Car sales down by 97% in April

[Gaston aires]

Car sales figures down to lowest since 1946, no great surprise given the circumstances. I wonder what Motorhome sales were ? Haven’t seen the figures for them in isolation.
The industry must be to the point of collapse.
Phil

 

[Geo]

Son Steve cant get enough stock sold out almost in last 4 weeks, Go figure

 

[chaser]

Car sales figures down to lowest since 1946, no great surprise given the circumstances. I wonder what Motorhome sales were ? Haven’t seen the figures for them in isolation.
The industry must be to the point of collapse.
Phil

At the moment I suppose the motorhome places are pretty much the same as other business, getting the grants from the government, and cash to furlough staff, no rates to pay, just going along same as anyone else, it's when the payments stop but people still can't get out in the motorhome that it will start to bite.

 

[Ivory55]

Son Steve cant get enough stock sold out almost in last 4 weeks, Go figure

But he only had 2 cars . Haha

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

At the moment I suppose the motorhome places are pretty much the same as other business, getting the grants from the government, and cash to furlough staff, no rates to pay, just going along same as anyone else, it's when the payments stop but people still can't get out in the motorhome that it will start to bite.

Probably the stock they keep will finish a few off.
They finance the motors on the forecourt and in the showroom, it doesn’t take much to rack up a 7 figure debt plus what the vehicles are loosing every week sat there.
Mate of mine has a car leasing business sells about 1500 cars a year, he will only keep about 5-10 secondhand cars in stock as he said most cars loose about £50-100 a week so he had to turn over his stock about every 2 weeks to make a decent return.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jev88]

My new car (Company) was ordered January and is "locked up somewhere".
We don't pay a penny until it is on my own drive so I wonder how many other cars are just gathering dust waiting to be delivered?

 

[andyman]

Just yesterday I was trying to buy a new van. Lost count of how many phone calls I made. They all answered the phone but most said we are closed and can’t help.
Pentagon Nottingham were on the ball, quote out I under an hour and will get my order today. And I can have delivery this week if I want.
And nearly the same price as I paid 6 years ago.
Anyone want a cheap L3H2 Ducato.

 

[fat haggis]

I picked up our new vovlvo in early March I have seen very few 20 reg cars on the road I have done very little miles on the car since lockdown.
Once a week supermarket run 400 mls since new and 100 of them was driving it home ?

 

[Spriddler]

Probably the stock they keep will finish a few off.

Fortunately motorhome dealers will be busy keeping the batteries charged, the tyres checked and taking them for a regular 20 mile drive.

 

[SpeedyDux]

The car industry has depended for years on the debt bubble (leasing included) to keep sales high.

That was unsustainable and going to end eventually. Coronavirus could be the unforeseen event that has burst the debt bubble but we will have to wait to be certain. Economists were predicting that the rapid over-expansion of car finance could be the trigger for the next credit crunch.

An early return to pre-lockdown new car sales levels might be wishful thinking.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mitzimad]

no auctions are running so dealers cant get stock only those tied to leasing companies direct will have acces to supplies

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

The car industry has depended for years on the debt bubble (leasing included) to keep sales high.

That was unsustainable and going to end eventually. Coronavirus could be the unforeseen event that has burst the debt bubble but we will have to wait to be certain. Economists were predicting that the rapid over-expansion of car finance could be the trigger for the next credit crunch.

An early return to pre-lockdown new car sales levels might be wishful thinking.

Seems to be a lot of people driving around in lease cars, that’s ok if you want to keep them for 3-4 years but if you need to give it back they charge a fortune.
Change my car every 12-18 months as I have a low attention span so leasing is no good for me.
There are some good deals when you look though brand new little runarounds for less than £200 a month.

 

[hymerman]

no auctions are running so dealers cant get stock only those tied to leasing companies direct will have acces to supplies

If cars aren't selling then why would dealers be interested in buying from auctions ?

 

[wiljoy]

Fortunately motorhome dealers will be busy keeping the batteries charged, the tyres checked and taking them for a regular 20 mile drive.

Of course they will. Fairy tales are wonderful.

 

[wiljoy]

I've a customer with over 20 recovery trucks. He's been flat out delivering new and secondhand cars all over the country. Had mine delivered to Cornwall last week.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Spriddler]

I've a customer with over 20 recovery trucks. He's been flat out delivering new and secondhand cars all over the country. Had mine delivered to Cornwall last week.

He sounds like an acquaintance of mine who does house clearances all over the South, but only at night.

 

[wiljoy]

He sounds like an acquaintance of mine who does house clearances all over the South, but only at night.

Possibly. He was an Irishman that used to be legal then realised how easy it would be to obtain millions by fraud.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I picked up our new vovlvo in early March I have seen very few 20 reg cars on the road I have done very little miles on the car since lockdown.
Once a week supermarket run 400 mls since new and 100 of them was driving it home ?
View attachment 385090

I have 22 Volvo XC40 plug-ins been on order since November
we think they have been built last week/ this week and will be at my supplying dealers by month end

12 of the 22 users are Furloughed though.......

 

[Kybod]

There are at present probably tens of thousands of brand new cars parked up on Grimsby Docks. It is the main import / export route and is always busy but i dont think i have ever seen it so full. The A180 out of town is usually a constant stream of car transporters but hardly any appear to be moving. However the car boat was in the dock last week, so probably moving a little about but mainly being used for parking up. Interestingly all the cars i can see along the road side seem to be Suzuki's. Where do they go?

 

[Crazylegs]

We provide a service to franchise motor dealers, not one of our customers are open, Bmw, Ford, Audi, Kia, Mazda, Renault, Vauxhall, and VW.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jockaneezer]

I picked up our new vovlvo in early March I have seen very few 20 reg cars on the road I have done very little miles on the car since lockdown.
Once a week supermarket run 400 mls since new and 100 of them was driving it home ?
View attachment 385090

From Cleland Volvo ? 120 miles round trip for us, but better price than our local Volvo dealer.