CitNOW Group articles
CitNOW Group articles
Q1 sales and aftersales trends across UK car retailers
With the first quarter seeing a welcome increase in new car registrations and a stable used car market, CitNOW Group data has also identified improvements in sales enquiries and workshop efficiencies.
Quarterly Update – March 2025
Welcome to our first Newsletter of 2025! We’re thrilled to launch CitNOW group’s quarterly roundup bringing you the latest updates from CitNOW, Dealerweb and RTC.
CitNOW Group shortlisted for AM Awards 2025 – Supplier of the Year
We are delighted to have been shortlisted for Supplier of the Year in the AM Awards 2025.
Bridging the knowledge gap: educating your sales team on EVs
With the big March plate-change coming up, franchised retailers are gearing up to meet their sales targets – not just for the month, but for all Q1. A big part of the Q1 strategy? Boosting electric vehicle (EV) sales.
Chorley Group Wins CitNOW Group’s Retailer of the Quarter for Q4 2024
We are thrilled to announce that Marriott Motor Group has been named our CitNOW Group Retailer of the Quarter for Q3. Find out what they were rewarded for.
Innovating for the future: insights from 2024 and 2025 direction
2024 has been a year like no other for the automotive sector. We’ve focused on developing the right tools for retailers to efficiently engage with customers, and our mission is to continue to support them with creating memorable customer experiences.
Analysis across the top 20 brands shows an opportunity for growth as we enter 2025
2024 has provided us with set of consistent aftersales performance results, with eVHC conversions remaining steady, following a period of decline in the previous year, a positive sign for the year ahead.
Congratulations to Marriott Motor Group – our Retailer of the Quarter Q3 2024
We are thrilled to announce that Marriott Motor Group has been named our CitNOW Group Retailer of the Quarter for Q3. Find out what they were rewarded for.
Harnessing the power of video to drive EV education
As car buyers consider the shift to electric vehicles, forward-thinking retailers are turning to bespoke videos to promote both sales and aftersales.
Has the budget impacted car buyer confidence?
With Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first budget including £40bn worth of tax rises, (including an increase in National Insurance Contributions for employers, which will have a massive impact on car retailers), there was a lot to digest.
Mitigating the seasonal downturn in automotive
It’s no secret that enquiries can start to slow down in the lead up to Christmas and from conversations with many of our car retailing partners we believe the traditional slowdown may already be underway.
Ensuring your business is in a strong position for Q4
After the buzz generated by the plate-change, we don’t need to tell you every sale counts, and that’s why we’re going to explore the importance of having the right tools in place to finish the year in a strong position.
Average eVHC revenue 14% higher than 2022, but at what cost to customer retention?
Increased revenue in aftersales, compared to 2022, may be good for now, but it does means that retailers are having to work harder to acquire more “new” customers to keep workshops full, as customers look to competitors for repair work to be completed.
CitNOW Group attending Dreamforce 2024
We are pleased to be joining the thousands of Trailblazers attending Salesforce’s Dreamforce this year in San Francisco on 17th September.
First CitNOW Group Retailer of the Quarter winner announced
Thrilled to announce that Group 1’s Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Division has been named our first Retailer of the Quarter for Q2 2024. Find out what they were rewarded for.
How are you approaching the September plate-change?
The September plate-change ushers in the second biggest sales month of the year and a welcome opportunity for franchised car retailers to engage with customers in showrooms and online.
Returning customers 26% more likely to convert
In today’s market, customers have one thing above all else, they have choice. So, what can retailers do to make sure customers continue to purchase their vehicles from them?
Managing customer conversations in an omnichannel world
Meaningful conversations that develop into long-lasting relationships are incredibly advantageous. Implementing the right processes and having the right technology behind you is key to ensuring positive customer interactions daily.
Aftersales conversion metrics show stability with variations in eVHC performance
Retailers need to avoid complacency and continue to utilise technology and people at the right stage of the eVHC process to ensure they deliver the most optimal results and grow year on year.
Effective stock management and strategic pricing
Retailers must focus on effective stock management and strategic pricing to thrive in this fluctuating market. By balancing sale prices and days to sell, and offering service plans or extended warranties, retailers can secure long-term customer retention.
