F&I Management & Training

Smart Fortwo Cabrio Drop-top version of Smart’s city car, on sale now from £13,265.

Seat Ateca All-new compact SUV from Seat arrives Autumn 2016 priced from £17,990.

Range Rover Evoque Convertible New Evoque variant on sale this Spring from £47,500.

Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster Revised SL available to order now, priced from £73,805.

BMW M2 High performance compact saloon on sale April from £44,070.

DATED: 28.03.2016

FEED: ARN

BCA Marketplace 176.75p (-0.50p)

Caffyns 585.00p (-5.00p)

Cambria Auto 79.50p (-0.50p)

Inchcape 712.50p (+14.00p)

Lookers 160.50p (+0.50p)

Marshall Motor 167.50p (no change)

Pendragon 37.00p (-2.04p)

Vertu Motors 64.00p (-3.00p)

DATED: 28.03.2016

FEED: ARN

Auto retailer Aston Martin Newcastle used the launch of the luxury sportswear maker’s new DB11 to open its new showroom recently. The site at Cobalt Park Way, Silverlink is the first Aston Martin venture for Stoneacre Motor Group. The facility includes a 14-car showroom and a separate James Bond-themed “Q” lounge where customers can tailor a car to their own specification. Employing 16 people and operating a seven-day service, the North Shields site is currently the sole authorised Aston Martin retailer for the North East.

DATED: 28.03.2016

FEED: ARN

According to the latest Sainsbury’s Bank car buying index, 24 percent of UK adults are considering a car purchase in the next six months. The index, which tracks consumers’ purchase intentions, has shown a steady increase in the number of buyers considering a new car in the past two years.

Almost a third of buyers who signalled an intention to make a purchase before September said the reason for buying was down to confidence in their own finances. This was followed by 24 percent stating they had more disposable income and 12 percent wanting to drive a car with the latest 2016 registration. Researchers also found that 49 percent of buyers planned on using finance to fund their purchase - a seven percent increase on the previous year.

DATED: 28.03.2016

FEED: ARN

Retailer Frank Keane is set to replace MSL Motor Group as the sole provider of sales and service in south Dublin for Volkswagen cars and commercial vehicles, following a decision by MSL not to renew its contract with Volkswagen. The Irish Times reports that this decision centred on the requirement to sign up to significant new investment plans laid down by the car maker. Assuming the move is approved by the country’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Frank Keane intends to operate temporarily from MSL’s Grange Motors facility under a rental agreement with the outgoing retailer from May 1st.

Despite the deal, MSL retains a Volkswagen franchise at its Park Motors outlet in Dublin. Historically, MSL was the first company to bring the Volkswagen brand to Ireland, and in the early 1950s assembled Beetles from CKD kits - the first to do so outside of Germany.

DATED: 28.03.2016

FEED: ARN

Advertising analysts are expecting Internet-based advertising to overtake TV spend globally by the end 2017. A report by Publicis Groupe states that global ad spend will reach $579 billion in 2016 and $603 billion by the end of 2017. Crucially, the UK was described as the standout market within Europe. And on the subject of Internet advertising, the report stated that the global market is expected to grow at three times the global average, by 15.7 percent. Although the authors commented that this rate was slower than 2014’s 21.1 percent growth as the market shows signs of maturing. And like with other Internet-related trends, mobile is seen as the key growth driver.

DATED: 28.03.2016

FEED: ARN

While some industry analysts have predicted an autonomous car future without auto retailers, search giant Google’s head of self driving technology has come out in support of the industry, as many have been understandably wary of the latest developments in personal transport. Speaking before the recent New York Motor Show, John Krafcik predicted that, due to the need to make better use of what is expected to be a more costly asset than a regular car, self-driving cars will be on the road for longer than our current cars.

The result being that they will cover more miles and, subsequently, will need to be maintained. With Krafcik forecasting annual mileage upwards of 100,000 to 150,000 as the cars will have to earn their keep, the Google chief said: "I think there are going to be positive implications for a lot of dealers.” If Krafcik is right, auto retailers may be able to breathe easy knowing that their services will still be in demand, despite the potential shift in the public’s perception of cars becoming less aspirational and viewed more as appliances in the future.

DATED: 28.03.16

FEED: ARN

Financial accounts published by Ringways Motor Group, covering the year to 31 December 2015, detail a slowdown in turnover and profit. The family-run business, which was established in 1955, operates Ford and Kia franchises in Leeds and Doncaster. 

Turnover for the business slipped from £73.8 million to £72.9 million, while pre-tax profit fell from £697,535 to £276,496. Also contained in the accounts were details of the auto retailer’s renewal of its banking facilities with HSBC for a further 12 months. The retailer agreed to overdraft facilities of £3.55 million, rising to £4 million during the peak trading period of March to September, to better meet its day-to-day working capital needs.

Ringways Motor Group operates Ford and Kia franchises at its Whitehall Road, Leeds site and a Kia franchise at its Bullrush Grove, Doncaster site. The group’s relationship with Ford goes back to 1967, while 2012 saw the completion of a custom built facility for its new Kia operation.

DATED: 28.03.2016

FEED: ARN