Mark Field

November 2025 NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey highlights   Here’s a few of the main points from the latest NFDA | National Franchised Dealers Association survey based on the key question ‘How do you rate your manufacturer overall?’   * Lexus UK back on top (with a +0.3 point change), but sister firm Toyota (GB) plc down 0.9 points and in ninth spot. * First time in the survey for BYD UK & OMODA UK, impressive joint third place but the NFDA highlights a small sample size. * Sizeable drop in the average score (-0.6) highlighting pressure and increased competition in the market. * Citroën Fleet and Business was not only last in the survey, but also had the largest drop in sentiment (-3.2 points). * All Stellantis brands surveyed recorded a worsening in their scores. Six of the bottom 10 positions were held by the manufacturer. * Mind you, only eight of the 33 brand surveyed were in positive territory. * Ford Motor Company, after a year or more struggling with a lack of EVs, has bounced back. It’s still only 23rd in the ranking, but it saw the biggest score gain (+2.1 points). * Volkswagen UK (the car brand) also did well, up 1.1 points, but the rest of the Volkswagen Group brands were down. SEAT UK, CUPRA and Audi UK were all in the bottom 10.   Full analysis in Auto Market Insight next month.   Richard Aucock Lynda Ennis Jamie Ashman Al Clarke Polly Wedgbury Harry Bott

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"Car manufacturing in the UK will be finished in five years", warns top auto industry insider. On my latest episode of When The Facts Change, Tim Tozer, the former boss of Vauxhall UK, says government's net-zero-inspired "ZEV mandate" is "killing Britain's car industry" and imports of heavily-subsidised Chinese electric vehicles will be "the kiss of death". Tozer calls for "tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles, to give our car-making industry a chance to breathe" For free preview clips and access to full half-hour episode, see link below. https://lnkd.in/enRZgTka

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Lessons on the volatile pricing of the used EV car market, from two of the leading figures in the sector, the traditional OEM MD, James Taylor, of Nissan Motor Corporation and, new entrant, Victor Zhang, MD OMODA UK. One key take-out from the Cox Automotive Europe panel at this year's EV SUMMIT is that my work, in communications, is key to customer confidence in second hand EVs, and to, therefore, address volatile pricing. Across the two days of the summit, time and time again, EV education and communications came up as a key topic for getting the new cohort of mainstream EV consumers on board with the EV transition.

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Omni United Group, through its flagship brand Radar Tyres and local partners, has announced the launch of the Radar RED (Radar Elite Dealer) programme across the UK, Europe, and USA. The company says it designed this initiative to help tyre dealers boost profitability, increase brand visibility, and enhance the overall customer experience.

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𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙏03 𝙤𝙧 𝘿𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙖? 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚? Now Britain’s cheapest EV is T03 by Leapmotor UK not the Dacia Spring. As this Chinese newcomer has undercut Dacia, launching the T03 city car at just £14,495. Exciting, isn’t it? That’s £500 cheaper than the Dacia Spring, thanks to a £1,500 self-funded “Leap-Grant” designed to mirror the UK Government’s new Electric Car Grant (ECG). Their larger C10 SUV has been discounted too by £3,750. But here it gets a little complex: While the UK’s new ECG is announced up to £3,750 off EVs under £37,000 , most Chinese manufacturers might not qualify. Because of a new emissions-based eligibility rule tied to Science-Based Targets (SBT). In short: if your EV was built in a coal-powered factory... you're likely out. Ouch! Quoting Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood: “Frankly, if you generate electricity with coal, you won’t access this grant.” So, I’m leaving a couple of questions for you: 👉 Can a coal-fueled supply chain still call itself green? OR 👉 Should clean vehicle subsidies depend on how clean the factory is, not just the product? 📌 P.S. BYD has already notified the UK government of its intent to qualify. #WWCOTY #AutomotiveWriter #WomenInAutomotive #UK #Journalist #Automotive #BYD #Leapmotor #EV

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Nick Rogers Set to Join TVS Motor, Strengthening Global Engineering and Technology Push 🌍⚙️ TVS Motor Company is set to appoint Nick Rogers, former engineering and technology head at Jaguar Land Rover, to its senior leadership team as part of its expanding global technology and engineering strategy. Rogers is expected to join the company next month and will be based at TVS Motor’s new Bengaluru technology centre. Rogers brings over two decades of experience from JLR, where he served for 22 years as a board member and executive director for product engineering and research. Most recently, he has been chairman of Israeli electric motor manufacturer EVR Motors. His experience in European automotive engineering is expected to support TVS Motor’s international ambitions, particularly the global expansion of the Norton Motorcycles brand. The appointment comes at a time when two-wheeler electrification is accelerating, with India emerging as a key development and testing market for new mobility technologies. TVS Motor has significantly increased its technology investments, with R&D spending crossing ₹1,000 crore in FY25 and a long-term commitment of ₹5,000 crore towards future mobility solutions. Key developments around TVS Motor’s technology strategy: 🔧 Establishment of a global design and engineering hub in Bologna, Italy, following the acquisition of Engines Engineering 👨‍💻 A growing engineering workforce of over 2,000 professionals across digital, platform and powertrain development ⚡ Continued leadership in India’s electric two-wheeler segment, alongside parallel investments in ICE and premium motorcycles TVS Motor is also strengthening its global brand positioning following the acquisition of British luxury motorcycle brand Norton, which has recently showcased its new product portfolio under revised leadership. Alongside this, the company is expanding its international footprint across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, with recent entries into markets such as France and Italy. Rogers’ addition to the leadership team signals a continued focus on building global engineering capabilities and technology-led growth as TVS Motor balances electrification, internal combustion platforms and premium offerings across markets. Read more - https://lnkd.in/dF2snWBk #TVSMotor #NickRogers #AutoIndustry #TwoWheelers #ElectricMobility #AutomotiveEngineering #NortonMotorcycles #GlobalExpansion Dr Nick Rogers FREng Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) ACMA India Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations Autocar Professional

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Some filling stations in London will stop selling diesel within the next four years as demand dwindles, according to a report. The analysis by electric vehicle (EV) think tank New AutoMotive also predicted that many of the roughly 8,400 filling stations across the UK will have stopped selling the fuel by 2035. New Automotive chief executive Ben Nelmes said as fewer people drive diesel cars, filling stations will “stop stocking their fuel” as “diesel does not keep well”. He went on: “If fuel sits in tanks without selling at pace, it degrades. “As diesel availability tightens, many motorists will conclude the smartest option is to avoid the headache and go electric.” Delvin Lane, chief executive of chargepoint supplier InstaVolt, said some filling stations have already started offering high-powerered EV charging to “deliver journeys which are smoother, cleaner and more convenient”. He added: “For drivers, this is not about being pushed into electric ... It’s a rational choice, driven by better technology.” Neil Lancefield Daily Mirror Isabella Goldstein BOLD Voodoo Sarah Bradbury https://lnkd.in/eDDGMvrd

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UK car production figures rose for the second consecutive month in July, up 5.6% to 69,127 units, according to the latest data from SMMT. Commercial vehicle output, however, fell -81.1%, reflecting plant restructuring and a bumper month last year, when the sector recorded the best July in 17 years. When combined, total vehicle production fell by -10.8% to 72,006 units, compared to July last year. Read more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ef23h_yy #UKmfg #Manufacturing #Automotive #Production | Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

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Harris Group has announced the appointment of Sean Smith (pictured) as head of fleet for MAXUS UK, a newly created executive role designed to strengthen the brand’s presence in the fleet sector. READ MORE 👉🏻 https://ow.ly/nKUg50X4oOB #CommercialMotor

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