Mike Bongiorno

This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, ZEV transition is a marathon, but we must pick up the pace SMMT’s latest registration figures for the new light commercial vehicle market shows almost 24,700 new vans, taxis, 4x4s and pickups joined UK roads in July – a dip in demand, but that’s unsurprising given it’s a comparison with July 2023, the month’s best performance in three years, and came in the middle of a record-equalling 17 consecutive months of market growth. Robust demand over the year so far has been supported by manufacturers launching new models, which include very attractive zero emission ones, with 28 now available to UK buyers – treble what was available this time last year. However, it’s concerning that electric uptake continues to decline, down -7.0% to represent 5.1% of the market. Some 10% of each marque’s sales must be zero emission across 2024. While the Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme provides some flexibility, manufacturer investment in more cutting-edge, competitive EVs cannot single-handedly drive market transition at the pace required. The new government can accelerate the market shift through easy wins – for example, by bringing forward legislation planned by the previous government to amend driver derogations for electric vehicles weighing more than 4.25 tonnes, unleashing fleet investment and decarbonisation in LCVs and minibuses. Continuing the Plug-in Van Grant beyond its current end date in April 2025 is also a necessary feature of the LCV transition, alongside greater rollout of van-suitable public charging infrastructure – be it LCV-dedicated chargers or shared hubs. The technology is here – the challenge is to ensure accessible, affordable zero emission mobility for all.

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Marketcheck UK provides invaluable insights into the used car market, allowing dealers to 👇 -Track market trends and pricing strategies -Understand inventory dynamics and adjust -Identify high-demand vehicles and adjust stock -Make informed decisions based on real-time data

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🌉✨ San Francisco | 17-19 September, #Dreamforce ✨ Don’t miss this insightful conversation with leading experts in the Automotive industry, discussing the crucial role of dealerships and how collaboration is shaping the future of the sector. A must-watch for anyone interested in the evolving dynamics of automotive retail and innovation. #AutomotiveIndustry #Dealerships #Innovation #Collaboration

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How well are you managing your Vulnerable Customers?   Under Consumer Duty, dealerships are required to deliver good outcomes for all their customers, including those who might be vulnerable.   As well as having specific policies in place, the FCA wants to see real evidence of how motor dealers are recognising, supporting and providing for vulnerable customers on a day-to-day basis.   If the FCA wanted to see your evidence, could you provide it?   If your answer to that questoin is 'no' or 'maybe', Ingeni can help!    Our award-winning policy management system includes a short, confidential questionnaire (filled in by the customer) which flags up to your salespeople if there is any potential vulnerability.   Plus, we have all the up-to-date policies, procedures and training in place to ensure that your business and your sales teams are confident in doing the right thing by vulnerable customers.   For advice and support on how to successfully manage Vulnerable Customers, get in touch on [email protected] or on 01787 221909. We're here to help!  

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As news is released today that the UK is out of recession it's also good to read about our home-grown automotive sector doing well with new car registrations up again for the 21st consecutive month. However, the challenge is still on to find the right incentives to encourage the purchase of BEV's for both domestic and commercial customers/vehicles. We are also still significantly challenged by the limited charging infrastructure which is hindering in particular the uptake of EV's in the commercial vehicle market. Read on for the feedback on these topics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) released today. https://bit.ly/3y8rHjQ

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🚗💼 Why must dealers adopt an omnichannel approach to sourcing stock? That’s the question discussed in our recent webinar in partnership with Cox Automotive Inc. We were delighted to be joined by expert panellists Peter Smyth, Alex Jones, Ben Archer, Philip Nothard and Sally Foote to explore the biggest trends impacting the evolving landscape of dealer stock acquisition. It’s now available to watch on demand (link in the comments). Check out the key takeaways… 🔍 *Consumer behaviour:* consumers are spending more time researching their car-change online, driving increasing volumes to sell their car through online channels. 🧑‍💻 *Blending channels:* dealers must adopt both online and offline channels to source stock due to shifting consumer behaviour. 📈 *Dealer adaptations:* dealers are increasingly buying fresh stock online. At Carwow, we’re enhancing the online experience with initiatives like document collection and transport services to remove the faff for dealers. 📊 *Data-driven decisions:* data is crucial for sourcing decisions. Our expert dealer panellists rely heavily on data to ensure they source the right stock from the right sources for their markets. 🔮 *Future focus:* AI will streamline operations and boost profitability. Carwow is committed to improving every aspect of the car buying journey through technological advancements. So watch this space ;)  #omnichannel #stocksourcing #cardealers #automotive #digitaltransformation #theIMDA

