Hedin Mobility, the Swedish company headed by Anders Hedin (pictured), has expanded again with the purchase through a subsidiary of BMW and MINI dealer group Dubbelsteyn and its dealerships near Rotterdam. Hedin has been on the acquisition trail. Last year it bought Torpedo Gruppe’s 21 dealerships in Germany, representing smart, Hyundai, and Land Rover and the Renova BMW and MINI dealerships in the Netherlands. Hedin has also been active in the UK. In 2023 it bought the Stephen James BMW, MINI dealerships, adding to its existing Mercedes-Benz dealerships. It also tabled two unsuccessful bids f ..read more

Auto Trader’s omnichannel solution, Deal Builder, is now available to all FCA authorised used car dealers to trial in order to provide consumers with a seamless online-offline retailing experience. Dealers can manage deals through their Auto Trader Portal account. Deal Builder will eventually be incorporated into Auto Trader’s API solution, Auto Trader Connect, so dealers can manage deals in their own systems. Via their Auto Trader adverts, business can allow consumers to add a part-exchange, complete a finance application and choose their handover preference before reserving a car. The buyer ..read more

Stoner Motor Company is taking on the Omoda and Jaecoo franchises at the group’s Gillingham location. Stoner already represents Suzuki, MG, Hyundai and Maxus. Omoda has already recruited dealer groups Endeavour Automotive, Listers, Peter Vardy, Chapelhouse, Arnold Clark and Greenhouse to its dealer network as it prepares for the launch of the 5 model. “Really excited to announce that Omoda and Jaecoo will be the latest additions to our growing business. “Work is well under way at our Gillingham location, and we are extremely proud to be given the opportunity to represent these two brands as th ..read more

LSH Auto will officially open its fourth BYD store, which will be located on the ground floor in the Atrium in Westfield London (White City), today. The dealer has opened BYD stores in Stockport, Macclesfield and Tamworth in the past 12 months. This is its fourth BYD store and LSH Auto’s first showroom to open in the capital. Vaughan Blackman, managing director of LSH Auto UK, said: “Our new flagship London store will provide an exceptional experience for guests to see, and test-drive, the full range of amazing BYD vehicles. We’re thankful to everybody who’s worked hard to make this happen ..read more

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigation into the sale of car finance has understandably garnered attention from the public regarding market practices. A significant area of concern for the investigation is a lack of transparency in disclosing interest rates and commission structures. There are existing solutions and services available, which can improve the customer experience and provide increased transparency. Providing consumers with complete information about the offers they receive, including commission details, is vital. Furthermore, solutions must take into account a consume ..read more

Carwow‘s online daily auctions saw significant growth during Q1 of 2024, including a 48% rise in the number of dealers bidding and a 44% increase in the number of dealers buying. Dealer profitability was also aided by lower buyer fees. Average sale price on Carwow auctions in Q1 were below CAP Clean for the fourth consecutive quarter. Since 2021, Carwow auctions have added more than 135,000 used vehicles to dealer forecourts, with a combined value of over £1.8 billion. The online marketplace has recorded a 37% year-on-year increase in the total volume of live listings. Private sellers listed ..read more

Busseys in Norfolk is celebrating 100 years as a Ford dealer in 2024. The occasion was marked with Lisa Brankin, chair and managing director of Ford Britain and Ireland, visiting the site. Brankin met David and Paul Bussey (pictured) and their wider team to recognise a century of association with Ford and serving Norfolk customers. The visit was broadcast across all Busseys sites in Norfolk, so all staff could celebrate the achievement. Paul Bussey said; “We are delighted to welcome Lisa to Norwich, to see our showroom and meet our team. “Ford has been an important partner for our local family ..read more

TrustFord, the factory owned dealer group, is set to open a new dealership in Glasgow in May. The new dealership in Hillington Park Glasgow is said to be making “excellent progress” as it gears up to welcome customers at the official launch. “Even though our doors aren’t open just yet, our knowledgeable and friendly team is on hand to help, and we’re happy to arrange test drives at your home,” it said on LinkedIn. TrustFord has been growing its presence in Scotland. Last month opened a new dealership in Aberdeen, consolidating its operations at its new dealership based at Craigshaw Crescent, W ..read more

WhoCanFixMyCar has appointed two new hires to its Senior Leadership team. Craig Livings joins as Chief Technology Officer while Amanda Webb joins as Chief Financial Officer. Webb is a CIMA Qualified Finance Director with over 20 years’ experience across various sectors. This includes renewable energy services, telco, professional services, software and financial services where she managed full life-cycle projects. With management positions in EMEA and UK focused roles, Webb’s background covers PE, VC, JV, owner managed and Plc businesses. Livings has experience of around 20 years in IT and So ..read more

The Arnold Clark Motability Roadshow event will take place at the SEC Glasgow in Hall 3 on 22 May from 10am to 5pm. The free admission event allows attendees to view more than 100 cars from over 18 manufacturers available on the Motability Scheme,  including Kia, Renault and Vauxhall. Richard Kennedy, head of business at Arnold Clark, said: “The Arnold Clark Motability Roadshow is always a brilliant event. “It’ s an amazing opportunity for Motability customers to view the huge choice of cars on offer and to receive expert advice from the Motability specialists. “All of this gives people ..read more