Julia Muir

It’s said that trust is earned when actions meet words. But when you’re looking for a new PR agency, how do you know who to trust? Maybe take a look at who some of the biggest names in the automotive supplier sector trust with their PR. For 32 years, top auto suppliers have trusted us to do what we say we’re going to do ... To be there when they need us. To tell them the truth, even when it’s hard for them to hear. To challenge their thinking and play the devil’s advocate. To give them strategic guidance drawn from our decades of experience. To help them deliver better results. Because they know better work and happier people come from a trusting relationship. So if you’re an automotive technology supplier looking for a PR firm you can trust, check us out. Or ask our current automotive clients, who have trusted us for an average of 15 years ... including one has trusted us for 32! Because we work hard to earn – and keep their trust. Day. After. Day.

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Perhaps the gormless politicos and mandarins who thought,god-like, they could mandate 22% of new car sales this year to be BEVs -ignoring the industrial consequences of £15k fines for each car missing target - will reflect on Stellantis UK CEO Maria Davino's apocalyptic warning at the SMMT summit: Back down, or Ellesmere Port and Luton van production could well leave the UK. Goodbye 2,500 jobs and a near-mortal blow UK's auto sector. Empty threat? Stellantis not yet holding gun to govt head. But sheer stupidity of the mandate beggars belief. Market demand not much more than half that. Private buyers shunning BEVs - so Stellantis and other makers, absurdly, face slashing output of ICE cars and vans so as not to incur fines of £15k per car. So just imagine market and output impact of the mandate requiring further % rises to reach 80% by 2035, let alone the 2030 deadline Starmer plans to reimpose. If actual market DEMAND for BEVs was 50% of, say, a 2m new car market of, say, 2m. the industry would have to restrict more sellable ICEs to 250k - a market loss of 3/4m units, UK supply chains and dealer networks dead, exodus of Stellantis & Co. Total madness, of course. Battery tech advances, H2, fuel cells etc may eventually save the day- but the 22% mandate is a crisis already looming.

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The light commercial vehicle market for May 2024 makes interesting reading. Take a look at my latest take on the new and used arena for #LCVs. #registrations #BEVs #topperformers #newmarket #ZEVmandate #usedmarket #LCVauctions #stocklevels ##usedvalues #averagesales #averagevalues #conversionrates #retailmarket

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Not all specification is created equal in the eyes of a used car buyer. A piece of equipment can be as clever or as pricey as you like, but it's incredibly difficult to put a monetary value on something you can’t see. Over-the-air updates are a biggie, especially because they aren’t there when a car is sold new. But they might well be when it’s sold second-hand. The prospect of them adding to a used car’s bottom line is slim, but they could encourage first owners to hang onto them for longer with a latter-day freshen up. Theoretically, that could come in handy if you have to wait a while for your next one – say, if manufacturers reduce supply because of the ZEV mandate. More on that here in this month’s Business Car: https://bit.ly/3Y7OXJk #usedcars #specification #updates #remote #equipment #Tesla #values #ADAS #subscription #remarketing #zevmandate #electriccars #EVs #fleet #contract #extensions #RV

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😊 Ben Automotive Industry Charity is raising awareness about the support needed for automotive individuals and families who are struggling with money worries, debt or urgent financial need, with the summer holidays fast approaching. This time of year can be a real headache for parents. Additional costs add up over the holiday period and back-to-school items such as uniforms, bags and PE kits add financial pressure. Ben is urging automotive families not to struggle alone and to get in touch. 🗣 Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said: “Cost-of-living pressures are still having a significant effect on many people in our automotive family. As a parent myself, I know that families now face the added costs that the summer holidays bring, as well as the back-to-school expenses. This is why we need to make sure everyone in our automotive industry knows that Ben is here for them..." #PMF #Ben #automotivecharity #summer #summerholidays #automotiveaftermarket #automotiveaftermarket #garage #motorfactor