Growing your aftermarket opportunities as owners hold on to cars for longer
Recent market data highlights substantial opportunities for retailers to significantly grow their aftersales revenues by retaining a greater share of the servicing, maintenance, and repair work, particularly by targeting out-of-warranty vehicles.
Opportunities to focus in and deliver improved performance in Aftersales
Closing off Q1 showed broadly stable results across KPIs, but by looking back at how Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023 we discuss what this can mean for the retail network and where new opportunities may exist.
Why 2024 is looking like the year of the used car
Our latest data highlights a surge in demand for pre-owned vehicles, accounting for 57% of enquiries in April, compared to just 43% for new cars, indicating there’s plenty of opportunity to take advantage of this latest trend.
Enhancing used car profit: accelerate the remarketing process
Once a retailer has added a used vehicle to its inventory, the number of days it takes to bring it to market is one of the most crucial things it can influence from a profitability perspective.
Zero emission vehicle sales – the role of data and multi-channel communication
March saw an impressive 10.4% rise in new car registrations overall. However, those focused on the ZEV Mandate may be concerned that Battery Electric Vehicle market share fell to 15.2%.
Opportunities to enhance conversions in a ‘Product Push’ market
The extended delivery timescales for new cars seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic are a distant memory. Today, we see strong levels of supply from existing and new manufacturers.
Digitising part exchange
Finding quality used stock is an ongoing and time-consuming challenge for every retailer. In recent years, the situation has been complicated by the emergence of online used car buying services disrupting the traditional part-exchange process.
Meeting the ZEV targets in 2024 – an enquiry management advantage
Generating Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) leads and converting them successfully to support OEMs hit targets will be essential for many retailers. Success represents a compelling opportunity.
Accelerate aftersales: insights to optimise efficiency
In today’s rapidly changing marketplace it may be time for some fresh thinking to energise your aftersales approach. Read on for our best practice tips to help optimise performance and efficiency.
Meeting the ZEV Targets in 2024
There has been a lot of industry discussion around the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and the implications for OEMs who do not meet the targets. We understand the challenge facing OEMs and their retail networks.
Enhancing Customer Engagement & Retailer Efficiency
At CitNOW Group, we believe better customer engagement can be linked and enhanced with improvements in efficiency. Sales and marketing processes centred on meeting customers’ needs can be a win-win for both retailers and customers.
Red and Amber Work – the Open Goal Opportunity
70% of retailers believe that their aftersales teams could be missing out on £170k pa of red work revenue. As retailers start the year, the positive takeaway is that an open goal opportunity is available to many. The next step is to convert identified aftersales opportunities from chance to actual income.
The Emerging Role of AI in Car Retailing in 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been around for a while now, with tools such as voice command navigation technology in cars used daily. Increasingly, the retail motor industry is looking at the potential of the technology to enhance their proposition.
It’s Time to Discover and Realise the Opportunities in 2024
The realities of the current trading environment cannot be ignored; however, it is every bit as important to identify the opportunities that exist. Into 2024, CitNOW Group’s growing ecosystem is committed to realising greater success for its customers.
Happily ever aftersales: maximising revenue opportunities
Is your aftersales team generating all the revenue it could be? Read how data-driven efficiencies, supported by technology, can help.
CitNOW Group achieves ISO 27001 information security standard
CitNOW Group has secured ISO 27001 UKAS certification, confirming it meets the highest standards of information security across all of its operations. This certification provides OEMs, retailers, and their customers with reassurance about how data stored or processed by CitNOW Group companies will be handled.
Mind the gap: sales-driven strategies to identify revenue and performance wins
Are your stock pricing and lead management strategies as strong as they can possibly be? Find out how technology can help in this blog.
Adapting to change: key automotive trends from 2023
How is automotive retail changing, and how can technology help you respond? Stay on top of the latest trends with this blog.
CitNOW Group: technology to maximise your sales and aftersales processes
Integrating the right technology into your processes is key to maximising your conversions and profitability. Discover how CitNOW Group’s solutions can help.
CitNOW Group: transforming the automotive customer experience
A multi-faceted approach to technology can help automotive retailers thrive. Discover how CitNOW Group covers every base.