NFDA NEWS
11 October 2013
Issue 40
Dear Colleague,
‘We represent, you
benefit’
Last week saw the release of the September car figures from
the SMMT. Month on month car sales were up 12.1%
compared to September last year and private registrations
increased by 16.7%. Rumours in the media that ‘PPI payouts’
were driving new car sales provide inaccurate news
headlines and have no substance. NFDA members have
confirmed that manufacturer offers and strong finance deals
were the reason behind last month’s figures.
By now you should all have received a copy of the NFDA
standards – Used Cars and After Sales. If you have any
questions, please contact us.
Finally, following the successful launch of NFDA Trusted
Dealers Driving Digital events in July, we are organising
another roadshow to take place on 12 November at The
Hilton, Warwick. Full details in today’s news.
Don’t forget the dedicated NFDA support line - 01788
538303 is there for your queries, advice and general
comment. So pick up the phone or email us now!!! nfda@rmif.co.uk
You can now access the NFDA website directly via
http://www.nfda-car.co.uk
Sue Robinson, Director NFDA
Tel: 0207 580 9122
Email: suerobinson@rmif.co.uk
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IN THIS
ISSUE:
PETER JONES NAMED NFDA INDUSTRY ICON 2013
NFDA DRIVING DIGITAL ROADSHOW
GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO INDUSTRY COMPLAINTS ABOUT
THE DVLA
 US NEWS
- GM PRODS DEALERS TO SELL CARS ONLINE
- FORD: MORE FLEXIBILITY IN MANUFACTURING LINES MEANS
BETTER VALUE
 NFDA AUTUMN BALL AWARD WINNERS
 NFDA TRIP TO NADA 2014
 NFDA MEMBER SUPPORT LINE
 NFDA REGIONAL DEALER FORUM DATES
PETER JONES NAMED NFDA INDUSTRY ICON 2013
Peter Jones, Chief Executive of Lookers, was named Industry Icon of the Year at this year’s
National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) Autumn Ball.
Jones was praised by his fellow senior executives for keeping “a level head” after 36 years in
the industry working for both carmakers and retail groups.
Sue Robinson commented, “The 2013 NFDA Autumn Ball and Awards was a deserved salute
to a sector whose high levels of expertise and skills go unacknowledged far too often.
“Congratulations to all the winners, they are all greatly deserving of these accolades.
“We are also delighted to announce that Peter Johnson will serve as NFDA Chairman for a
further two years.
“I am extremely pleased that Peter will continue in the role, I know he will continue to drive
the NFDA forward.”
NFDA DRIVING DIGITAL ROADSHOW
DRIVING DIGITAL 12 November, Hilton Warwick – 10.00am followed by buffet lunch
Following the successful launch of NFDA Trusted Dealers Driving Digital events in July, we
are organising another roadshow to take place 12 November at The Hilton, Warwick. The
event is open to current and potential Trusted Dealers members.
Driving Digital is intended to help franchised dealers make the most of their online presence
and improve customer experience to gain increased sales and margin. The event will
feature presentations from industry leaders in digital marketing and top dealers groups.
Consumer experts will also be on hand to offer advice on customer focus.
The event will also include an update of the work we have been doing to promote dealer
standards and the added value of using a franchised dealer. We are pleased to confirm a
strong line-up of speakers for the event including - Robert Forrester of Vertu plc, Hugh
Dickerson, Google, Mark Squires, Chief Executive of Benfield, Neil Addley, Managing
Director of Trusted Dealers and Chas Hallett, Editor-in-chief of What Car?
To book your place simply email lizzy@trusteddealers.co.uk, call 01423 506272 or visit our
microsite www.driving-digital.co.uk
GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO INDUSTRY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DVLA
DVLA review to make recommendations on how to make services better and identify
improvements.
A wide-ranging review into how the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) can deliver
better services and save money for the taxpayer has been launched today (8 October 2013)
by Roads Minister Stephen Hammond.
The government is committed to improving motor services and a thorough review of DVLA's
operation is a key element of this pledge. Services to DVLA customers will not be affected
during the review.
The review will consider each part of the DVLA to identify improvements and make
recommendations on how to make services better, including how best to move more
services online and identifying how to increase the use of services that are already online.
Mary Reilly, a non-executive director of the Department for Transport, will lead the 3-month
review before submitting a report to ministers outlining formal recommendations for
transformation within the DVLA.
Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said:
"The DVLA has a reputation for delivering world-class standards of service, but there is
always room for improvement, particularly with the growth in digital technologies.
"We want DVLA to lead the way in providing excellent digital services to meet the needs of
their customers. This review will provide an opportunity to identify how the DVLA will
operate in the future to meet the needs of motorists and businesses.”