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Ahead of meetings with the automotive industry this week, UK transport secretary Louise Haigh has reiterated the government's commitment to the ZEV mandate 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6_hcQ6j While the mandate will not be weakened, some 'flexibilities' could be made on the back of these meetings - with some manufacturers projected to fall short of the ZEV target for 2024. #ElectricDrives | #ElectricVehicles | #EV | #Emobility | #Sustainability | #AutomotiveIndustry | #CarSales | #UnitedKingdom | #ElectricCars

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I had a fascinating discussion with Amy Tomlinson, MD of Ginetta Cars, delving into motorsport and high-performance racing, which aims to triple car production in three years. Using her engineering mindset and previous experience in two former companies, she has built and systematised Ginetta's commercial functions, which is her answer to achieving her ambitious targets. Key takeaways from our conversation include Amy's focus on leadership and legacy, customer experience enhancement, targeted market expansion efforts, and the significant economic impact Ginetta is poised to make across the automotive industry. To gain deeper insights into Amy's leadership strategies and growth principles, check out the full feature in #GrowthEngines in Business Leader #businesssystems #strategicgoalsetting #britishmotorsport #growthmindset #scaleup #Aurik #AssetofValue Motorsport Industry Association (MIA)

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RECHARGE UK report highlights challenges and opportunities around skills in the EV sector

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Great discussion on the new entrants on today's Auto Retail Network #Live webinar with Victor Zhang from OMODA UK & JAECOO UK, demonstrating the changing landscape for the #UKAutomotive landscape.

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Great insights from Ian Plummer in this article, which he covered in more detail in his recent speech at the Automotive Leadership Network event, about what’s needed from the new Government to support and boost the transition to electric vehicles. I’d be interested to hear from others in my network about what they believe the early focuses need to be to support the automotive industry as a whole, as well as the transition to EVs. Randal 'Tiny' Smith BEM MSc BEng (Hons) CEng FRAeS FInstLM and Andrew Pilkington, MBA , I know this is a topic close to your hearts if you have anything to add? #EVs #electricvehicles #automotive #automotiveindustry #election #electionresult https://lnkd.in/drRUb4pD

Humbled and honored to have my LinkedIn post on the importance of Cost Per Lead (CPL) featured on Motor Trader Radio. CPL remains one of the key metrics for car dealers, offering valuable insight into the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. CPL helps dealerships understand how many leads they’re generating from various marketing channels, making it a crucial tool for budgeting and forecasting. By tracking CPL, dealers can assess the cost per sale and ensure they’re getting high-quality leads to maximize their ROI. Join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/e93rHMyr

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I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to contribute to Bodyshop Magazine (Plenham Ltd) September issue, discussing how bodyshops can thrive amid a rapidly evolving automotive landscape. 🚗💡   In today’s fast-paced environment, addressing the skills gap crisis is more important than ever. Here are a few key strategies the industry must focus on: 🚗 Attracting New Talent: Changing the perception of automotive careers is vital to bringing fresh faces into the industry. 👨‍💻 Training & Development: Investing in comprehensive training programs and providing current employees with the tools they need to succeed is crucial. 🎧 Innovative Technologies: Adopting the latest technologies can bridge the skills gap and ensure efficiency.   At Autotech Group, we’re dedicated to supporting the automotive industry through these challenges, and our brands were designed to help tackle the skills shortage. #Automotive #Innovation #SkillsDevelopment #Bodyshop Autotech Recruit Autotech Connect Autotech Academy Autotech Training

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Make sure you check out our latest Keyloop Column.   My colleague, Jacqui Barker, who is Keyloop’s Global OEM Strategy Director, reflects on industry insights from our Experience-First panellists. We discuss topics ranging from EV adoption and education to ways you can enhance your aftersales service, delving into key perceptions from some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. Read more here: https://ow.ly/HOKI30sHH67   #Keyloop #customerexperience #experiencefirst #blog

