Broad Oak’s Nissan dealership in Canterbury Kent has won a Global Award from the manufacturer, as the best-performing Nissan franchise in the UK. The Canterbury dealership was rated against businesses in key Nissan markets globally and impressed the assessors with both its excellent customer service and its showcasing of the Nissan selection of vehicles. Broad […]
Read More →Halfords is the target of a £1.4bn merger approach by van rental firm Redde Northgate. Discussions took place over the past few months and a nil-premium merger was initially proposed. The initial proposal was abandoned due to disagreements over price. It is now understood Redde Northgate, who’s non-executive chairman is Avril Palmer-Baunack, could mount a […]
Read More →BMW sustainability chief Thomas Becker says banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is not the answer to addressing the climate crisis. He added that Rishi Sunak’s delayed ban of ICE cars to 2035 will not affect the company’s EV plans. “We didn’t support it in the outset,” he said. “We are critical […]
Read More →The latest ICDP: European Top 50 Dealer Groups 2022 has concluded that carmakers are increasingly attracted to working with fewer, larger dealer groups who are more process driven with superior IT systems. The report detailed the consolidation taking place across Europe with larger groups acquiring smaller owner-operators. Report authors Steve Young and Peter Bailey said: […]
Read More →Mercedes-Benz UK CEO Gary Savage has questioned the latest NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey for its relevancy to the agency model. Dealer attitude decline As highlighted in the October issue of Auto Retail Bulletin, under true agency agreements, all stock is held by the national sales company, which means there is zero pre-registration by retailers. However, Mercedes retailers […]
Read More →It has been announced that the SLM Group has bought SMC Motor Group for an undisclosed sum. New Brands SLM Group operates dealerships in East Sussex, Kent and East Anglia, including five Toyota, one Vauxhall, one Suzuki, one GMW ORA dealerships. They also operate two used car SLM Select businesses and two body repair Centres. […]
Read More →Lookers’ £6m Teesside Car Hub used car retailer has been given the green light from Middlesborough Council. It is set to open later in 2023 and will create additional jobs, taking its staff numbers in the area to around 200. The 25,000 sq/m site, located alongside its new BYD franchise, will also accommodate a standalone […]
Read More →US dealer group Lithia has significantly increased its offer for Pendragon. Lithia, one of the three groups bidding for Pendragon, has upped its total offer to £397 million, up from the original £280m. Vote Rescheduled The new offer comes five days ahead of a proposed vote on the deal, due this Friday. This vote has […]
Read More →A second offer in three days has been made for Pendragon. The offer has sent shares in the business up more than 12%, raising the prospect of a bidding war for the dealer group. The new offer of 28 pence a share for the whole of Pendragon comes from Swedish firm Hedin Mobility Group and […]
Read More →US group Lithia has agreed to buy Pendragon’s UK auto retail and leasing operations, including the Evans Halshaw and Stratstone divisions, for £280 million. Under the agreement, the Pendragon PLC business will continue as a listed company, but operating only its Pinewood software business. It will be renamed Pinewood Technologies PLC. Lithia Motors will pay […]
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