the roll-out of ultra-fast fibre broadband in new locations in an effort to clear the backlog of partially completed work. The company has pledged that the ultra-fast broadband it is currently building across the UK will be its fastest and most reliable connection. But it said it was suspending future projects while it completes fibre networks it is already working on.

WORKING FROM HOME

Dyson condemns bid to extend rights

BILLIONAIRE businessman Sir James Dyson has condemned government plans to extend employees’ rights to work from home as ‘economically illiterate and staggeringly self-defeating’.

Writing in The Times, the founder and chief engineer of the eponymous Singapore-based multinational technology company said the move would ‘hamper employers’ ability to organise their workforce’.

REDUNDANCIES

Purplebricks cuts jobs and ups cost savings target

DIGITAL estate agency Purplebricks is making redundancies across the business amid plans to further slash costs in an effort to return to profit.

The company said it had increased its annual cost savings target from £13m to £17m. It reported adjusted operating losses of £8.4m for the six months to October 31, increasing more than tenfold from the £800,000 in losses reported this time last year. The firm wouldn’t comment on the number of jobs it has cut or plans to axe.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

NEWS AND THOUGHTS FROM CAR DEALER LIVE

Wider economy may be in recession in 2023 but we should see growth in new car market

The motor trade is exiting 2022 ‘with good momentum’ for the year ahead, despite looming clouds of recession and a deepening cost-of-living crisis.

That’s the view of Auto Trader’s Catherine Faiers, who spoke exclusively to Car Dealer as the curtain comes down on 2022.

This year could be classed as ‘stable and healthy’ and there are good headwinds so far for a successful 2023 for dealers.

‘We’re exiting 2022 with the mood music feeling different, with concerns over the economy and a looming recession,’ Faiers said. ‘But the car market was stable and healthy in 2022 and I do feel like we’re exiting with good momentum into 2023.

‘I think when we’re looking back into that rear-view mirror, it’s definitely been a year where it’s been really important to look through the headlines to understand what’s really been happening in the automotive market. Those headlines have been

unsettling and really uncertain – whether it’s world events or politics or what’s going to happen to the economy. And with those headlines as a backdrop, it’s then been easy to assume that in that period, from January to now coming up towards the end of December, that the automotive market would have been similarly volatile and on that journey as well.’

The Car Dealer Live was a retrospective of 2022, but host James Batchelor also pressed Faiers for her predictions for 2023.

‘We are hoping for a new car market at around 1.8/1.9m transactions – we’ve been at 1.6/1.7 for the past few years,’ she said.

‘We are going to be in a slightly strange situation in 2023 where perhaps the wider economy will be in recession but we’ll see growth in the new car market.

‘We are expecting new car supply to gradually recover over the course of the year, but we’re not expecting it to reach

what we would have considered normal levels before the pandemic.’

And on used cars, Faiers stuck to the current industry view that their prices won’t fall through the floor.

‘There’s nothing in the data and we’re

Agency model is causing uncertainty for dealership valuations but market is strong

Valuations for car dealer businesses are coming under pressure, with uncertainty surrounding agency agreements and the economy. However, David Kendrick, partner at accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, told us the market for acquisitions is still ‘very strong’.

His biggest deal to date was the £64.5m sale of Motorline to Marshall Motor Group towards the end of 2021, just a few weeks before Marshall itself was sold to Constellation.

UHY Hacker Young also helped broker the Helston Garages deal a few weeks ago, which saw part of the group sold to Yeomans, with the rest going to Vertu Motors and one other group.

‘I think the market still remains pretty buoyant,’ said Kendrick.

‘There’s a lot of businesses with an awful lot of cash around them who are wanting to spend that money and get a better return from it rather than it just being sat in the bank, so that does help.

‘However, I don’t think you can get away from the fact that there are a few headwinds around the corner.

‘There’s a bit of uncertainty creeping in with the economy and everything else going on there.’

He added: ‘Certain businesses are probably well positioned to look at an exit now.

‘However, it does depend on the brand.’

UHY HACKER YOUNG

Used car values drop by 1.2 per cent in November as electric car prices plummet

Used car prices in the trade dropped by 1.2 per cent this November, according to the latest data – with EV values plummeting.

Cap HPI director of valuations Derren Martin revealed the figure, saying the fall was a far better performance than usually seen in the month, when prices traditionally drop by some three per cent.

It was also better than the predictions he and his team made earlier this year, when they forecast that used car values would drop by up to five per cent over a two-month period at the end of this year.

But the 1.2 per cent fall is the third largest monthly drop recorded this year.

