Auto Retail Live

September’s new car plate-change month is now out of the way, so attention inevitably turns to the used car market. Despite a relatively strong month for new, used car volumes for franchised retailers are essentially governed by how the market performed two-four years ago. With the market missing more than 1.5 million cars during the pandemic, this is still having a significant impact on stock sourcing and pricing. Used car buyers are traditionally on a tighter budget than new car customers and they’re also more traditional in their fuel choice. The result is a distortion. Electric car prices may be weak, but the majority of the market is still running petrol and diesel vehicles where pricing is strong. In this webinar our panel will discuss what this means for retailers and how profitability can be maintained through the very real disruption. Examining all these topics in our next Auto Retail Live Business Briefing, will be Perrys’ Darren Ardron, Swansway’s Peter Smyth, and Motors’ Phill Jones. Led by Auto

New brand entrants are joining the UK market at pace and putting pressure on existing traditional manufacturers at a time when electric vehicle targets, economic pressures and consumer confidence are all challenging. Of course, the arrival of these new entrants and the timing of government EV targets are not separate. However, many believe that not all the new entrant brands will succeed in the UK. Similarly, few believe the UK market can sustain a higher number of brands than we have now, which means some longstanding brands could also fall by the wayside. Assessing the market and what’s needed to succeed for both retailers who partner with these new entrants and the manufacturer is the latest edition of the New Entrants Report, published in partnership with Auto Trader. To launch the report and discuss these topics join us on 8th October at 10:30am for our Auto Retail Live webinar, when we will analyse what these brands have to offer retailers, how and when they’re likely to come to the UK and how the m

Retailers are the pinch-point between weak consumer demand for EVs and tough manufacturer targets for zero emission vehicles. What will this mean for dealers as we head toward the end of the year? In out next Auto Retail Live webinar we’ll discuss where the market is now, what consumer demand looks like (with a focus on the EV ICE mix), and how retailers can hit increasingly tough OEM targets. Discussing all these topics in our next Auto Retail Live Business Briefing, will be Jason Cranswick from Marubeni Auto Investment UK, Mark Busby from Hendy Group and Auto Trader’s Bex Kennett. Led by Auto Retail Live chair Al Clarke, the panel will discuss what’s going on now and what’s expected to happen to UK auto retail in the next few months. Auto Retail Live, on Tuesday 10 September, will examine the data, discuss hands-on experience and offer advice about how to get the most out of the next quarter and beyond. Our expert panel will also be available live to answer your questions to help you run a more successf

Our panel discuss the issues surrounding the ZEV mandate, including: Will this year really see a 1.45 million new car market as OEMs restrict ICE to hit a 22% BEV mix? Is this just an OEM problem? Is the next Government likely to change tack on EVs? Which sales incentives work best to sell EVs. What impact will the ZEV Mandate have on the used car market? Talking through these points and more are Jonathan Gravell from Gravells, Mike Jones from Fresh Tracks and Auto Trader’s Rebecca Clark, all led by Auto Retail Live chair Al Clarke.

Nearing the halfway point in the year, it’s clear the market is now back to a reality that involves push, lower consumer demand, increased costs and tighter margins. In this Business Booster webinar, in partnership with Real World Analytics, our panel of retailer experts will discuss the state of the market, how to handle pre-reg, what to do about subdued retail demand, ways of dealing with overage stock, what can be done about rising business costs and how to work with OEMs on EV targets. Discussing all these topics in our next Auto Retail Live webinar, will be Nathan Tomlinson from Devonshire Motors, Craig Petty from Hatfields and John Hogan, Real World Analytics co-founder. Led by Auto Retail Live chair Mike Jones, the panel will discuss what’s going on now and what’s expected to happen to UK auto retail in the next few months. Auto Retail Live, on 22 May, will examine the data, discuss hands-on experience and offer advice about how to keep your business growing in an increasingly tough market. Our ex

