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Lloyd Motor Group acquires Telford Skoda car dealership in Carlisle

Lloyd Motor Group has announced the acquisition of Telford Skoda, based in Carlisle.

The latest addition to its line-up of brands will be the first Skoda dealership for Lloyd Motor Group.

Telford Skoda has been run by the Telford family for 25 years and is well respected by the local community.

Sam Lloyd, managing director of Lloyd Motor Group, said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Telford Skoda into the Lloyd Motor Group family and to partner with Skoda for the first time.

‘This acquisition represents an exciting opportunity to expand our franchise portfolio while continuing to serve the local community with the same dedication and personal service they have come to expect.

‘Lindsay and her team have built an outstanding reputation over the past 25 years, and we are committed to maintaining those high standards while bringing our expertise and investment to further enhance the customer experience.’

Lindsay Telford, former owner of Telford Skoda, added: ‘After 25 wonderful years serving the Carlisle community, I am confident that Lloyd Motor Group is the perfect partner to continue the legacy we have built at Telford Škoda.

‘I want to thank our loyal customers and dedicated staff for their incredible support.

‘Lloyd Motor Group shares our commitment to outstanding customer service and that family-friendly approach that has always been at the heart of what we do. I know our customers will be in excellent hands.’

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Porsche dealers told to ‘immediately remove’ select electric Taycan models from sale

Porsche dealers have been told to halt the sale of selection of used Taycan models.

Car Dealer has been told by several main Porsche dealers that they had been asked to remove electric Taycan models from sale.

An official bulletin was issued this week to the Porsche network which told its retailers to stop selling a specific batch of electric sports cars.

It is understood the move follows a request from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which manages recalls of cars in the UK.

One Porsche dealer said: ‘Unfortunately Porsche and the DVSA haven’t put a definitive timeframe on approved Taycans so at the minute we’re now having to remove all Taycans from sale for the foreseeable future.

‘Porsche head office have sent out a bulletin to say we need to remove them from sale and not deliver any until further notice.’

This morning the official Porsche used website still had a number of Taycans for sale. It is understood the bulletin was only sent yesterday to dealers.

In a statement, issued after our initial story was published, Porsche GB said: ‘Enhanced battery monitoring software is anticipated to become available for first generation Taycan models towards the end of June.

‘With its imminent arrival, we’ve advised our retail partners not to sell a small, specific batch of first generation Taycan models until the software update is live.’

It is believed the issue affects a handful of Taycan models in the official Porsche network, but it is not known how many outside of official dealers could be impacted too.

The problem is believed to relate to the ‘ARB6’ recall which was issued in November by the DVSA.

The reason for that recall, according to the DVSA, was: ‘A short circuit within the battery modules during the vehicle’s service life cannot be ruled out under certain circumstances which could lead to thermal events and later to a fire in the vehicle.’

The new software that will detect if there are problems with the cells and display a warning to owners in the event this may happen is due later next month. Porsche is believed to have decided to remove effected cars from sale to wait for the updates.

A spokesperson for the DVSA said: ‘Road safety is our absolute priority, and getting recalled vehicles fixed promptly has a huge benefit for all road users.

‘There is an active safety recall on Porsche Taycans produced between 2019 and 2024 for which the manufacturer is in the final stages of developing a remedy. This involves concerns related to the vehicle’s electrical propulsion system.’

Porsche GB and the DVSA has issued 12 safety recalls on various models of the Taycan including, among other things, to replace brake hoses, problems with welding and suspension components and replacing cell blocks in the high voltage battery.

The DVSA recalls cars to address potential safety defects that could cause serious injury or harm to drivers, passengers, or other road users.

When a manufacturer identifies a defect, or the DVSA investigates a problem, they can initiate a recall campaign to fix the issue, often at no cost to the owner. It is not clear whether this is the reason.

In the United States, Porsche recalled 9,735 Taycan models in April this year, as its airbags ‘may fail to go off in a crash’, according to the website MotorSafety.org.

The same website also reports that in October 2024, the car maker recalled 27,527 Taycan models made between 2020-2024 because their ‘batteries can catch fire’.