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Every day, five lives are lost on UK roads — a devastating reality that Brake, the road safety charity, is dedicated to changing. This year, Road Safety Week is highlighting the tragic impact of crashes on victims and their families. Brake’s CEO Ross Moorlock explains how the charity is working to raise awareness and change the narrative around road safety. Read on to learn more about the importance of Brake’s work and how you can support this year’s Road Safety Week. #RoadSafetyWeek #DriverSafety

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Great to have Motorway supporting the Car Dealer Live podcast last night. There was some great debate on EVs and, in particular the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate (sets out the % of new zero emission vehicles manufacturers are required to produce each year up to 2030). I agreed with the view that if the industry is going to hit the ZEV mandate goals, much more needs to be done to support consumer demand for EVs, including investment in charging infrastructure and reducing VAT on out of home charging (from 20% to the 5% charged for domestic electricity). https://lnkd.in/esZwwKjP

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Keyloop has recently joined forces with Autocar Business to create the Power List 100 podcast. This dynamic series spans five episodes, exploring the most compelling subjects within the automotive sector. The podcast features representatives from Autocar and Keyloop collaborating with industry experts to discuss and analyse the issues that are shaping the automotive agenda. Don't miss out! I want to invite you to explore all five episodes and gain invaluable insights by visiting our latest blog post at https://ow.ly/lLjT30sBwXG. #PowerList100 #AutomotiveInsights #PodcastCollab #AutocarBusiness

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How can you make the most informed decisions when it comes to buying and selling used cars? 👉 Marketcheck offers the most up-to-date and reliable information covering every aspect of the used car industry.

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When it comes to consumer duty, measuring good outcome is essential. Eager to see how this develops.

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UK gets bus boost with year and a half of growth The number of new buses, coaches and minibuses joining UK roads grew by a third (36.1%) between July and September, according to new figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 2,367 new registrations were made during quarter three, completing six consecutive quarters of market growth. It reflects a gradual rise in passenger levels following historic lows during the pandemic. The third quarter growth was driven by all segments but the strongest demand was for new minibuses and single deckers, up 38.4% and 36.4% to 1,486 and 461 units respectively. Deliveries of new double deckers also rose, by 28.4% to 420 units. Registrations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were all up, by 37.3%, 103.7% and 162.5% respectively, while rollout in Scotland fell -21.8% compared with a bumper 2023 when demand more than doubled. England continued to take the lion’s share of the overall UK market, representing almost nine in 10 (87.9%) new registrations.    More operators are continuing the switch to zero emission buses (ZEBs), with new registrations rising by almost half (48.0%) to 484 units in the quarter. In the first nine months of the year, ZEBs accounted for a fifth (20.9%) of all new bus, coach and minibus registrations, with 1,230 of the very greenest models joining the road. The success is being driven by manufacturer investment in cutting-edge technology, with operators now able to choose from 15 electric and hydrogen models. Government support remains crucial, however, given operators – many already facing tight margins – are challenged to find the upfront cost of investing in new ZEBs and depot infrastructure. Schemes such as Zero Emission Bus Regional Area and Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge funding have underpinned bus decarbonisation so far but, due to onerous requirements and short-term windows for grant bidding, larger and urban operators – those with the most resources – are better placed to succeed. As a result, smaller and rural operators – which tend to have tighter margins, lower ridership and longer routes – risk being left behind. As SMMT’s latest position paper sets out, the sector would benefit from a long-term timetable to reach net zero, one that includes suitably ambitious, accessible support for UK operators to make the switch. https://lnkd.in/epKUjd6r Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A year and a half of growth in the number of new buses, coaches and minibuses joining UK roads is good news for a sector still recovering from the pandemic. The latest zero emission bus technologies provide many benefits, from innovative safety and passenger features to better local air quality and carbon savings, so the next step is long-term support – particularly for smaller and rural operators – to deliver such benefits to communities across all parts of the country.”