March’s plate change is upon us once again and new car supply is being to look decidedly like the past four years never happened with significant new car offers and a cautious consumer. In this Business Briefing our panel of retailer experts will discuss the state of the current market, what can be done to bring in more customers for both new and used cars and how OEM offers and targets are impacting the bottom line for retailers. Discussing all these topics in our next Auto Retail Live Business Briefing, will be Swansway’s Peter Smyth, Ron Brooks’ Tom Slack and Auto Trader’s Karolina Edwards-Smajda. Led by Auto Retail Live chair Al Clarke, the panel will discuss what’s going on now and what’s expected to happen to UK auto retail in the next few months. Auto Retail Live, on Thursday 14 March, will examine the data, discuss hands-on experience and offer advice about how to get the most out of the next quarter. Our expert panel will also be available live to answer your questions to help you run a more succ

Disruptions to the used car market over the past few years have changed the automotive landscape permanently. Not only were fewer new cars sold during the pandemic, but the addition of electric vehicles and a shift to agency agreements by OEMs has necessitated a new approach to valuations, stock acquisition strategies and sales operations. In our next Auto Retail Live webinar we’ll examine these influences on the used car market and provide the insight needed to adapt your operations to ensure ongoing success. We’ll have Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu, Rupert Pontin from AutoAPI and John Veichmanis, CEO of Carwow, all available online to discuss these topics, answer your questions and help you get ready for 2024. We’ll unpack the intricacies of new car supply and its ripple effect on the used car market. Our experts will help you plan for the influx of March plate-change trade-ins and discuss the impact agency agreements will have on used car retailing. The focus for this webinar will be to prepare retaile

As 2023 draws to a close the new and used car markets look far more like those in the pre-pandemic world, but what does that mean for trading in 2024? Auto Retail Live’s Outlook for 2024 webinar on 12 December will examine this topic and reveal the results of the latest Auto Retail Barometer survey which tracks business sentiment. Our panel of experts will get into the detail of new car supply, the impact of the ZEV Mandate, consumer confidence and behaviour, used car values and look at the best metrics businesses should be using to make sure they’re on the right track for a profitable 2024. In our final Auto Retail Live of this year we’ll have James Brearley, COO at Peter Vardy, Jason Cranswick, COO at Marubeni Auto Investment UK, Peter Smyth from Swansway and Phill Jones, COO of Motors, all available online to discuss these topics, answer your questions and help you get ready for 2024. The focus for this webinar will be to prepare retailers for the topics set to dominate their business in the coming 12

The UK market is witnessing an influx of new brands from China and around the world, all of which have significant aspirations, new ideas, exciting new products and represent an opportunity for retailers. Starting with a clean slate, these brands are well resourced, fast moving and have the opportunity to both put pressure on established brands and disrupt the traditional route to market. In our latest Auto Retail Live webinar, we’ll discuss what these brands have to offer retailers, how and when they’re likely to come to the UK and how electrification targets could give these new entrants an advantage. We will also review the success of the recent arrivals in the UK. Joining us on the panel are Mark Blundell, UK head of marketing for BYD, Chee-Kiang Lim, China managing director of Urban Science and Ian Plummer, commercial director of Auto Trader. They will share their knowledge and experience about the new brands and will be available to answer your questions online. Register HERE to join the webinar at 9

September’s plate change is upon us once again and for the first time since the pandemic the new car supply is being to look ‘normal’. Despite this background, economic pressures remain and consumers are increasingly careful about how they spend their money. This is countered by continuing used car stock shortages in some sectors and high prices and good margins. However, the exception is used electric vehicle sales which have gone through a price realignment as supply and demand begin to balance out. Discussing all these topics in our next Auto Retail Live Business Briefing, will be Lookers’ Duncan McPhee, eStar Truck and Van’s Steve Bridge and Auto Trader’s Marc Palmer. Led by Auto Retail Live chair Al Clarke, the panel will discuss what’s going on now and what’s expected to happen to UK auto retail in the next few months. Auto Retail Live examines the data, discuss hands-on experience and offer advice about how to get the most out of the first half of 2023. Key topics for discussion include: Has vehi

