Michael Ward

I've seen a lot of discussion about how the retail EV share of the new car market is better than the official SMMT figures suggest because consumers are using salary sacrifice schemes to buy EVs. However, if that was the case, I think you'd expect the fleet/business share of EV registrations to be even higher.

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Best time of the morning with a cup of Yorkshire tea, writing up an in-depth dealer review and the strategic plans to deliver the next level of advanced transformational used car retailing. #automotive #automotivemarketing #usedcars #cardealers #cardealerships #spanishmarket #velocity #digitalmarketing #automotiveexcellence    

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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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🚗 Used car market growth includes record number of EV sales 🚗 The UK used car market saw 4.3% year-on-year growth during the third quarter of 2024. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that 1,965,811 vehicles changed hands. This included 53,423 EVs, representing a 57% increase, and the highest EV used market share yet at 2.7%. Read more online: https://lnkd.in/e9rpFbte 🔔 Click our follow button to see regular car and fleet industry news and insights, and subscribe to our newsletter 🔔 #BusinessCar #usedcars #remarketing #evs #electricvehicles

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POD ALERT Motor Trade Radio podcast, powered by MOTORS In a packed show, we’re joined by Vertu CEO Robert Forrester and take a look at the week’s big headlines ☑️SMMT’s new car reg figures show market up in May ☑️MOTORS Market View reveals used car trends for May, as EVs stocked by dealers hit a new high ☑️Motor Trader Top 200 shows a dealer group sector in a state of flux JudgeService names the top OEM brands for customer loyalty ☑️The VRA issues a warning on oddly specced “Covid Cars” ☑️And we add another name to the growing list of car brands heading to the UK PLUS [M]enable Moment with our mental wealth guru, Stephen Whitton #AllTheChatterThatMatters with Curtis and Philip https://lnkd.in/eTT-VH5z

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Dealerships, franchises, and used car supermarkets – is it time to bring your aftersales solutions in-house?   With over 40 years of expertise, our tailored solutions, expert support, and tools like the WarrantyLogix portal make switching simple and running your own programme seamless.   Read more about how a self-funded warranty could benefit your business below. #WarrantyAdministrationServices #Warranty #AMonline #AutomotiveManagement

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Cox Automotive Europe's Insight Quarterly is used by some of the industry's leading publications to feed insight. 🧠 In this article from Autocar, it is suggested that our forecast warns of a volatile end to 2024 caused by rush to hit ZEV mandate targets, and that the UK new car market set for pressures likened to 2008 economic crash! 📉 💥 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eQ4nMrVS #automotive #insight #ZEV #ev #newcarmarket

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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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📢BREAKING NEWS📢  We're delighted to announce that MOTORS has acquired the Cazoo brand. Commenting on the acquisition, MOTORS’ CEO Barry Judge said: “We have the expertise and inventory to immediately establish Cazoo as a modern marketplace for used cars. We will build on the excitement and engagement that the Cazoo brand has already created with consumers to deliver more sales enquiries for our dealer partners.” Highlights include: Cazoo to join MOTORS’ network of sites, alongside MOTORS, Gumtree and eBay, helping dealers access more car buyers Cazoo to become a marketplace with 250,000+ listings to help buyers find their next used cars New Cazoo app to feature innovative, mobile-first strategy to enhance the car search experience Free Cazoo listings for MOTORS’ dealer partners with MultiSite packages For more details see the full press release 👉 https://lnkd.in/ez_HyiAU ___ #MOTORS #usedcars #carsearch #carlovers #motorsandcazoo

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With the arrival of the new ‘74’ vehicle registration just around the corner, a Censuswide poll of 1,000 UK drivers commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman has revealed generational differences in consumer ‘Car Confidence’ when it comes to buying and owning a vehicle. The latest findings have also been used to create a new series of Motor Ombudsman ‘barometers’ to highlight how the dial can shift on a yearly basis between age groups Read about the results below: #automotiveindustry #automotiveaftermarket #generationgap

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NEW: BEV sales in the UK grew to 17% of new sales in April 2024, up from 15% in April 2023. The number of new BEV cars registered in April grew by 10% on last year as the ZEV mandate's impact became clearer. To find out how this policy is driving the UK's clean energy transition, subscribe to our bulletin and get the latest data from April and the full trend at newautomotive.org/ecc

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Turbo-driven by new product and boosted by its close rapport with the automotive giant Stellantis - Baylis is very much in the driving seat as one of Gloucestershire's best-known dealership names. I popped down to find out what was going as after many years as Vauxhall's presence on Cheltenham's Princess Elizabeth Way, the business is now adding a new dimension with the arrival Peugeot . Baylis was founded in 1994 with the purchase of the Gloucester branch of Vauxhall retailer Skipper. Since then, the business has rolled out into Worcestershire and across into South Wales, becoming one of the West Country's largest motor groups. With 10 locations across three counties, turnover for Baylis came in at £129m in the latest year and the company's steady growth sees it now employing nearly 400 people. Whilst the numbers are impressive- this is not an easy market sector to be in - I met up with joint managing director Andrew Robbins to give me a quick tour, front of house, behind the scenes and give me the low down. Here’s the full Punchline Gloucester - The No1 news resource for business in Gloucestershire story 👇. https://lnkd.in/e22tZc4T Dev Chakraborty Dorian Kirk Dave Jones Max Wilkinson Rapid Charge Tellus Power Green Steve h Chris Packer Stewart Bruce Rob Lister Tara Lewis Rob Pickup Jonathan Viney Oli Christie Vauxhall Motors Ltd Dan Ponting Daniel Leach Cheltenham Borough Council Richard Markey Simon Hacker Jason Ivey Bethany Winter Clare Tidal Training Direct Ltd. Claire Thayers Sarah Cook David Owen Sam Holliday Russell Warner Richard East Simon Gardner Rowena Hay Andrew B. David Morton Moreton Cullimore BA MA FIQ Enzo Mora #motors #EV #carmanufacturing #businessnews

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Struggling to get vehicle images, or not sure how to create the best stock photography? Our guide helps you understand the best way to set the stage for success with your vehicles, with lots of tips and tricks to creating vehicle imagery that sells! #ukcardealer

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We've gained some new followers recently, so if you're new to AutoRaise, here's a quick history of how an idea evolved into a charity supporting apprentices and bodyshops in the auto industry. AutoRaise started as a small working group of vehicle repairers who saw the need for a modern apprenticeship standard. What began in 2012 as an initiative between Fix Auto Dagenham and Barking & Dagenham College has now evolved into a charity with a single mission: to promote the vehicle repair industry as a sustainable and rewarding career path. Chris Oliver and a team of leading repairers helped build a new, government-backed multiskilled apprenticeship framework, setting the stage for today’s Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standards. In 2016, this dedicated group formalised their efforts, becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a mission to bring new talent into the industry. At AutoRaise, we’re all about engaging young people, nurturing apprentices, and supporting the future owners and leaders of our industry. This is just a snapshot of our history. Join us in shaping the future. #AutoRaise #Apprenticeships #AutomotiveIndustry #ShapingTheFuture #cars #apprentices #automotive

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