Source: The Department for Transport
US NEWS
GM PRODS DEALERS TO SELL CARS ONLINE
General Motors Co. plans to expand a new online shopping tool that allows customers to
bypass showrooms when buying new cars. The software, which keeps GM's 4,300 dealers
central to the sale of its vehicles, will provide a high-profile test of whether the auto maker
can better cater to online-savvy consumers without running afoul of state franchise laws
that give dealers exclusive rights to sell most new cars. By the end of this year, GM plans to
extend a Web-based application, called Shop-Click-Drive, to its entire dealer network.
The app would let new-car buyers use their computer screen to lock in the price of a new
car, get an estimate of the trade-in value of their old car, apply for financing and even
arrange a test drive or delivery of their new vehicle. GM dealers aren't required to
participate in the project, and GM officials say they have had some dealers turn it down.
One potential sticking point is that the auto maker for several years has pressured dealers to
undertake costly makeovers of their stores—investments that could be undermined if more
shoppers buy online. About 100 other dealers have signed up so far through a pilot
launched in January in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arizona.
GM says the program isn't intended to replace dealers or their showrooms, but rather to
give its dealers a way to reach a growing group of customers, many of them young and techsavvy, who prefer to complete transactions online and skip the showroom ritual. Of the 900
cars sold so far through the Shop-Click-Drive program, only five have been delivered directly
to customers. The vast majority of buyers chose to pick up their new purchases at a
showroom.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
FORD: MORE FLEXIBILITY IN MANUFACTURING LINES MEANS BETTER VALUE
One hundred years after the introduction of the first moving automobile assembly line, Ford
Motor Co. plans to make its vehicle manufacturing lines more flexible than ever. The
Dearborn automaker's 37 assembly facilities will manufacture an average of four different
vehicles each by 2017, Ford said Monday, which will allow it to increase global vehicle
production to 8 million.
Ford likely will manufacture 6 million vehicles this year and averages about 3¼ models or
model variants per assembly facility. “We're accelerating our efforts to standardize
production, make factories more flexible and introduce advanced technologies to efficiently
build the best vehicles possible at the best value for our customers no matter where they
live,” said John Fleming, Ford's executive vice president of global manufacturing, speaking at
an event at the automaker's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.
Fleming said Monday that Ford could manufacture as many as six vehicles per assembly
factory, but that shuffling parts for six different automobiles into one facility would create
some significant complexities.
Source: The Detroit News
NFDA AUTUMN BALL AWARD WINNERS
The NFDA Autumn Ball 2013 was held on Saturday 5 October at The Grove Resort in
Hertfordshire. On behalf of the NFDA we would like to congratulate all the award winners.
MANUFACTURER AWARD
The manufacturer award is determined by using the results of the latest NFDA dealer
attitude survey and is selected on the basis of specific questions that are related to the
dealer/manufacturer relationship. The nominations were - BMW, Land Rover and Kia
Kia won the award due to their strong relationship with their dealer network which has
meant that they scored consistently high in the 2013 NFDA dealer attitude survey.
BUSINESS PARTNER AWARD
This is awarded to an individual who has continued to be an active supporter of the
automotive industry. They have supported business development, helped push for
innovation and kept a high level of professionalism. The nominations are Blackhorse, PSA
Finance and Santander.
Blackhorse Finance won the award because they offer a very flexible approach to business
and do not wish to impose a ‘one size fits all’ mentality. The partnership with Blackhorse is
very interactive and can be adapted very quickly to the needs of the market and the
business.
INDUSTRY ICON AWARD
This is awarded to the individual who has made a significant difference in the automotive
industry and someone who has contributed greatly year on year against all odds.
This award was given to Peter Jones who is a very pragmatic business leader with all round
commercial awareness. Having operated with manufacturers and dealers, peter is blessed
with that scarce commodity – common sense.
NFDA TRIP TO NADA CONVENTION – NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 2014
The NFDA is organising a dealer trip to the NADA Convention and Exposition in January.
For more information and if you are interested in joining the NFDA trip, please contact
Louise Woods on 01788 538332 or email louise.woods@rmif.co.uk
NFDA MEMBER SUPPORT LINE – 01788 538 303
To discuss any issues from legal advice, to ways in which we can help support your business,
please call 01788 538 303 and speak to a member of the NFDA team.
NFDA REGIONAL DEALER FORUM DATES
NORTHERN – Tuesday 3 December, Britannia Daresbury Park Hotel, Warrington
MIDLAND – Thursday 5 December – Hilton Northampton
SOUTHERN – Wednesday 11 December – Hilton Cobham
SOUTH WEST – Thursday 12 December – Holiday Inn, Filton, Bristol
For more information please contact louisewoods@rmif.co.uk