Dacia, which currently has 144 retail sites, is preparing for a change in its network structure in mid-2025, says UK and Ireland brand director Luke Broad. The value brand will move to a hub and spoke structure, which will result in a 20% reduction in brand partner sites. “We want to have the right partner […]

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Retailers, OEMs and industry experts have given their views on the opportunity presented by new entrant brands in 2024. This week, the New Entrants Report 2024 will be published, offering invaluable insight and analysis for your business. The report also features full profiles of the 15 most important new entrants to have on your radar […]

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Alfa Romeo, which has seen its network numbers fluctuate in recent years, is aiming to grow the number of retailers to 36 by mid-2025, according to UK managing director Jules Tilstone. Tilstone said the brand currently had 24 retailers, with four more on the way in West London, Birmingham, Manchester and Swansea. Another six added […]

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It has been reported that Volkswagen Group wants to reduce its UK business partnerships from 170 to fewer than 25. The move is part of the embattled brand’s plan to slash costs by €10bn. As part of the overhaul, Volkswagen is considering cutting its Northern Ireland retailers from more than a dozen to just two. […]

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More than half of auto retailers say they disagree with the proposed reinstatement of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, reveals Auto Trader research. The new Labour government vowed to reinstate the ban on non-hybrid ICE cars, after the Conservative government pushed it back in October 2023. The research comes as […]

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Yorkshire AM100 dealer group DM Keith is preparing for the official opening of its latest BYD showroom in York on 15 August. This will be the car dealer’s third BYD site. The new showroom will be located on Wigginton Road to the north of York’s city centre. It will showcase the marque’s range which is already available […]

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Carwow has secured backing from Bessemer Venture Partners, one of the world’s oldest venture capital firms, in a funding round that values the online marketplace at £250m. San Francisco-based Bessemer was an early backer of LinkedIn and Pinterest. Existing shareholders Accel, Balderton, Episode 1 and Vitruvian also invested in the funding round of $52m. Chief […]

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Gravells Limited saw profit before tax in the year ended December 2023 grow from £2.4m to £4.6m – a return of 3.6%, up from 2.3%. Turnover was also up, from £107m to £130m. The Wales and Hereford retailer said growth has been helped by new value-added products and services, investment in its underlying systems and […]

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Retailers have “clearly communicated their priorities to the next government” and delivered seven key ‘asks’, says the NFDA, ahead of the General Election this Thursday. In a statement, which Auto Retail Agenda exclusively saw ahead of launch, chief executive Sue Robinson said that key issues include the ongoing skills shortage and restimulating the private EV […]

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As exclusively revealed by Auto Retail Agenda last November, Lotus has switched back to the franchise model for its UK retail network after two years under an agency agreement, according to its retailers. Lotus joins a growing number of brands that have backed away from agency or delayed its introduction – including the Stellantis brands, Ford, JLR […]

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