JANUARY appears to have started with a bang for dealers, according to Motors.co.uk.
The company – owned by Manheim and who operate the UK’s second-largest car search response network for motor dealers – reports the first ten days of the new year hit record levels on all key metrics of traffic, page views and dealer leads.
Following the announcement from the SMMT that sales on new cars in 2014 reached their highest levels in ten years, with 2.5 million new registrations and an overall 9.3 per cent growth on 2013 figures, Motors.co.uk is predicting an even stronger 2015 for UK dealers.
The British Chamber of Commerce has also upgraded its economic forecast for the UK from 2.7 per cent to 2.8 per cent – a seven-year high, which is supported by the experience of Motors.co.uk dealers, who have seen a rise in new leads being generated and interest in premium brands growing across its 300 site strong network.
Andy Coulthurst, managing director of Motors.co.uk, said: ‘We can always count on a sharp step up from Boxing Day onward. However, the shift we are currently observing is more pronounced than usual and tracking at higher levels compared to the start of any month in 2014, pointing to what could be a record month for dealers.’
Key search data from Motors.co.uk reports increased buying intent across all brands, with page views 2.5 times greater across the first ten days, year-on-year. However, page views for premium brands, such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover, have more than trebled.
Coulthurst added: ‘We believe a combination of an improving economy and the lower cost of fuel is bolstering the market.’
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