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Make sure you check out our latest Keyloop Column.   My colleague, Jacqui Barker, who is Keyloop’s Global OEM Strategy Director, reflects on industry insights from our Experience-First panellists. We discuss topics ranging from EV adoption and education to ways you can enhance your aftersales service, delving into key perceptions from some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. Read more here: https://ow.ly/IVEE30sHO0W   #Keyloop #customerexperience #experiencefirst #blog

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Make sure you check out our latest Keyloop Column.   My colleague, Jacqui Barker, who is Keyloop’s Global OEM Strategy Director, reflects on industry insights from our Experience-First panellists. We discuss topics ranging from EV adoption and education to ways you can enhance your aftersales service, delving into key perceptions from some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. Read more here: https://ow.ly/SZO130sHO0T   #Keyloop #customerexperience #experiencefirst #blog

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Great day yesterday at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) International Automotive Summit. Some hugely insightful talks and panel discussions from industry giants on the direction and future of the automotive industry, including - but not limited to - the highlights (personally) below. Ashley Andrew - There is a lot of uncertainty. It's a big transition from a technology that everybody knows to a new technology. There is uncertainty over charging infrastructure. The Government has a target of 300,000 public chargers by 2030, but what mechanisms are in place to make that happen, and what metrics are we measuring it by? Erin Baker - The industry has totally underestimated the change in mindset and everything else from the point of view of the consumer. 80% of EV users have a home charger because they don't trust the public charging network. We're not doing enough to hold the hand of the consumer; ditch the jargon, use clearer language, we need comms out there all the time from agencies, retailers, OEM's, media, government, advising the consumer. Vicky Read - 62,000 public charge points installed so far, with 1 in 3 installed in the last 12 months. the National Infrastructure Commission says if we keep going at this pace we will hit the target of 300,000 by 2030. We have achieved huge growth in delivery effectively with the brakes on with permit issues, road network issues etc. Peter Ahrens - No one is pulling the trigger to transition their entire fleet to zero emission, and the biggest thing stopping them is vehicle price. Bruno Lambert - Businesses cannot afford the eLCV entry price - a 30-40% increase in cost just to transition to electric is too much to bear in some cases. Companies need to be able to benefit from lower energy costs if they go electric. Jonathan Atkinson - Infrastructure is going to be critical. Hydrogen is going to be a key feature in the CV industry. The grid is going to be a real challenge. The CV industry is very pragmatic - people buy trucks to make money. If the infrastructure is in the wrong place and you have to detour or take money out to charge, it's just not practical for businesses. Electrification is clearly a big answer for CV's, but it's not going to work for all use cases. A technology agnostic approach is needed, and legislation must support this. Chris Giles - Threats to global economic harmony: 📈 Inflation 💴 Chinese economy - they're struggling particularly in they're domestic property sector, and it's too big to export its way out of the problem 🫱🏼‍🫲🏻 Trade tensions across the world - they will get worse         🌍 Geopolitical events - big event across the channel this weekend, US election at end of year Thanks for the invite Damien Varoquier - look forward to next year! #SMMTSummit

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Speed limits in residential areas and school roads across the UK are set to reduce from 30mph to 20mph in phases up to 2026. The Vehicle Adaptive Speed Limit Reminder sign abolishes the need for replacements as roads switch from 30mph to 20mph For more information, click here: https://ow.ly/aOf850Rbbpt #SpeedLimitAwareness #safetysigns #roadsafety #trafficcalming #roadsafety #trafficsafety

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Are UK electric vehicle sales on track to meet the rising ZEV Mandate targets? Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that BEV sales surpassed the 22% mandate for the first time in August, making up 22.6% of new car sales. However, while this is a positive step, overall BEV sales in 2024 remain below the target. What more could be done to ensure next year’s threshold, set to increase to 25%, is met? #ElectricVehicles #BEV #ZeroEmissions #ZEVMandate #Sustainability #GreenTransport #UKAutomotive https://lnkd.in/erEZ_hR6

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