First published: 11:44; Updated with Porsche GB comment: 14:06, Updated with DVSA comment: 15:37

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Hippo Motor Group continues to scale up operations with new showroom in Peterborough

Hippo Motor Group has opened a new site in Peterborough as part of plans to continue expanding its retail footprint.

The new site, which has started trading with a soft opening ahead of a full launch in mid-June, occupies the former Big Motoring World location in Werrington.

The move marks a significant step forward for the Blackburn-headquartered business, which currently retails over 10,000 vehicles a year and turns over £180m annually.

Hippo Motor Group said the new location will play ‘a key role in reaching new customers’ and help to scale-up its operations.

Tom Preston, CEO of Hippo Motor Group, said: ‘We’re building for the future. Peterborough gives us the space, the location, and the opportunity to grow – not just in sales, but in how we support our customers and our people.

‘We’ve got a strong team, a clear vision, and the ambition to do things better. We’re excited to be up and running and ready to welcome the local community.’

The site will be led by Tom Stanton, an experienced motor trade manager who joins as general manager, bringing extensive retail leadership experience within the Peterborough area to the new site.

In addition to its own on-site vehicle preparation facilities, the dealership will be supported by Hippo’s £3m prep centre in Blackburn, ensuring consistent, high-quality standards across all vehicles sold.

Hippo Motor Group is actively recruiting for over 30 roles, with vacancies across sales, aftersales and service.

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Lookers confirms decision to close Manchester head office after 50 years in city

Lookers is set to close its head office in Altrincham ‘imminently’ after more than 50 years in Manchester.

The move will see around 12 staff moved to another one of the dealer group’s sites in Stoke on Trent.

Rumours in the motor trade suggested large numbers of staff were affected by the changes, but managing director James Brearley said this was not the case.

Speaking to Car Dealer this morning, Brearley addressed rumours that Lookers was cutting head office, admin and finance staff.

‘That is categorically not true and it’s important we put the record straight,’ he said.

‘The Altrincham site will be closing imminently but that effects 12 staff all of whom will be moving to another of our site’s in Stoke on Trent.

‘There will be no redundancies.’

Lookers has had a base in Greater Manchester since 1973 when the company moved its headquarters from Hardman Street to Chester Road.

It later moved to the Altrincham site when the company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Lookers was taken private by Global Auto Holdings in October 2023 in a deal worth £504m.

An initial offer of 120p per share was rejected by Cinch, a shareholder in the listed group, but it was later improved to 130p a share which was accepted.

The Canadian owners have had a chequered time at the helm of Lookers with a number of redundancies made after the takeover.

Brearley, formerly Inchcape boss, took over from Mark Raban in July of last year.

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Weekly Briefing: Why did Auto Trader shares drop after £375m annual profit revealed?

In this week’s Car Dealer Briefing James Baggott rounds up the motor trade news you cannot afford to miss.

In the Car Dealer Weekly Briefing, his subscriber-only newsletter, he asks why did the Auto Trader share price drop 11% after they announced bumper profits?

He’s also been chatting to dealers about what May has been like for them – spoiler alert – it’s a little quiet for some.

Also featured in this week’s briefing are:

BYD interest
Car dealer fraud worry
Hartwell losses
Used car market data
Car dealer jailed
Volvo job cuts
New Stellantis CEO
Nissan dealer’s unique cuppa

To read the weekly briefing, you need to be a subscriber on Substack.

Subscriptions to the Substack newsletter cost £10 per month, or £100 per year, and there are discounts for companies who want multiple subscriptions for their staff.

You can sign up to read your first newsletter for free today – visit the Substack website and subscribe.

There’s also a list of the top 10 most popular stories on the CarDealerMagazine.co.uk website this week which always makes for interesting reading as you can see what has piqued everyone else’s interest too.

Find it on the Substack website now.

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Motorpoint and family-run Sandicliffe named among UK’s best big companies to work for

Two car dealers have been named among the best big companies to work for in a special list compiled by The Times.

Motorpoint and family-run dealer group Sandicliffe were the only automotive retailers to appear on the 115-strong list, which celebrates firms with between 250-1,999 employees.

