Lookers partners with EV charger locator Zap-Map – Motor Trader
Lookers has teamed up with electric vehicle (EV) charging point mapping and data specialist Zap-Map.
Lookers’ customers will be able to access Zap-Map’s interactive software through its online channels, enabling them to pinpoint UK electric charging points for free.
Zap-Map cited research from price comparison site uSwitch which identified that access to available charging points was the most important motivator in consumers’ decision to go all-electric.
Lookers’ customers will be able to pinpoint more than 24,000 charge points across the UK in almost 16,000 public locations.
Vertu Motors appoints new group sales director – Motor Trader
Vertu Motor has appointed Steve Rowe as group sales director. Rowe first joined the company as finance and insurance director in July 2017. With more than 20 years’ experience in the motor retail sector, Rowe’s promotion will see him take responsibility for revamping the car buying process to make it more customer centric, flexible and friendly.
Rowe said: “As a Group, we have to ensure that we cater for all customers and that we have excellent customer satisfaction and feedback. We also have to ensure we maintain and improve upon our high standards, accommodating all customers who are using different ways to purchase vehicles. We must be equipped to satisfy this.
Vertu Motors acquires new vehicle lighting businesses – AM Online
Vertu Motors has acquired global vehicle lighting businesses Powerbulbs and Car Bulbs Direct, to join its existing online car parts retailer, Aceparts. The AM100 PLC confirmed this morning (August 12) that it had purchased the businesses from Network Brands Limited for £480,000.
Powerbulbs and Car Bulbs Direct will sit within the Group’s Aceparts business, an online supplier of car parts - acquired in December 2015. The move has initially created four new jobs within the Aceparts business, with more expected as they continue to grow, Vertu said.
Marshall resumes dividend payments after reporting record H1 – AM Online
Marshall Motor Group has resumed the payment of dividends to its shareholders after delivering record revenues in a COVID-19 impacted first half of 2021. In interim results published via the London Stock Exchange this morning (August 10), Marshall reported £1.33 billion in revenues for the period to June 30, up 49% year-on-year (H1 2020: £895.3m) as its underlying pre-tax profits rose 426.6% to £38.4m from a restated loss of £11.4m a year ago.
The group’s record underlying profit before tax was also more than double the £15.2m achieved in H1 2019.
And after repaying £4m in Government support, issuing its lowest earning staff a 4% pay rise in a backdated pay review and handing all 4,000 staff a “loyalty bonus" earlier this year, the AM100 PLC has now resumed the payment of dividends to its shareholders.
Allen Motor Group to continue remarketing partnership with Aston Barclay – Motor Trader
Allen Motor Group has announced its continued remarketing partnership with Aston Barclay. It has a long-established partnership with Aston Barclay, remarketing its part exchange vehicles for over 10 years through both physical and online auctions. It has a network of 30 dealerships across England.
Founded in Essex, Allen Motor Group now covers locations in the South of England, the Midlands, Berkshire, London, and Essex. Allen Motor Group has expanded in recent years, with the acquisition of Essex Auto Group and the SMC Motor Group and today employs over 1,000 people.
Robert Forrester proves data isn’t everything as he faces day-to-day life on the front line in Undercover Big Boss – Car Dealer Magazine
Bristol Street Motors boss Robert Forrester donned a disguise for ITV show Undercover Big Boss last night (Aug 12) to find out whether the dealer group was truly in the position he could see in the data.
The CEO might have started with the importance of data in his business, showing off his league tables for everything from the number of appointments to cars being processed, but as a company known for the importance of its people, it was clearly a big deal for him to see what they really thought.