Waves of change are disrupting the automotive industry, with deep and sudden impact. Consumers are now more demanding about how they expect to interact with dealers and OEMs digitally – how do retailers and manufacturers rise to this challenge? What tools, processes, and skillset are necessary to create a seamless customer journey from enquiry to purchase? What do modern consumers really want and need from today’s auto retailer in their buying journey – has digital transformation changed consumer behavior forever? Join us when we will discuss these issues and review the tools and skillset that today’s auto retailer needs to achieve in meeting consumer expectations and keep the customer experience relevant – now and in the future. Our expert panel for this webinar broadcast includes James Smullen, director of the award-winning retail group Wayland’s, Charlotte Murray, commercial director of Marketing Delivery, and former Head of Marketing at JCT600 and CEO of Keyloop, Tom Kilroy. Key discussion points: Wh

During the first half of 2023 total new car registrations have seen significant increases, however, retail sales have not been part of this rise. Used car values are still strong but EV supply into the market is still outstripping demand. Is the industry back to normal? And if not, when is that likely to happen? Inflation is still high and consumers are under increasing economic pressure as the cost of living rises. In this Auto Retail Live Business Briefing, we talk to Swansway’s Peter Smyth, Perrys’ Darren Ardron, and Auto Trader’s Karolina Edwards-Smajda about how retailers can combat these issues and what’s going on now and what’s expected to happen to UK auto retail in the next few months. Auto Retail Live, on Thursday 8 June, will examine the data, discuss hands-on experience and offer advice about how to get the most out of the second half of 2023. Our expert panel will also be available live to answer your questions to help you run a more successful business. Key topics for discussion include:

With the March plate-change month out of the way, used car performance always comes to the fore as retailers look at how best to manage part exchanges. In this Auto Retail Live webinar we’ll be looking at how the first quarter has performed for used cars including average sales values, days to sell and gross profit per unit. We’ll discuss the outlook for used car values overall as well as why there’s instability in the EV market and what’s likely to happen to diesel values. Overall we aim to help you make more money selling used cars. On the show we’ll talk to Paul Hendy, chief executive of Hendy Group, Marc Thornborough from Auto Trader and John Law from RealTime Communication about used car market trends, how to measure performance and what you can do to improve your business. Key topics for discussion include: * First quarter used car market performance * How is Q2 likely to track * Why are EV values unstable * Which KPIs offer the best insight * What you can do to improve performance

Market performance indicators are giving mixed messages. New car registrations may be up, but retail sales are down. Used car profitability is still strong, but consumer confidence is weak. Short supply means aftersales could be under pressure, yet retailers still can’t find enough technicians. In our next Auto Retail Live Business Briefing, we’ll talk to George Ashford, CEO Inchcape Retail, Devonshire Motors’ Nathan Tomlinson, Mike Jones from Fresh Tracks, and Auto Trader’s Marc Palmer. Originally broadcast live from our Manchester studio we will discuss the latest trends, trading and what’s expected to happen to UK auto retail in the next few months. Our panel will examine the data, discuss hands-on experience, and offer advice about how to get the most out of the first half of 2023. Key topics for discussion include: Is the new car market returning to pre-pandemic normality? Used car pricing outlook Should you stop stocking used EVs? Customer retention tips in a tough market Aftersales pressures Our

Auto Retail Live: Future of aftersales New car sales have been down for three years, EVs are taking an increasing share of new car sales and the consumer has been hit by a cost of living crisis. So what does that mean for the future of aftersales? First broadcast on Tuesday, 15 November 2022 at 2pm. Our Auto Retail Live webinar, in partnership with REALtime Communications, will analyse and discuss these points to deliver the best advice. We’ll not just show how to stay profitable in the current economic climate, but how to really boost performance in aftersales. On Auto Retail Live’s Future of aftersales webinar we’ll have Sarah Brettle, director of Ford Customer Service Division, Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu Motors, and John Law, Data and Insights director, REALtime Communications. The panel will analyse the market and answer your questions about how best to assess and then improve your aftersales business. Key topics for discussion include: What’s happened to the usual seasonal business model? And is