When it came to Motorpoint, the judges were impressed by the Derby-based firm’s ‘One Big Dream’ scheme, which gives staff paid time out once a month to do something that matters to them.

CEO Mark Carpenter was also commended for holding ‘Happy Hour’ sessions, where team members can ask questions and discuss issues, with other employee benefits including a ‘Save As You Earn’ scheme and a £400 car discount.

Meanwhile, the team at The Times were impressed by Sandicliffe’s management development programme and range of training courses.

They also noted how the Loughborough car dealer buys lunch for the team on employee appreciation day and values day, as well as celebrating religious festivals, successes and achievements.

The dealer group was also congratulated on its employee discounts and cycle-to-work scheme.

Bosses say the recognition ‘underscores Sandicliffe’s continued commitment to employee wellbeing, career development, and an inclusive workplace culture’.

The firm currently employees 460 people and this is the second year in a row that it has appeared on the list.

Paul Woodhouse, CEO of Sandicliffe, said: ‘Our people are the heart of everything we do.

‘To be recognised by The Times for a second-year running is a real testament to the culture we’ve worked so hard to build—a place where individuals feel supported, valued, and excited about their future.

‘It’s especially rewarding to be acknowledged on a national stage, outside of just the motor trade industry, by such a well-respected publication.’

You can see the full list here.

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Used car dealer celebrates special anniversary after 20 years in business as a ‘one-man band’

A used car dealer has been toasting a very special anniversary after marking 20 years in business.

JA Autos in Sutton began trading way back in 2005 and has won a string of awards in the two decades since.

The firm’s success can be put down to owner Alan Harding, who runs the operation as a ‘one man band’.

And while he may not have a big team to call on, the 56-year-old says that he will not compromise when it comes to quality.

The business aims to put customers at the heart of everything it does, with each car given a thorough 93-point check prior to sale.

It is an ethos which has served JA Autos well over the years, leading to a number of honours at the Sutton Business Awards.

Reflecting on the last 20 years, Harding told Your Local Guardian: ‘We’re a small business. It’s only me here, so I’m in charge of sourcing the cars and selling the cars.

‘I started at the bottom of the industry and worked my way up to get to where I’ve got to.

‘We’re not a normal car showroom or a big franchise dealership with a sales team; it’s just me here.

‘It’s all about the customers.

‘It’s about keeping them happy, providing them with a nice car that’s good value for money.

‘Everything’s presented to the best it can be. Even though they’re used cars, we present them properly; each of them is handpicked.’

Harding has the motor trade in his blood, with his father also enjoying a long and fruitful career in the industry.

However, he insists there is no pressure on his own children to follow him into the industry, despite running JA Autos with a ‘family ethos’.

He said: ‘My dad was always in the motor trade, so that’s how I’ve fallen across and stumbled into it.

‘I think we have the ethos of a family business: trust and transparency. I always think of us as a family-run business, even though it’s just me.

‘My dad’s a bit older now and he’s retired, but in the past, he was always around to help.’

He added: ‘What’s unique about this place is that customers only have me to deal with.

‘You’re only going to see me. People can come here, sit down, have a chat; there’s no pressure. If you buy the car, you buy it, and if you don’t, then don’t worry.

‘I’ll give advice for nothing. People often come in and ask for advice. I’m always happy to sit down and try and help someone out.

‘I think that’s what makes us different.’

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Waylands sees profits soar and record car sales but agency dents revenue

Dealer group Waylands turned in a 24.2% improvement in pre-tax profit last year, despite agency sales denting revenue.

Latest accounts published via Companies House show that the Berkshire-based business saw pre-tax profit rocket to £3.1m, and operating profit soar by 21.5% to £4.9m.

EBITDA for the Car Dealer Top 100-ranked firm came to £6.2m, up from £5.2m the year before, marking the sixth consecutive year for EBITDA growth.

Record sales of new and used cars drove the rise in profits, which were up by 13.4% to 8,665 units.

However, revenue slipped from £200m in 2023 to £198m due to Volvo’s switch to an agency sales model.

Last year was the first full reporting year for direct-to-consumer sales for Volvo, and with Waylands being one of the Swedish brand’s largest partners in the UK, turnover for the dealer group took a hit.