Martin said: ‘That’s a small movement down. It’s also one of the strongest Novembers that we’ve seen looking back over time – it’s pretty strong.’

Values traditionally drop in November and December before rising again in

January as car dealers stock up for sales and the new year.

Cap HPI gathers its prices from 55 data sources, including auctions and rental companies plus manufacturers, and looks at trade prices – the amount dealers pay each other for the cars sold on forecourts before they add their margin.

Martin agreed there was a disconnect between what consumers think is happening to used car prices and what is really happening in the trade. He said that while the cost-of-living crisis was having a slight impact on demand, it was nowhere near as severe as many thought.

Mainstream media reports have predicted a ‘used car price crash’ – but Martin said that wasn’t coming.

CAR QUAY

Throw money at problem customers – because your time is much better spent on other things

Car dealers should throw money at problem customers to make them go away. That’s the advice of Jamie Caple – boss of Car Dealer’s Used Car Sales Team of the Year for 2022.

He discussed his business style with us, including how to deal with problem customers.

Caple explained how he set up his business off the back of a failed former company, sharing the lessons learnt, including his thoughts on solving problems quickly.

The Car Quay boss said: ‘If you have a customer and you’ve got a problem, deal with it. Don’t take it away, just deal with it head-on.

‘I don’t like to use the phrase “throw money at

problems” but that is our philosophy now. If we’ve got a customer with an issue, throw money at the problem until the problem goes away.

‘Because while you’ve got that problem, it is stopping you moving on, it’s stopping you making money. When you’re arguing with someone over a £200 set of brakes, you might in the next call you take find it’s a customer who’s 50/50. And they need you at your best to tip them.’

Caple also revealed his selling style. Because his father was an entertainer, he learnt tricks from him that help him to sell cars. ‘I think when I get a customer I’ve got to put a performance on where I make them laugh and want to buy off me,’ he said.

ENVIRONMENT

How can car dealers become more green?

THE dust has settled on the Cop27 global climate summit, and the need for people, firms and governments to tackle climate change seriously has never been more pressing.

Auto Trader director Ian Plummer, The Carbon Literacy Project founder and MD David Coleman plus Lookers chief operating officer Duncan McPhee discussed how the automotive industry and wider motor trade can make a positive change.

Auto Trader and the project created an Automotive Carbon Literacy Toolkit, which is used by Lookers among others.

‘Carbon literacy empowers people,’ Coleman said. ‘It is not done by the green specialist, it’s done by everybody in an organisation, so they look around and think, “Well, I can do this bit” – perhaps it’s turning off the lights in the workshop after everyone has gone home.’

If we’ve got a customer with an issue, throw money at the problem until the problem goes away.

Jamie Caple Car Quay

CAP HPI

CONSULTATION

FLA says reform of Consumer Credit Act is long overdue

by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk

The Finance & Leasing Association has welcomed the publication of a consultation document as the government seeks to reform the 1974 Consumer Credit Act. The intention to reform was announced by the Treasury in June, saying it wanted to move much of the existing legislation to sit within rules to be made and enforced by the Financial Conduct Authority.

It’s now published a consultation document to seek views on the objectives, principles and overall direction of this proposed reform.

Responding to the publication, Stephen Haddrill, director general of the association, said: ‘The Consumer Credit Act was written back in the 1970s, and subsequent updates have merely nibbled the edge of what needed to be changed.

‘We therefore welcome [the] announcement as the first stage of what must be comprehensive reform.

‘For too long, consumers and lenders have had to deal with archaic language, complicated processes and rigid structure.

‘We need a modern regime that protects consumers, facilitates innovation and is futureproofed to grow and adapt with the industry.

‘The government recognises the important role that credit plays in the economy, so we look forward to working with them to improve the regulation that underpins billions of transactions each year in the UK.’

The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on March 17, 2023.

PARAGON BANK

Motor division new lending grows to £166m

NEW lending by Paragon Bank’s motor finance division grew to £166.2m during the year to September 30 – up by 66 per cent from £100.1m as used car demand rebounded following the lifting of Covid lockdown restrictions.

The year saw it launch its first products for financing batterypowered electric vehicles.

Over the year, £6m of new loans were made for BEVs, reflecting the recent growth in the availability of these vehicles, it said.

The motor finance division also began to fund static caravans during the period, as it focused its business on specialist areas of the market.

Operating profit before fair value items at Paragon Banking Group rose by 16.4 per cent to £226m, reflecting the strong performance of the group.

Julian Rance, Paragon Bank’s motor finance managing director, said: ‘Demand for used cars bounced back strongly as forecourts reopened and the availability of new cars was restricted due to supply chain issues.

