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Posts within the 'Motor Trade' Category

Good News For New Van Sales
February 13, 2019 by Logan Biggs

It is some weeks since we have had anything really positive to say about the motor trade industry. Well, figures have been published in the last few days by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) relating to the sale of new vans that make for positive reading.

It is pleasing to read that in the new van category to 3.5 tonnes there were 22,236 registered in January 2019 up from 20,475 when compared with January 2018. That is an increase of 1,761 with this equating to a rise of 8.6%. .........read more »
New Car Sales Drop In January
February 6, 2019 by Logan Biggs

Yet again some disappointing news for those of you in the motor trade industry – in particular those involved in the selling of new cars here in the UK. According to data produced by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), there has been a fall in the number of new cars sold in the UK. .........read more »
Number Of New Cars Built In UK Falls In 2018
January 31, 2019 by Logan Biggs

There has recently been more disappointing news for the UK car manufacturing industry with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) publication of the figures for the number of new cars built here in the UK last year. The figures will no doubt disappoint motor traders and other sectors of the motor trade industry but may not come as much of a surprise to some of you. .........read more »
Annual Figures Reveal Small Drop In New Van Sales
January 15, 2019 by Logan Biggs

According to data produced by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), there was a small fall in the number of new vans sold here in the UK in the year to 31^st December 2018. This news will no doubt come as a disappointment to motor traders in particular those who operate within the sale of new and used vans. .........read more »
Significant Drop In New Car Sales In 2018
January 7, 2019 by Logan Biggs

Unfortunately, 2018 was not a good year for the sale of new cars here in the UK when comparing the figures with the previous year. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has recently produced the figures and they make for disappointing reading.

In 2018, there were 2,367,147 new cars sold here in the UK yet in 2017 there were 2,540,617. That is a drop of 173,470 with this equating to an average reduction of 14,455 per month. In percentage terms, this is a fall of 6.8%. We are sure that you will agree these figures are concerning in particular if you are a motor trader involved in the sale of new cars but it will also concern many businesses operating within the motor trade industry. .........read more »
Big Drop In UK Car Manufacturing
December 29, 2018 by Logan Biggs

In November 2018, according to data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), there was a very large fall in the number of new cars manufactured here in the UK when compared to the same month last year.

Motor traders and others operating within the motor trade industry will be disappointed to read that last month there was a fall of 19.6% in the number of new cars built here in the UK when compared with November 2017. In November 2018 there were 129,030 new cars built yet in November 2017 there were 160,581. That is a significant drop of 31,551 that is most concerning news. .........read more »
November Sees Rise In New Van Sales
December 14, 2018 by Logan Biggs

If you are in the motor trade then you will no doubt be pleased to read that, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), there has been a rise in the number of new van sales here in the UK in November 2018 when compared with the same month last year.

In November 2018 29,035 new vans up to 3.5 tonnes were sold whereas in November 2017 26,486 new vans were sold in that category. That is an increase of 9.6% and we are sure you will agree that is good news for the industry. .........read more »
Another Reduction In New Car Sales
December 7, 2018 by Logan Biggs

Yet again, there has been another monthly drop in new car sales with this news no doubt disappointing those of you in the motor trade industry but in particular motor traders. Figures produced by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed that there was a fall of 3% in the number of new cars sold when comparing November 2018 with the same month last year. .........read more »
General Motors To Close Number Of Plants In USA
November 29, 2018 by Logan Biggs

It has recently been announced by the American vehicle manufacturing giant General Motors (GM) that it is to close a number of its plants in the USA and one in Canada resulting in the loss of in excess of 14,000 jobs. This news has not gone down well with Donald Trump the President of the United States of America.

As a result, it is being forecast that by the end of 2020 the company will save in the region of $6 billion. That is a huge sum of money. The reason for the shut downs is due to car sales slowing down as well as rising costs. The company intends to invest more in autonomous and electric vehicles.

The company is stopping production of a number of vehicles such as the Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac CT6 and the Buick LaCross.

It will be interesting to see if any UK car manufacturers feel the need to cut costs by shutting plants and/or making some employees redundant. Here in the UK, as mentioned in other news articles, there has been a fall in the number of new cars sold in recent months. Let us hope that this situation soon turns around and the motor trade industry is able to provide some good news that it has been somewhat lacking in over the last few months.

The motor trade industry here in the UK covers so many different types of businesses that are potentially affected by any drop in new car sales. For instance, the services of car valeters are sometimes used to ensure new vehicles are kept in pristine condition prior to sale. New cars need servicing periodically so mechanics are in popular demand both at dealerships and many also run their own business. Unfortunately, some cars are involved in road traffic accidents and suffer damage so car body repair shops provide a service to repair such vehicles. Cars need new parts so car parts businesses provide such things to the likes of garages.

We will continue to keep our readers such as motor traders up to date with any significant developments should any car manufacturers in the UK decide to follow the way of General Motors.
Used Car Sales Fall In Q3 2018
November 23, 2018 by Logan Biggs

It has possibly not been the best of years if you are a motor trader involved either in the sale of new and/or used cars. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has recently published figures for the number of used cars sold in the third quarter of 2018 here in the UK and they make for disappointing reading.

In Q3 of 2018 there were 2,057,457 used cars sold bur in the same quarter of 2017 there were 2,102,078. That equates to a reduction of 2.1% that, in volumes terms, is a fall of 44,621. That is a significant fall and is something that may concern some of you in the motor trade industry.

There was a similar pattern on a year to date basis with 6,182,547 used cars being sold in the year to date to Q3 of 2018 whereas in the same period to Q3 of 2017 there were 6,338,188 used cars sold. That equates to a reduction of 2.5% that in volumes terms is a large fall of 155,641.

On a positive note, the number of electric, plug in hybrid and hybrid used car sales rose by almost 30,000 when comparing Q3 of 2018 with Q3 of 2017. This equated to a rise of 28.6%. There was a drop in the sale of used diesel cars of 2.6% and used petrol car sales fell by 2.3%.

With regard to the colour of used cars sold, the most popular colour continued to be black with 431,000 changing hands. In second place was silver/aluminium with 411,924, in third place was blue with 362,096, in fourth spot was grey with 273,881 and in fifth place was white with 240,268. The colour car that fell in popularity the quickest was green in seventh place with a fall in sales of 17.1% to 51,624.

The top five selling used cars in the UK in the third quarter of 2018 were: –

1. Ford Fiesta 93,260
2. Ford Focus 84,014
3. Vauxhall Corsa 80,789
4. Volkswagen Golf 68,614
5. Vauxhall Astra 66,942

The drop in the number of used cars sales not only has an impact on motor traders but may affect other areas within the motor trade industry. For instance, it could mean that there is less work for those who repair and service used vehicles.

Let us hope that, when the figures are produced for the number of used cars sold here in the UK for the final quarter of 2018, there has been a turnaround and that, looking ahead to 2019, we see a better year.