The UK market is set to see an influx of new brands from China, all of which have significant aspirations, new ideas and exciting new products. Starting with a clean slate, these brands are well resourced and have the opportunity to disrupt the traditional route to market, both through the vehicles they export and the retail model they adopt. Watch our Auto Retail Live webinar on catch-up, when we will discuss what these brands have to offer retailers, how and when they’re likely to come to the UK and how the market could change with an increasing number of manufacturers. Joining us on the panel are William Brown, managing director of IM Group, Chee-Kiang Lim, China managing director of Urban Science and Ian Plummer, commercial director of Auto Trader. They will share their knowledge and experience about the new Chinese brands and will be available to answer your questions online. Key topics for discussion include: Which brands are coming to the UK and when What retail models will the new entrants adopt a

New car supply is short, order banks are long but a looming recession means consumer demand is uncertain. While fleet registrations have taken the brunt of the recent declines in new car sales retail numbers have held up well. However, the simple fact that fewer new cars are entering the market is now impacting used car volumes and putting pressure on aftersales. Auto Retail Live will examine the data, discuss hands-on experience and offer advice about how to get the most out of the latter half of 2022. In Auto Retail Live’s Business Briefing we’ll have Jason Cranswick, COO of Marubeni Auto Investment (UK) which owns RRG and Norton Way, Tom Slack, group manager for strategy and innovation at Ron Brooks Motor Group, plus Marc Palmer, brand director, Auto Trader available online to answer your questions and share their experience of how best to operate in the current market. In this Auto Retail Live broadcast we’ll also be investigating how retailers can best help customers and hit their new and used car tar

With rising online customer communication, the switch from franchised to agency models and advancing technology the digital space between the retailer, manufacturer and consumer is set to undergo significant change. In our next webinar and report of the same title; Technology and process – a revolution in auto retailing, we’ll be examining this space, finding out how significant it is and looking at data control and what it means for the industry. This Auto Retail Live, in partnership with CitNOW Group, will examine the space from the perspective of the main stakeholders, looking at the systems involved, data ownership, the technology, how far we’ve come so far and what’s next for auto retail. In Auto Retail Live’s Technology and process webinar we’ll have Ken Savage from Perrys Group, Dale Wyatt from Suzuki, marketing consultant Ian Godbold and Alistair Horsburgh from CitNOW Group available online to answer your questions and share their views on how best to operate in this evolving market. Key topics f

Rising business costs, a consumer spending crunch and uncertainty over used car values will all be up for discussion in the new Auto Retail Live webinar. Being broadcast at 2pm on 14 June, Auto Retail Live will examine how the first half of 2022 has gone and what’s in store for the rest of the year. Auto Retail Live will examine what retailers can do to prepare for the next six months. In Auto Retail Live’s H2 Briefing we’ll have Peter Smyth from Swansway Group, John O’Hanlon from Waylands, Jonathan Gravell from Gravells and Bex Clark from Auto Trader available online to answer your questions and share their experience of how best to operate in the current market. Key topics for discussion include: • Rising business costs – have you factored in inflation at a high enough level on energy and staffing budgets? • Trends in consumer spending – are order banks safe? • Used car pricing outlook – are we set for a drop in values? • New car supply outlook – will production ramp back up soon? REGISTER NOW and join

Consumer demand is still ahead of vehicle supply in both the new and used car markets, but as interest rates and the cost of living rises, will this situation continue? And if so, for how long? Auto Retail Live, first broadcast on Tuesday 15 March, examines how retailers can make maximise their online and showroom performance while being supply constrained, how they can boost customer retention and manage the online journey to bring in new buyers. In Auto Retail Live’s Q1 Briefing we’ll have Jason Cranswick, COO of Marubeni Auto Investment which owns RRG and Norton Way, plus James Buxton, COO of Carzam and Karolina Edwards-Smajda, commercial product director, Auto Trader available online to answer your questions and share their experience of how best to operate in the current market. In this Auto Retail Live broadcast we’ll also be investigating how retailers can best help customers and hit their new and used car targets. Key topics for discussion include: Used car pricing outlook New car supply outlook