‘This was reflected in good lending growth for the division.’

TIME IS MONEY

& KIRK MOSS

A MONTHLY LOOK AT THE WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE AND MARKETING RICHARD PYGOTT

Our flexibility will help you sell more!

Just a glance at the evening news will tell you that the economic outlook for the next few years appears grim, especially as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. It comes as no surprise then to see many companies within the finance industry tightening their lending criteria, increasing their interest rates and decreasing their appetite for ‘riskier’ business.

The economic squeeze that is being felt by nearly every UK household also means that over the next few years many more people may find their credit score falling as they struggle to keep up with their monthly household bills.

This has led to many finance companies in the motor trade becoming increasingly rigid and less flexible in terms of the types of business they will write. As a result, many car dealers may find their options limited when it comes to securing a finance approval for subprime customers.

So, we just want to confirm that sub-prime finance is our bread and butter, and we have specialised in the sub-prime vehicle finance market for more than 20 years. In that time, we have helped thousands of dealers sell vehicles on finance to over 200,000 customers, and we will continue to be here for you over the next 24 months. We believe this is a strong reflection of our company culture and flexible approach to underwriting.

For those who don’t know, we pride ourselves on our service and our ability to assist dealers when it comes to selling more vehicles to sub-prime customers. Using faster payments allows us to send funds within 15 minutes upon receipt of all documents and proofs, and we can process your on-site customers who want to drive away the very same day. Rather than using algorithms for our underwriting, we rely on our people. Our underwriters can assess each application on its own merits, which gives us the ability and flexibility to approve complex deals that other lenders may not even consider!

We understand the importance of real people making real decisions. We do have an autodecline and auto-accept functionality, but every other aspect of a finance application we consider is underwritten by a real person and not an algorithm.

Richard

is digital marketer for First Response.

Call him on 0115 946 6365 or email richard. pygott@frfl.co.uk

Our team try their best to get to know your customer’s application on a personal level, minimising the difficulties and stress you may have already experienced while trying to get a customer approved elsewhere. To date we have financed over 1,200 vehicles over 15 years old, including a 40-year-old motorbike! Not all customers’ circumstances are the same, and neither are the vehicles they want to finance. We do have to take into consideration that the vehicle a customer may want may not always be the vehicle they need and/or match their profile. As a result, there are a few instances where we may approve a customer for finance but not on the vehicle proposed and vice versa. We look at all aspects of an application to make the best decision for our dealers, our customers, and First Response.

Pygott

We pride ourselves on our service and our ability to assist dealers when it comes to selling more vehicles to sub-prime customers.

WE’RE AWARD-WINNING THANKS TO YOU!

This year we’ve won not one, but three awards - an achievement that we are all very proud of.

Our customers voted First Response Finance as the ‘Best Car Finance Provider’ in the Consumer Credit Awards 2022 for the second consecutive year. In addition to that, we’ve won the prestigious ‘Firm of the Year’ award!

The second recognition came from our dealer partners who voted us ‘Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime)’ in the Car Dealer Power Awards. We are honoured to have won this award 8 times!

Vans, cars, motorbikes - it doesn't matter what type of vehicle we’re financing, our award-winning service remains the same.

First Response Finance Ltd, 5 Regan Way Chetwynd Business Park, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 6RZ. Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No. 03560611.

SUPPLIER NEWS

A ROUND-UP OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Multi-lender panels ‘benefit all providers’

Customers ‘must be first in omnichannel age’

DEALERSHIPS need to put customers first when building their future omnichannel strategy. That’s according to Cox Automotive after recent findings by automotive research and consulting organisation ICDP. In its latest edition of AutoFocus, Cox Automotive says it’s important to combine online and offline touchpoints for an outstanding customer experience and to develop loyalty. Insight and strategy director Philip Nothard says: ‘Our aim should always be to support customers, and we must evolve in line with their needs.’

INCREASING moves by dealers towards creating multi-lender panels are ultimately benefiting all motor finance providers, says iVendi.

Rob Severs, senior vice-president of product and insight at the firm, which has processed some 430,000 finance applications so far this year, said being part of a carefully constructed panel maximised business opportunities, removed the need for rekeying data and delivered useful management information.

£500 tipping point for being forced to sell car

Motor insurance broker buys Emprocom

Vehicle delivery service launched with AnyVan

ONE in three drivers would be forced to sell their car if their monthly cost of living went up by £500.

The tipping point was revealed in December’s Startline Used Car Tracker.

Meanwhile, 14 per cent of the 307 people polled by APD Global Research said their car would have to go if their monthly costs increased by £100, 29 per cent by £250, 34 per cent by £500, 11 per cent by £750 and 12 per cent by £1,000.

