All articles by Richard Irvine-Brown
Richard Irvine-Brown
GForces to manage Nissan dealers’ web content
Web management company GForces has been appointed to manage online tools and content for the dealer network Nissan Motor GB, UK arm of the Japanese manufacturer. GForces will launch and run web marketing tools, lead-tracking software and content compatible with smartphones, and the companys NetDirector Auto will be the standard platform for 118 websites covering 225 Nissan dealerships, ranging from booking test drives and MOTs to purchasing parts and accessories. It will also include a finance calculator backed by RCI Financial Services, captive finance partner to both Nissan and Renault, and which has also launched the EDISON system in dealerships to aid the finance process.
UK summer registrations defy EU trend
The positive year-on-year sales trend for new passenger cars in the UK has continued in contrast to registrations throughout the rest of Europe, according to statistics from the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) and Jato Dynamics. The UK was also the only market across the 27 EU nations (excluding Malta) to post growth year-to-date, up by 3.3%, against a continental average drop of around 7.1%
Low supply keeps part-ex values high – Manheim
While average age and mileage of dealer vehicles at auction have remained relatively steady, month-on-month and year-on-year, at 99 months and 75,869, the average selling price in August fell by only 0.3% month-on-month to £2,469, 11.62% above the August 2011 price. Although the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has reported rising sales and expectations of new vehicles throughout the year in the UK, and particularly compared with Europe, Darren Wiseman, valuation services manager at Manheim Auctions, said the trickle down to the used market will not appear soon.
Jigsaw appoint dealer development director
Alan Smith has joined car finance broker Jigsaw Finance as dealer development director from 250-site dealer network Pendragon, where he was group F&I manager. Smiths appointment is part of Jigsaws aim to cement its work with AM top 200 dealers and complement its existing dealer base, according to sales director Tim Whaley. Whaley said Smiths role would be assisting with the added value in the showroom and add to the transparent relationship with senior level management in business.
New prescription from Glass’s
The system, launched in August, replaced Glasss Guide, which had provided used car valuation information for 80 years, and now gives subscribers six new sets of values: One trade value to show the typically observed wholesale price that reflects a steady degradation of a cars condition due to age and mileage, according to the Glasss video guide to G2
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PPI claims doubled, H1 2012
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has reported the volume of complaints it is handling over the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI) doubled in the first half of 2012. Between 1 January and 30 June 2012, the FOS received 85,562 new PPI complaints, similar to the number received for the same period in 2011 but up from 49,419 in the second half of 2011
CAP values Overfinch work to bump RVs 23%
CAP conducted a 12-month survey of the work done by Overfinch, which tailors Range Rover and Range Rover Sport styling and systems, and concluded the uplift for the Overfinch package is 23% on top of our Black Book used values, according to Black Book editor Tim Bearder. The findings were consistent throughout the year and Bearder added when tracking vehicles fitted with Overfinch packages, it was found that annual depreciation of the enhancement, over and above the base car, was comparable to the car itself.
Fleet Friday – BRS, VW, values, theft and press
Weekly roundup of UK fleet news including a look ahead to the Hannover CV show, BRSs Renault contract and the most-stolen LCV in the UK
Office change and hiring drive at 1st Stop
Motor finance provider 1st Stop Car Finance has moved to larger offices at the Quadrus Centre, South Tyneside, and begun to look at staff expansion in anticipation of increased turnover Business at the subprime lender has grown 300% in the past 30 months since moving to offices in Durham, having previously been run out of the home of founder David Enright Current turnover is £4m but the company expects this to grow and will look to double its staff of eight in the next 12 months, according to director Mike Burn in an interview with nebusiness.co.uk
GMAC training programmes endorsed
Three training courses on vehicle finance run by GMAC UK have been formally recognised by motor industry qualifications accreditation body IMI Awards. Following months of independent assessment, Quality Assured Awards accreditation has been given to the Presenting the Right F&I Option Programme, Business User Funding Programme, and Finance and Insurance Seminar Programme.