Ford closing 50% of dealers

[startinghandle]

There's an article in today's county times (mid wales paper)
saying that Tremont Motors which are main Ford car dealer are closing . The article also said that Ford are closing 50% of its main dealers

 

[Steevo]

Sad times if true.

All car dealers are moving larger, regional hubs now. People only buy a car every 3-10 years so a bit longer drive is no real hassle to them to be able to see a supermarket full of them.

 

[Sid]

Sad times if true.

All car dealers are moving larger, regional hubs now. People only buy a car every 3-10 years so a bit longer drive is no real hassle to them to be able to see a supermarket full of them.

Cant't quite believe that.
Warranty work?
Servicing?

Who wants to drive over an hour to get car looked at?

 

[Qman]

How many new Fords do you see now? I think BMW and Audi have replaced Ford and Vauxhall for young aspiring motorists.

 

[Drillman]

I wonder if Stoneacre in York will get closed?

Can live in hope I suppose??

 

[deleted user 837354]

I've said this for ages, the car industry is on the edge of meltdown, had nothing to do with covid-19.

 

[thesilentone]

I agree, the car trade must be ready for a restating.

The personal contact deal on new cars that has sustained them, is only any good if their is a market for s/h cars. Given the demise of the car hire market and the long-term prognosis being at best poor, early intervention is needed.

Ford are market leaders and it appears they are leading from the front.

 

[Werzle]

Building cars is more about keeping people in work than needing new cars. Its a false economy.

 

[thesilentone]

Ford going on-line: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/102888/ford-launch-online-car-sales-summer

 

[Cowabunga]

There's an article in today's county times (mid wales paper)
saying that Tremont Motors which are main Ford car dealer are closing . The article also said that Ford are closing 50% of its main dealers

This was publicly announced by Ford back in January. Fact is that have way too many tiny dealerships and far too many that provide a substandard level of service.
Most Ford dealerships in my area [admittedly a semi-circle due to the proximity of the ocean] are tiny, many share franchises with, for instance, Peugeot and VW. Many are just subbing for major distributing dealers like Days in South Wales and for any specialist work may need to send cars to the distributor's workshops anyway. They just can't afford the training and equipment needed for such diverse models.

 

[Chae1]

I've said this for ages, the car industry is on the edge of meltdown, had nothing to do with covid-19.

In my opinion our whole economy was. Covids just the final nail.

 

[deleted user 837354]

In my opinion our whole economy was. Covids just the final nail.

Segments of it, perhaps. I don't think all of was due a smash up. The car industry is in the difficult gap of still building and selling petrol/diesel engined cars and trying to develop and sell ones with electric motors. Jump too quick you bleed sales. Jump too slowly you bleed sales. It's a tough one.

 

[Drillman]

Most large car dealerships I’ve been in are far too top heavy with folks wandering about with bits of paper in there hands trying to look busy

also they never seem that interested in actually selling anything either. The main dealer service depts are useless as well.

the reset button needs pressing on car dealers almost as badly as it does on farm assurance!

 

[thesilentone]

When you read threads like this and can start to see the effects COVID will have on all Industries, some which will be devastating, such as air travel, holidays abroad and entertainment.

Maybe a good time for everyone to reflect and look at what the next 10 years will bring. Most importantly, if change is required, now is the time.

 

[deleted user 837354]

When you read threads like this and can start to see the effects COVID will have on all Industries, some which will be devastating, such as air travel, holidays abroad and entertainment.

Maybe a good time for everyone to reflect and look at what the next 10 years will bring. Most importantly, if change is required, now is the time.

Loads of big infrastructure projects, road building and setting up factories in green/low impact and similar technologies.

 

[Lincsman]

How many new Fords do you see now? I think BMW and Audi have replaced Ford and Vauxhall for young aspiring motorists.

Not really;

 

[Qman]

May 2020 isn't representative of car sales in general. I would like to know how many of those sales are for car hire companies.

 

[Lincsman]

May 2020 isn't representative of car sales in general. I would like to know how many of those sales are for car hire companies.

Year to date is more typical, tesla maybe always sell that many just everyone else has had to stop?

 

[Cowabunga]

Year to date is more typical, tesla maybe always sell that many just everyone else has had to stop?

Tesla sells almost exclusively on-line methinks. Like with Amazon, this has given them a significant advantage over the last couple of months. Besides which, if these are registered sales, they may have been waiting for them for up to a year since ordering.