MOTOR insurance broker PIB Group has bought health and safety specialists Emprocom in a move that will bring complementary services and expertise to its risk management proposition.

Carl Gryniewicz will continue in his role as Emprocom director, working closely with PIB Risk Management managing director Adrian Robinson, pictured. The two businesses already had an existing relationship, which led to the new collaboration.

p87

USED cars website AA Cars has partnered with tech transporter AnyVan to offer dealers a nationwide vehicle delivery service.

AA-partnered dealers can arrange for a vehicle to be delivered to a customer’s doorstep anywhere in the UK. Customers can also arrange a delivery for themselves via the AA Cars site and have the car delivered in 48 hours. A tracking facility lets them follow the vehicle from dealership to door as well.

STARTLINE

IVENDI

PIB GROUP

AA CARS

COX AUTOMOTIVE

It comes as no surprise then to see many companies within the finance industry tightening their lending criteria.

Richard Pygott

STATISTICS

THE LATEST REGISTRATION FIGURES

OPTIMISM

Fourth month of growth on the run for new car sales and best November since 2019

by John Bowman @john@blackballmedia.co.uk

The new car market grew by nearly a quarter in November to 142,889 registered units as the industry enjoyed its fourth consecutive month of year-on-year growth, according to SMMT figures published on December 5.

The 23.5 per cent increase was the best total for November since 2019, when 156,621 units were registered, with manufacturers continuing efforts to fulfil orders amid erratic global components supply.

But they were still 8.8 per cent below 2019 levels, and while further recovery is anticipated next year, global and domestic economic challenges mean the market will remain below pre-pandemic levels, said the trade body.

Registrations by large fleets energised the market, up 45.4 per cent versus last November. Demand from private buyers grew by 2.7 per cent, but business registrations more than doubled – up 112.2 per cent – although they are a small fraction of the overall market.

Zero-emission vehicle uptake continued to grow, with newly registered battery electric vehicles (BEVs) up 34.2 per cent to represent more than one in five new cars (20.5 per cent) – the largest monthly share of BEVs this year.

Conversely, plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) registrations fell by 5.8 per cent, making up 7.1 per cent of the market.

As a result, some 39,558 new plug-ins were registered, representing more than one in four (27.7 per cent) new cars joining UK roads in November.

Hybrid electric vehicles, meanwhile, rose by 66.9 per cent to 11.3 per cent of the market, driven particularly by fleet operators looking for flexibility and emissions reductions.

The SMMT said that as growth returns to the new car market, the car sector is poised to deliver an additional £8bn for the UK economy in 2023, with an anticipated 15.4 per cent market growth.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘Recovery for Britain’s new car market is back within our grasp, energised by electrified vehicles and the sector’s resilience in the face of supply and economic challenges.

‘As the sector looks to ensure that growth is sustainable for the long term, urgent measures are required – not least a fair approach to driving EV adoption that recognises these vehicles remain more expensive, and measures to compel investment in a charging network that is built ahead of need.

‘By doing so, we can encourage consumer appetite across the country and accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero.’

Nissan Qashqai 5,636

Tesla Model Y 4,229

Mini 3,312

Ford Fiesta 2,869

Vauxhall Corsa 2,537

Volkswagen Golf 2,516

Ford Puma 2,408

Volkswagen T-Roc 2,370

Volkswagen Polo 2,277

Toyota Yaris 2,272

Recovery for Britain’s new car market is back within our grasp.

Mike

Hawes SMMT chief executive

+765% -64%

SMART

NOVEMBER 2022 NOVEMBER 2021

YEAR TO DATE

Marque 2022 % market share 2021 % market share % change 2022 % market share 2021 % market share % change

