Volvo sales switch
These certainly seem to be worrying times for the main dealer network. A couple of months ago, I mentioned that some motor manufacturers and importers were looking at changing the status of their main ‘dealer’ networks from that of true dealers (ie. businesses that buy cars from the manufacturer and then sell them for more) into agencies who earn a commission from sales which are actually brokered by the importer, and are paid a fixed fee for carrying out pre-delivery inspections and other tasks associated with vehicle handover. In most cases the agent will also handle the part-exchange, though sometimes, particularly in the case of cars destined to be retailed as part of a manufacturers approved used schemes, this aspect will also be dealt with centrally.
It seemed to be a case of everyone waiting to see who would be the first to break cover and make the change. Now, though,