Network Planning Data Summary 2021 Franchised Dealerships

Vehicle Manufacturers made significant changes within their dealership networks throughout 2021. How is that impacting business geographically?

2021 was another year of changes, twists and turns, and the UK dealer network was no exception.

The pandemic, as well as chip shortages continued to present planning challenges for vehicle manufacturers and dealer networks alike.

As we continue into 2022, we've presented a snapshot of 2021 and the impact of its geographical changes across the entire franchised dealer network.

So what makes up the graphic?

We are representing site changes as sales, aftersales splits, dealerships etc.

We made 7001 changes to our dataset in 2021. This represents 4 updates every business hour.

56% of these were passenger car

14% were light commercial vehicles

5% were heavy goods vehicles

18% were motorcycles/all terrain vehicles

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Image of Network Planning Data 2021 Franchised Dealerships

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES DECEMBER 2021

UK Dealership Data - Map Changes December 2021

Overall:

38 New Database records created

449 Database records updated

171 Database records deleted

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Aftersales Franchise Relinquished 1

Appointed 4

Bodyshop Appointed 17

Dealership Acquisition 14

Franchise Appointed 21

Name Change 7

Parts Franchise Appointed 16

Sales Franchise Relinquished 11

Showroom & Workshops Refurbished 3

Showroom Refurbished 1

Site Relocation 14

Status Change 22

Database Driven Map Detailing Location Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships December 2021

Map generated by Autosites

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES NOVEMBER 2021

UK Dealership Data - Map Changes November 2021

Overall:

51 New Database records created

499 Database records updated

69 Database records deleted

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Aftersales Franchise Appointed 8

Aftersales Franchise Relinquished 1

Appointed 23

Dealership Acquisition 4

Franchise Appointed 56

Franchise Relinquished 2

Name Change 8

Parts Franchise Appointed 14

Sales Franchise Appointed 4

Sales Franchise Relinquished 8

Showroom & Workshops Refurbished 2

Site Acquisition 14

Site Relocation 12

Status Change 6

Used Vehicle Franchise Appointed 2

Workshop Refurbished 1

Database Driven Map Detailing Location Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships November 2021

Map generated by Autosites

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES OCTOBER 2021

UK Dealership Data - Map Changes October 2021

Overall:

51 New Database records created

499 Database records updated

69 Database records deleted

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Aftersales Franchise Appointed 10

Dealership Acquisition 83

Franchise Appointed 23

Name Change 18

Parts Franchise Appointed 7

Sales Franchise Appointed 8

Sales Franchise Relinquished 16

Showroom & Workshops Refurbished 1

Showroom Refurbished 1

Site Relocation 16

Site Relocation New Dealership 1

Used Vehicle Franchise Appointed 2

Database Driven Map Detailing Location Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships October 2021

Map generated by Autosites

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES SEPTEMBER 2021

Map representation of Franchised Dealerships in the UK For September 2021

Image of Map Representing All UK Franchised Dealerships September 2021

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UK Dealership Data - Map Changes September 2021

Overall:

66 New Database records created

681 Database records updated

76 Database records deleted

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Aftersales Franchise Appointed 13

Aftersales Franchise Relinquished 5

Appointed 8

Bodyshop Appointed 3

Dealership Acquisition 4

Franchise Appointed 42

Franchise Relinquished 2

Name Change 16

Reappointed 4

Sales Franchise Appointed 5

Sales Franchise Relinquished 13

Showroom & Workshops Refurbished 5

Site Relocation 13

Used Vehicle Franchise Appointed 1

Database Driven Map Detailing Location Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships September 2021

Map generated by Autosites

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES AUGUST 2021

Map representation of Franchised Dealerships in the UK

Map Image of All Franchised in the UK August 2021

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UK Dealership Data - Map Changes August 31, 2021

Overall:

79 New Database records created

561 Database records updated

61 Database records deleted

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Key Database Changes:

Aftersales Franchise Appointed 17

Appointed 8

Bodyshop Appointed 3

Dealership Acquisition 13

Franchise Appointed 48

Name Change 10

New Dealership 1

Sales Franchise Appointed 2

Sales Franchise Relinquished 2

Showroom & Workshops Refurbished 1

Showroom Refurbished 1

Site Acquisition 3

Site Relocation 3

Site Relocation New Dealership 1

Status Change 4

Database Driven Map Detailing Location Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships August 2021

Map generated by Autosites

New Car Registration Data July 2021

Data for new car registrations suggest that growth is stunted due to shortages.

There were c 123,000 cars registered in July, which represent the weakest performance since before the millennium. Because of supply chain shortages and the impact of the ‘pingdemic’, the annual outlook has now resulted in units being revised down to 1.82 million.