Abarth 100 0.07 95 0.08 5.26 1,513 0.10 2,230 0.14 -32.15

Alfa Romeo 80 0.06 150 0.13 -46.67 1,488 0.10 1,450 0.09 2.62

Alpine 30 0.02 26 0.02 15.38 268 0.02 189 0.01 41.80

Audi 10,965 7.67 7,358 6.36 49.02 101,203 6.81 110,306 7.17 -8.25

Bentley 149 0.10 168 0.15 -11.31 1,533 0.10 1,232 0.08 24.43

BMW 10,257 7.18 9,018 7.79 13.74 99,101 6.67 110,157 7.16 -10.04

Citroen 1,926 1.35 2,216 1.92 -13.09 27,514 1.85 28,768 1.87 -4.36

Cupra 1,246 0.87 839 0.73 48.51 13,262 0.89 7,020 0.46 88.92

Dacia 3,229 2.26 1,241 1.07 160.19 26,282 1.77 15,826 1.03 66.07

DS 437 0.31 257 0.22 70.04 3,571 0.24 2,083 0.14 71.44

Fiat 822 0.58 1,350 1.17 -39.11 18,722 1.26 18,727 1.22 -0.03

Ford 11,078 7.75 5,247 4.53 111.13 119,150 8.02 111,332 7.24 7.02

Genesis 199 0.14 23 0.02 765.22 837 0.06 116 0.01 621.55

Honda 1,867 1.31 1,163 1.01 60.53 23,556 1.59 25,340 1.65 -7.04

Hyundai 5,922 4.14 6,562 5.67 -9.75 75,679 5.09 64,940 4.22 16.54

Jaguar 736 0.52 1,340 1.16 -45.07 11,256 0.76 17,535 1.14 -35.81

Jeep 96 0.07 155 0.13 -38.06 2,232 0.15 4,268 0.28 -47.70 Kia 7,595 5.32 6,382 5.52 19.01 96,741 6.51 87,914 5.71 10.04

Land Rover 3,468 2.43 2,757 2.38 25.79 40,588 2.73 50,442 3.28 -19.54

Lexus 1,097 0.77 481 0.42 128.07 9,034 0.61 13,177 0.86 -31.44

Maserati 31 0.02 77 0.07 -59.74 649 0.04 696 0.05 -6.75 Mazda 2,214 1.55 1,453 1.26 52.37 23,041 1.55 24,678 1.60 -6.63

Mercedes-Benz 5,193 3.63 7,329 6.33 -29.14 76,564 5.15 92,437 6.01 -17.17 MG 5,062 3.54 4,184 3.62 20.98 48,123 3.24 29,474 1.92 63.27 Mini 4,917 3.44 4,691 4.05 4.82 40,846 2.75 39,832 2.59 2.55

Mitsubishi 0 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 0 0.00 5,125 0.33 0.00

Nissan 9,208 6.44 4,977 4.30 85.01 68,833 4.63 62,129 4.04 10.79 Ora 5 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 47 0.00 0 0.00 0.00

Peugeot 2,387 1.67 5,193 4.49 -54.03 50,836 3.42 56,562 3.68 -10.12 Polestar 1,247 0.87 580 0.50 115.00 6,241 0.42 3,663 0.24 70.38 Porsche 2,057 1.44 1,795 1.55 14.60 15,212 1.02 11,481 0.75 32.50 Renault 2,671 1.87 2,716 2.35 -1.66 27,619 1.86 27,817 1.81 -0.71 Seat 1,711 1.20 1,999 1.73 -14.41 20,174 1.36 42,098 2.74 -52.08 Skoda 4,694 3.29 3,091 2.67 51.86 44,673 3.01 51,896 3.37 -13.92 Smart 73 0.05 201 0.17 -63.68 1,185 0.08 1,443 0.09 -17.88

SsangYong 83 0.06 156 0.13 -46.79 1,456 0.10 1,432 0.09 1.68

Subaru 186 0.13 165 0.14 12.73 1,242 0.08 1,931 0.13 -35.68

Suzuki 1,388 0.97 945 0.82 46.88 16,466 1.11 20,134 1.31 -18.22

Tesla 6,025 4.22 3,077 2.66 95.81 38,254 2.57 25,241 1.64 51.56

Toyota 8,067 5.65 6,567 5.68 22.84 95,346 6.42 94,817 6.16 0.56

Vauxhall 6,598 4.62 7,015 6.06 -5.94 80,356 5.41 85,355 5.55 -5.86

Volkswagen 13,757 9.63 8,634 7.46 59.34 118,732 7.99 138,972 9.03 -14.56

Volvo 3,740 2.62 3,790 3.28 -1.32 32,764 2.21 44,817 2.91 -26.89

Other British 173 0.12 135 0.12 28.15 1,990 0.13 2,077 0.13 -4.19

Other imports 103 0.07 108 0.09 -4.63 1,422 0.10 1,426 0.09 -0.28 Total 142,889 115,706 23.49 1,485,601 1,538,585 -3.44

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Sales drop to lowest November level since 2013 DECLINE

by John Bowman

john@blackballmedia.co.uk

THE LCV market notched up just 24,352 sales in November – a 22.2 per cent fall on 2021’s figure, the SMMT said as it released the latest figures.

The trade body added that while the scale of the decline was artificially inflated versus last year, which saw the best November performance in history, the total was the lowest recorded for the month since 2013, when 22,647 units were sold, and was almost 14 per cent below the pre-pandemic five-year average.

