F&I Management & Training

Kia Motors UK has told dealers that they need to focus hard on used cars this year. It revealed a number of initiatives at the national dealer conference, held in Leeds on January 29, including a top- up warranty scheme.The scheme applies to used cars up to 18 months old and 15,000 miles which are supplied to the dealer network by Kia. Dealers will be able to effectively restore the original new-car warranty, which can be up to seven years on some models.Andrew Sellars, head of fleet and remarketing, said consumers don’t understand the current used car programme, Kudos. It is replaced this month with a Kia Approved used car programme in a “back-to-basics” move.“Initially, the top-up idea will apply to ex-management and rental vehicles supplied directly by us and have returned for retailing through the network,” he said. Kia will meet all the costs, and expects it will boost used car sales by more than 30% this year.“If we sell a year-old Cee’d, we will top the warranty back up to seven years,” Sellars added. “On an 18-month-old Picanto or Rio, another 18 months will be added to restore the original three-year term.Dealers will be charged £58 to join the Kia Approved used car programme. In return, Kia will provide 90 days’ free stocking – double the period offered by most makers – and allow the network to offer four years’ 0% finance on used Sedona and Cee’d models.“We want our customers to enjoy problem-free motoring in used cars and for our dealers to be profitable,” said Sellars

DATED: 19.02.09

FEED: AM