Aftersales revenue, meanwhile, saw a 20.5% uplift to £23.5m.

During the year, Waylands completed the acquisition of Volvo Gloucester, taking its Volvo portfolio to six sites. The accounts said that the dealership was ‘immediately earnings enhancing for 2024’.

The company also finished a major investment programme into all of its dealerships to make them into ‘premium retail locations’. The total investment came to £14.8m.

Waylands CEO John O’Hanlon, pictured, said: ‘We are delighted to report another year of growth against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions. The fact that we have continued to perform well is a testament to the strength of our brand partnerships, the hard work of the team, and the continued success of our strategy.’

He added: ‘We remain on track to achieve our strategic goal of 16,000 unit sales from acquisitive and like for like growth.’

Along with Volvo, Waylands represents Polestar, Kia and MG across the south of England, and employs 370 people across 12 locations.

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Interview: Auto Trader defends price hikes for dealers as firm posts rise in profit

Auto Trader’s Catherine Faiers has justified the group’s £375.7m annual profits in a wide ranging interview with Car Dealer.

The marketplace’s chief operating officer took questions on the group’s results which showed a rise in revenue to £601m.

The number of dealers using the platform also rose to 14,013 – up two per cent on the previous year.

Here’s what she had to say in full.

Q: Catherine, another big leap in profits this year. That follows an 8% rise in prices for dealers’ advertising packages. Some dealers might say you’re squeezing them too hard – what would you say to that?

We always try to balance the products we’re bringing to market, the investment we’re delivering in marketing and in talent to keep building these products with the value that we’re delivering for retailers, and to get that balance right. And it’s always a judgment call over time. We always try to do that in a responsible way with a very long-term view on the partnership that we want to build with our retailers. If we keep investing, keep innovating, keep driving product growth, then it’s right for us to capture the value we’re delivering.

Q: But each year Auto Trader needs to push those prices up to grow profits. At the same time, dealers face rising overheads and squeezed margins. Some tell me they feel like you’ve got them over a barrel.

We definitely don’t have anyone over a barrel. We’re a marketplace – it’s a choice that resellers have about whether to partner with us or not. And we’ve got more retailers partnering with us this year than we had last year. We never put through a price rise without delivering value, whether that value be through more buyers, more engagement, more audience on our platform, or through the data, the products, the technology.

Q: Still, dealer margins are under real pressure. Meanwhile, Auto Trader’s profits are going up. Do you think there’s a disconnect?

We’re not running a car dealership – we’re running an online marketplace. If you look at peer groups in other categories, they are consistently driving audience growth, buyer engagement, delivering innovative products. Retailer profits in the last 12 to 18 months have been under more pressure. But margin data suggests it’s been a return to profitability we saw before COVID, not a collapse, but a reversion to historical norms.

Q: What was the thinking behind the stock boost offer? Some dealers thought it was designed to soften the blow of price increases.

We could see, through data and retailer feedback, that there was stock in the market not advertised on Auto Trader. It felt right to structure an opportunity to surface that stock, see how it would perform, and ultimately deliver sales. Then retailers can convert that stock as it performs.

Q: Have many dealers stuck with the higher stock levels post-boost?

Over the coming weeks, the boost is converting into units. We’re in the process of converting that stock.

Q: You’ve added AI tools to dealer packages. Some dealers say they didn’t ask for this and would’ve preferred it as a paid add-on. What would you say to them?

We spent a lot of time in market with retailers before launching, to understand what was already out there and what pain points existed. There were challenges and time invested that didn’t need to be. If we could bring some of our data and tech to solve that, it made sense. We’ve tried to strike the right balance, letting retailers remain in control, while automating or streamlining where it helps. And there’s loads more we can do.

Q: Some dealers in WhatsApp groups are saying they’ve downgraded their Auto Trader packages due to price hikes. Are you worried about that?

We’re not seeing that at any macro level in our data. We’re seeing good stock levels and a consistent package mix. And, I wouldn’t believe everything said in WhatsApp groups is actually what’s done! Of course I worry, we’re never complacent. But today, we’re not seeing big movements in stock or packages.