Battery-electric van registrations, however, continued to grow as more operators look to make the switch to the latest zero-emission vehicles. Uptake rose by 14.8 per cent in November to reach 8.1 per cent of the market – up from 5.5 per cent in 2021.

Ford 9,824 40.34 11,489 36.68 -14.49 98,471 37.83 112,278 34.44 -12.30

Volkswagen 2,915 11.97 2,030 6.48 43.60 24,981 9.60 32,106 9.85 -22.19

Mercedes 2,130 8.75 2,840 9.07 -25.00 19,041 7.31 27,788 8.52 -31.48

Vauxhall 1,841 7.56 2,831 9.04 -34.97 26,007 9.99 30,574 9.38 -14.94

Renault 1,687 6.93 1,809 5.78 -6.74 12,571 4.83 16,359 5.02 -23.16

Toyota 1,034 4.25 937 2.99 10.35 11,409 4.38 12,702 3.90 -10.18

Peugeot 929 3.81 2,564 8.19 -63.77 19,796 7.60 25,790 7.91 -23.24

Citroen 889 3.65 1,965 6.27 -54.76 18,791 7.22 23,448 7.19 -19.86

Isuzu 506 2.08 164 0.52 208.54 3,940 1.51 3,368 1.03 16.98

Maxus 423 1.74 943 3.01 -55.14 3,878 1.49 3,100 0.95 25.10

Land Rover 373 1.53 117 0.37 218.80 2,318 0.89 3,242 0.99 -28.50

Iveco 372 1.53 442 1.41 -15.84 3,619 1.39 4,262 1.31 -15.09

Renault Trucks 286 1.17 204 0.65 40.20 2,040 0.78 2,211 0.68 -7.73

Nissan 285 1.17 1,334 4.26 -78.64 3,366 1.29 11,475 3.52 -70.67

Fiat 251 1.03 1,065 3.40 -76.43 4,695 1.80 8,953 2.75 -47.56

MAN 240 0.99 217 0.69 10.60 2,035 0.78 2,650 0.81 -23.21

Isuzu Trucks 139 0.57 139 0.44 0.00 1,412 0.54 1,156 0.35 22.15 Suzuki 104 0.43 60 0.19 73.33 397 0.15 387 0.12 2.58

SsangYong 86 0.35 47 0.15 82.98 943 0.36 482 0.15 95.64 Fuso 26 0.11 27 0.09 -3.70 226 0.09 222 0.07 1.80 Dacia 8 0.03 19 0.06 -57.89 85 0.03 19 0.01 347.37 LEVC 4 0.02 62 0.20 -93.55 293 0.11 202 0.06 45.05 LDV 0 0.00 15 0.05 0.00 0 0.00 134 0.04 0.00 Mitsubishi 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0.00 3,068 0.94 0.00

108 2.02 -74.07 Citroen 1 0.28 17 4.13 -94.12 99 2.27 160 2.99 -38.13 Vauxhall 1 0.28 2 0.49 -50.00 26 0.60 9 0.17 188.89 Renault Trucks 1 0.28 1 0.24 0.00 25 0.57 114 2.13 -78.07 Other imports 0 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 20 0.46 27 0.50 -25.93

Isuzu Trucks 0 0.00 12 2.91 0.00 17 0.39 27 0.50 -37.04 Renault 0 0.00 1 0.24 0.00 9 0.21 7 0.13 28.57 Total heavy CV 358 100.00 412 100.00 -13.11 4,368 100.00 5,349 100.00 -18.34

Figures supplied by SMMT

Figures supplied by SMMT

Auctions & Trade-To-Trade Sales

BCA

W: bca.co.uk

T: 0344 875 3480

E: customerservices@bca.com

Info: BCA’s remarketing programmes deliver volume, choice and availability for buyers, and speed, efficiency and market-leading returns for sellers.

Automotive Ecommerce

GForces

W: gforces.co.uk

T: 01622 391904

Info: GForces delivers class-leading ecommerce solutions. We work with global vehicle manufacturers, the world’s largest dealer groups and independent retailers around the planet.

Data Real World Analytics

W: realworldanalytics.com

T: 0808 1890 617

E: auto@realworldanalytics.com

Info: We are a SaaS-based data analytics solution provider for multisite dealers. Our business intelligence tools help customers make faster and better decisions.

DMS DealerDesk

W: dealerdesk.co.uk

E: contact@dealerdesk.co.uk

Info: Modernise your stock management, advertising, communication, sales and website. DealerDesk provides you with easyto-use tools designed to simplify your dealership management.

