MAZDA dealer profitability and return on sales both went up in 2017, as the company ranked highly in last summer’s NFDA survey.
Average profitability increased by 38 per cent year-on-year, while return on sales reached 1.4 per cent compared with 1.0 per cent in 2016.
In addition, the top 25 per cent of Mazda dealers in the UK achieved a return on sales percentage of 3.33 per cent and the summer 2017 NFDA survey placed the company as fifth out of 29 manufacturers.
Peter Allibon, sales director at Mazda Motors UK, said: ‘I’m delighted at the performance of our dealer network and their success in 2017, particularly when you consider this business achievement comes at a time of reducing retail sales across the whole UK car market and wavering consumer confidence in the face of challenges such as Brexit and potential economic uncertainty.
‘This success comes from the hard work and dedication we see across our network to deliver an excellent customer experience. It’s also a reflection of improved new car margins and service departments benefiting from an increased vehicle parc.
‘Even better, with our latest SkyActiv technology generation cars now arriving in large numbers into the used marketplace, dealers are also profiting from strong used car performance.’
Brett Hague, head of network strategy at Mazda UK said: ‘Our strategy to be the franchise of choice is focused on practical and right-sized facilities that deliver a return on investment for our dealer partners. We also work hard to ensure we are easy to do business with and clearly our stylish, good-to-drive and efficient model range plays a big part in the success story.
‘The investment by our dealer partners in our latest corporate identity over the last few years means we have an attractive, premium and modern retailer network that delivers an outstanding consumer experience to Mazda customers.
‘I’m also pleased that 2018 will see a number of brand new Mazda dealerships being built by our dealer partners and I’ve no doubt that our network’s excellent profitability results are a key factor in this continued investment in the Mazda brand.’
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