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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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🚗⚡ Great news for the UK auto industry! 🌿🔋 For the first time, the sector has hit its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate target, with EV sales reaching a record-breaking 23% of the new car market in August! This milestone highlights the growing demand for electric vehicles and signals a shift towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Major brands like BMW and Mercedes are embracing EVs, solidifying the transition while petrol loses its dominance. Challenges still lie ahead, particularly in ensuring adequate charging infrastructure across the UK. Check out the full article to learn more about the industry's progress and what's next for EV adoption in the UK. #EV #ZEVMandate #Sustainability #NetZero #AutoIndustry #ElectricVehicles #GreenEnergy #FutureOfTransport 🔗 [Read more](https://lnkd.in/e_B2vbig)

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This week’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, Rising new van uptake but the pressure is on Last month was the busiest October for the new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market in three years, according to SMMT’s latest figures, with 2.4% growth and almost 27,000 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads. Demand was also at its greenest in 2024, with electric van deliveries rising for the first time in five months, up 61.8% to 2,263 units. Fleets opting to decarbonise should be celebrated, but too few are in comparison with the UK’s mandated levels this year, with EVs representing just 5.6% of all new LCV registrations since January – a considerable distance behind our 10% ambition. It is a concern as manufacturers have made big investments to grow the choice of EVs for fleets, with more than 30 exciting and competitive models. It was welcome and necessary that the Plug-in Van Grant will continue to be available in the next financial year but, evidently, further intervention is going to be needed. Every lever will need to be pulled, especially with the mandate for EV sales planned to rise to 16% of the market next year. Fleet operators need to be confident that going electric is operationally viable but chargepoint infrastructure, certainly that which is suited to the specific needs of vans, is lacking, and remains a worry for operators that want to decarbonise. Among the actions needed is regulatory review to treat all zero emission vans equally and safely – from MOT testing and drivers’ hours to tachograph and speed limiter rules – to avoid discouraging investment. It was positive this issue was raised by Sarah Edwards MP at the House of Commons last week with Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh stating that review, initiated by the previous government, is being continued. It was disappointing for the pickup sector, though, that government is not reflecting HMRC’s decision on double cab taxation in February and will, from April 2025, treat those with a payload above one tonne as cars for capital allowances and benefits in kind. It is set to put the future of new pickup market at serious risk, heaping costs on industries which depend on these vehicles, including farming, construction, utilities and the self-employed. In a tough environment for businesses to invest, it needs to be easier and not harder for operators to replace old vehicles in their fleets, which is the quickest path to decarbonising road transport.

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The most anticipated race in the motor industry continues… 🏎 After a dramatic start at turn one, which saw both the The AA and RAC out the race, our attention now shifts to the five racers remaining. Experian and Auto Trader UK, two of the most recognisable names in the provenance provider world seem to be leading at the moment, but don’t rule out Vcheck Ltd or MotorCheck as they seem comfortable around the bigger names. They may even have some tricks of their own up their sleeves. 💡   But how do the leaders vehicle checks really stack up against their competitors? 👨‍💻 Are Experian and Auto Traders checks robust enough to provide consumers with the accurate data, which they need to make informed buying decisions? 🔍 Follow the race to find out, as on Friday we uncover some surprising results #AA #RAC #HPI #Experian #Autotrader #VCheck #MotorCheck #usedcar #vehciledata #motors #VehicleAncestry #provenancecheck

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Marketcheck provides invaluable insights for automotive dealers by offering comprehensive data on used car listings. Our platform enables dealers to 👇 - Analyse market trends with real-time data - Track average DOM and pricing strategies - And plenty more...

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⚡Gofor’s CEO, Graham Lesslie, features in FN50 ⚡   Check out the recently published @Fleet News 50 where Graham shares his views on why leasing brokers are playing a crucial role in driving new vehicles sales and the transition to electric vehicles.    From AI helping customers, to the added value brokers can provide to businesses, it's a very topical read.   👉 Read the FN50 in full at Fleet News: https://shorturl.at/nOGxL

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Stay ahead of the curve in the UK used car market with Marketcheck's real-time insights to transform how you operate in the used car sector - live to the second! 👏 https://marketcheck.uk/

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