Finance Blue Motor Finance

W: blue.co.uk

T: 020 3005 9331

E: dealersupport@blue.co.uk

Info: Blue is transforming the car finance market, making car ownership simple and flexible and providing motor traders with access to essential finance.

Finance

Close Brothers Motor Finance

W: closemotorfinance.co.uk/

Info: Close Brothers Motor Finance are a specialist finance provider, working with over 8,000 dealer partners to offer flexible finance solutions for car, motorcycle and LCV customers.

Finance

First Response

W: firstresponsefinance.co.uk

T: 0115 946 6317

E: marketing@frfl.co.uk

Info: First Response is an awardwinning UK finance company providing simple financial solutions. Get in touch and let us help increase your profits.

Finance

Forza Finance

W: forzafinance.co.uk

T: 01245 245678

Info: Benefit from Forza Finance’s expertise, choice of products and lenders. Their personal approach will help you achieve higher levels of finance penetration and, ultimately, sell more cars.

Lead Management

iVendi

W: ivendi.com

T: 0330 229 0028

E: tellmemore@ivendi.com

Info: iVendi delivers a fully connected platform that engages consumers, converts buyers and manages transactions of vehicles online and in the showroom.

Legal & Compliance

Lawgistics

W: lawgistics.co.uk T: 01480 455500

E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk

Info: The legal experts for the motor trade, giving advice and support to our industry for over 15 years. Not anti-consumer, just pro-trader.

Marketing, PR & Video

OnCue Communications

Trade Bodies

Ben

W: ben.org.uk

T: 0808 131 1333

Info: Ben is a not-for-profit organisation that partners with the automotive industry to provide support for life to its people and their families.

Vehicle Photography

Dealer 360

W: dealer360.co.uk

T: 01270 780855

E: nicky.spratt@ukturntables.com

Info: UK makers of photo booths incorporating our turntables for car, van and motorcycle dealers. Our software controls turntable and cameras – a onestop solution.

Vehicle Tracking

Meta Trak

Warranty Providers

Momentum Warranties

W: momentumwarranties.co.uk

T: 0330 445 0059

E: support@momentumwarranties.co.uk

Info: How long does your warranty company make you wait? We pay claims into your bank within 45 minutes. The most advanced warranty programme in the UK.

Warranty Providers

Warranty Administration Services

W: warrantyadmin.co.uk

T: 01522 515600

E: tellmemore@warrantyadmin.co.uk

Info: Unlock new profit and aftersales flexibility with Crystal Clear Warranty. Ideal for franchised dealers, groups and independents.

Warranty Providers

Warrantywise

W:

Info:

W: oncuecomms.com

T: 020 8125 3880

Info: We are a leading provider of PR, video and events services to the automotive industry. The PR team has a proven track record of securing high-value, big-impact media coverage.

Marketing, PR & Video

Marketing Delivery

W: metatrak.co.uk

T: 020 8867 2340

E: enquiries@metatrak.co.uk

Info: Total vehicle security. Clever tracking technology, advanced immobilisation, 24/7 monitoring and an easy-to-use app. Security. Connectivity. Peace of mind.

Warranty Providers

Autoprotect

W: warrantywise.co.uk/dealer

T: 0800 001 4551

E: dealers@warrantywise.co.uk

Info: Warrantywise sells over 100,000 warranties per year.

Quentin Willson personally designed Warrantywise to be the UK’s best used car warranty.

Warranty Providers

WMS

W:

Info:

Key Control

Traka

W: traka-automotive.com

T: 0333 355 3726

E: automotive@traka.com

Info: Bespoke software and electronic key management cabinets to deliver the most effective solution to dealerships to manage their keys and vehicles.

Lead Management

GardX AD-Vantage

W: gardx.co.uk/gardx-ad-vantage

T: 01243 376426

E: goforaspin@gardx.co.uk

Info: The award-winning 360 service offers an engaging display of the vehicle while additionally presenting profitable F&I products to a consumer.

W: marketingdelivery.co.uk/ T: 01892 599911

E: get.in.touch@marketingdelivery.co.uk

Info: Our SocialStock helps target prospects with tailored stock remarketing and social media advertising tools, and automated lead capture for Facebook.

Oil & Lubricants

Mobil™

W: mobil.co.uk

T: 0800 0857 420

Info: Whether using Mobil 1™ or Mobil Super™, Mobil™ engine oils meet or exceed the latest standards of the oil industry and vehicle manufacturers.

Recruitment

WeRecruit Auto

W: werecruitauto.co.uk

T: 01603 550041

Info: Permanent recruitment – here to assist businesses within the automotive sector find the best fit for their company in terms of skillset, experience and culture.