Q: There’s growing chatter about competition for Auto Trader — Google Vehicle Ads, and other marketplaces are working hard on growing. Are you concerned?

All competition is good competition. It keeps everyone focused and innovating. Whether it’s Google, Amazon, AI tools or other marketplaces, we always prioritise our relationship with consumers and our brand. That, alongside our proprietary data and tech, is what differentiates Auto Trader. No one else has our observation data, our taxonomy, or our platform intelligence.

Q: One dealer asked why their logos have been removed from search listings. Why was that decision made?

They’re still on the product page. But in search, testing showed that logos weren’t adding to the consumer experience. Shoppers focus on car images, price and spec at that stage. We deliberately show what’s most useful in search – and highlight the retailer’s value proposition more fully on the product page, where it has greater impact.

Q: Another recurring complaint is about your price flags. Dealers say they don’t reflect prep standards or reputation and that higher-quality cars from top dealers are still labelled ‘fair’ or ‘high’.

Our indicators are price indicators, not always value indicators. The difference is important as value is subjective. We do surface reputation factors on the product page: Reviews, warranty status, approved schemes. But turning prep or service levels into data science inputs is hard. We’re still learning how to best showcase that and I encourage any dealer with questions to reach out. We’re always happy to talk.

Q: Some users say their local search results are showing cars from far away, possibly because other dealers are on higher packages. Is that the case?

Our search is driven by a relevance algorithm and we’re always balancing consumer needs with retailers who want to boost exposure. The experience has to be relevant or consumers won’t return. Our market extension product, which allows for wider-area promotion, has actually been flat or down in recent years. So we’re not seeing more conquest activity. Most stock remains local and relevant to the user’s search.

Q: Finally, what would you like to say to dealers reading your results today?

We’re always working, investing and innovating to deliver value. We’ve got more partners this year, more car buyers on the platform. When both sides of the marketplace grow, that underpins our performance. If we can’t keep doing a good job for buyers or retailers, that’ll show in our results — but that’s always our focus: delivering value.

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High stock inventories sees used car dealers trim prices in May – Motors

High used car stock led dealers to cut prices in May, boosting sales.

Motors’ latest Market View shows dealer inventories averaged 52 units – the third consecutive month with month on-month increases across car supermarkets (149), franchised dealers (66 units), independents (39 units).

The average price of a used car on Motors’ platform was £17,197, down 1.8% (£323) month on month.

The drop was led by franchised dealers, down 0.6% (£138) month on month to £23,457. Consequently franchised sites enjoyed the biggest increases in sales up 11% month on month, followed by independents up 6% and car supermarkets up 4%.

The two biggest price droppers were both Tesla Model 3s with three-to-four-year-old examples down 3.3% to £19,452 and four-to-five-year-old cars down 3.2% to £17,833.

Overall days to sell were up marginally from 29 to 30 with car supermarkets achieving the fastest sales at 21 days, followed by franchised dealers (23) and independents (47).

Younger profile cars dominated the fastest sellers with Vauxhall Corsas aged between six and 12 months averaging just nine days in stock, followed by Ford Explorers under six months (12 days) and MG HS models less than two years old (12 days).

Motors marketing director Lucy Tugby said: ‘Following two successive months of price rises it was just a matter of time before we started to see some downward pressure, especially as dealer inventories have been growing since March.

‘Franchised dealers made the biggest cuts and were rewarded with the highest sales increases over the course of the month, with younger profile cars proving to be particularly popular among buyers looking to get the most for their money,’ she said.

Turning to fuel, the average price of electric cars (£23,424) tracked below hybrids (£24,759) for the third month in a row and have now been falling steadily since October 2024.

Tugby said: ‘As greater numbers of EVs enter the used car market, especially from the leasing and fleet sectors, we’re starting to see lower prices attracting higher levels of online views as they become affordable considerations for more in-market buyers.

‘Falling EV prices will give dealers greater confidence to stock them, especially as the overall average is now lower than hybrids. This emerging trend presents a more compelling proposition for buyers factoring in environmental considerations who may have previously dismissed hybrids as a stepping stone technology.’

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