W: autoprotect.co.uk

T: 01279 406888

E: sales@autoprotect.net

Info: AutoProtect offers a full portfolio of award-winning protection products, including GAP. We lead the market with an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot.

Warranty Providers

Car Care Plan

W: carcareplan.com

T: 0344 573 8000

Info: Car Care Plan is a leading provider of motor protection products, trusted around the world to deliver quality protection with integrity and a customer-oriented outlook.

Warranty Providers

W: wmsgroup.co.uk

T: 01844 293810

E: sales@wmsgroup.co.uk

Website Design & Digital Marketing

Bluesky Interactive

W: blueskyinteractive.co.uk

T: 01926 651000

Info: Bluesky Interactive drive dealer websites and digital marketing forward thanks to game-changing innovation, the latest technology and our exceptional relationships with our clients.

Website Design & Digital Marketing

Haswent

W: haswent.com

T: 020 3920 6164

E: hello@haswent.com

Info: Composer is a next-gen automotive platform. You have extensive stock management options, and you’ll gain a brilliantly responsive new website.

AUDI RS4

Britain’s love of a pokey-engine-in-an-estate-car combination could easily rival its affection for fish and chips or cheese-and-pickle sandwiches.

As pairings go, a performance engine with the space to carry large loads in the boot is hard to argue with and I’ll freely admit I’m one of the admirers.

So when Audi offered us the chance to take custody of a potent RS4 for a few months, I elbowed my way to the front of the keys queue.

This current model has been around since late 2019 and still looks and feels remarkably fresh – but what I, and you probably, really care about is the monster under the bonnet.

The 3.0-litre engine is twin-turbo charged, which produces 444bhp and 600Nm of torque. That helps this family-friendly wagon hit 60mph in 4.1 seconds.

With a three-month-old in the clan, the combination of boot space and comfort when I have the team on board, compared with the option for some fun when they’re not, really was one I was looking forward to.

It’s been a long wait to get it, though. Audi let me choose the specification for our car back in February and I’ve only just taken delivery of it.

New car order times are a lot longer these days, thanks to a shortage of chips (micro, not potato) and just like everyone else I’ve been waiting patiently for my car to arrive.

That gave me plenty of time to pore over the spec I’d picked. I really wanted a green one, but that colour had dropped off the options list when I played around with the configurator. However, the Nardo grey option was a very acceptable second choice.

The base price for the car is a rather prickly £76,800, but I added £8,200 to that total with a few options. Highlights included a head-up display for £1,095, 20-inch wheels at £2,000 and the RS Sport exhaust system adding a further £1,250.

The best choice was the RS Sport suspension with dynamic ride control. While it might have added an extra £2k to the price, I’ve already found it makes for a wonderful ride.

I picked the car up from Portsmouth Audi, where salesman Drew Pilcher showed me around the car. The showroom has recently had a makeover and I must admit it felt quite special pulling the cover back in the handover bay, even if the car wasn’t really mine.

Still, that won’t stop me enjoying it over the next few months. First impressions are this is a car that I will really fall in love with. It’s frighteningly rapid when it wants to be, but also incredibly comfortable.

The seats are brilliant – and have a massaging function too – and the steering is beautifully weighted. It makes a superb sound, especially on start-up, with a deep, bassy rumble to that sports exhaust.

Pilcher helped set me up with the Audi app that connects to the car, letting you lock and unlock the doors and a few other things too. I’m not sure it’s working properly, though, so I’ll have to investigate a little further before passing judgment.

I’ve also had to get used to frequenting my local petrol station again. The RS4 is, er, rather juicy. Around town, I’m getting about 18mpg if I’m lucky. On longer journeys, it’s more efficient thanks to 48v technology that lets it coast on motorways and an eight-speed gearbox – on one recent trip I got 33mpg, which for a performance car is actually pretty good going. Let’s hope fuel prices don’t go up much further.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Audi RS4

Price (as tested): £85,000

Engine: 3.0-litre twin turbo petrol

Power: 444bhp

Torque: 600Nm

Top speed: 155mph

Fuel economy: 28.5mpg (combined)

0-60mph: 4.1 seconds Emissions: 225g/km CO2 Mileage: 1,458

This month’s highlight: After a very long wait – the car was ordered in February! –we finally got the keys to the RS4.

OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING

Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta

Mileage: 8,264

Four adults, a mountain of luggage and a 300-mile round trip was no problem for OV71 ULB recently.

James Baggott has finally taken delivery of this long-awaited test vehicle – and he reckons he’s going to be smitten...

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