Electric, ‘plug in’ demand has experienced an uptake, however. In July, the figures demonstrated an upturn of 17.1%, resulting in 21,038 units being registered. This type of vehicle is now on target to exceed more than one in six new acquisitions in 2021. They account for some 9% of registrations, with plug in hybrid vehicle data figures closely following at 8%.

SMMT Image Depecting New Car Registrations.

New car registration data suggests that in July 2021 registrations declined by 29.5%, a figure of 123,296 units. This reduction was exaggerated in comparison to July 2020, when there was a substantial increase in registrations. This difference was caused by a full month of as dealers had just reopened, following the first lock down in 2020. Effectively giving them a full month of trading.

In July, all new car segments were in decline. The UK’s most popular type of vehicle remains the supermini, followed by the lower medium sector and dual purpose (32.9%, 28%, and 27.3 % respectively). The decline was limited to larger fleet operators. With 61,140 units sold, this represented 27.8% reduction over the recorded average within the past decade.

As one would expect, private registrations illustrated a lesser decline of -10.7% (59,841 units). Average recorded private registrations in July 2010-2019 were 67,046.

It was the weakest July prior to the introduction of the split plate system, which was introduced in 1998 (July 1998 registrations: 37,896).

The outlook for the UK economy is looking more positive, the bulk of economic indicators are suggesting that sentiment is weighted toward spending, this includes bigger ticket items. However the pandemic has given way to supply challenges and this will have the effect of restricting growth. Especially, given that August is traditionally a dry month for vehicle registrations. Quarter 4 should see growth tentatively return.

Revising forecasts down is a prudent measure. New car registration data is expected to reach c 1.82 million units in 2021. This represents an uplift of 11.7% on 2020, but it is shy of the forecasted 1.8 million predicted in April. It is also down -21.8% on new car market averages, recorded over the past decade (average annual registrations for 2010-2019: 2,330,307).

SMMT Image Showing New Car Registrations (July) 2005-2021

On a more positive note, given a continuation of momentum in the electric vehicle market – it is estimated that EV’s will account for 9.5% of vehicle registrations by the end of 2021. Plug in Hybrids are expected to make up 6.5% of the UK market. As a collective, a total of c290,000 upon completion of the year.

In conclusion, the sector continues to face challenges with staff levels, as well as semiconductor shortages.

This makes it difficult to demonstrate strength, and improve the outlook to indicate a full recovery. There may be more light at the end of the tunnel for staffing with changes to self isolation protocols, but the semiconductor issue doesn’t look like it will be solved in the immediate.

Back to New Car Registration Data Home

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES JULY 2021

Map representation of Franchised Dealerships in the UK

Map Image of All Franchised in the UK July 2021

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UK Dealership Data - Map Changes July 31, 2021

Overall:

97 New Database records created

513 Database records updated

98 Database records deleted

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Key Changes:

Aftersales Franchise Appointed 7

Aftersales Franchise Reappointed 1

Fast Fit Appointed 11

Bodyshop Appointed 3

Dealership Acquisition 17

Franchise Appointed 65

Franchise Appointed - New Dealership 1

Franchise Reappointed 2

Franchise Relinquished 1

Group Acquisition (Sites) 13

Name Change 15

Fast Fit Reappointed 4

Fast Fit Relinquished 1

Sales Franchise Appointed 1

Sales Franchise Reappointed 3

Sales Franchise Relinquished 9

Showroom & Workshops Refurbished 1

Showroom Refurbished 2

Site Relocation 11

Status Change 22

Used Vehicle Franchise Appointed 2

Image: Representation Database Driven Map Detailing Location Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships July 2021

Map generated by Autosites

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES JUNE 2021

Map representing UK Franchised Dealerships

Image of Map Representing All UK Franchised Dealerships June 2021

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UK Dealership Data - Map Changes June 30, 2021

Overall:

83 New Database records created

610 Database records updated

83 Database records deleted

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Key Changes:

Aftersales Franchise Appointed 13

Aftersales Franchise Reappointed 7

Aftersales Franchise Relinquished 1

Bodyshop Appointed 7

Dealership Acquisition 7

Franchise Appointed 49

Franchise Reappointed 1

Name Change 15

Parts Franchise Appointed 6

Reappointed 2

Sales Franchise Appointed 7

Sales Franchise Reappointed 6

Sales Franchise Relinquished 1

Site Relocation 11

Site Relocation New Dealership 5

Image of Database Driven Map Representing Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships June 2021

Map generated by Autosites

New Car Registration Data & OECD Predict Recovery

What has caused the increase in new car registrations?

New car registration data indicates that in May vehicle registrations reached 156,737 units, representing an increase of almost eight-fold on the same month last year. However, the overall market is still down -14.7% on pre-pandemic May 2019, and -13.2% on the 10-year May average. Fleet sales are responsible for 50% of this.

Image of Cars on UK Road (courtesy SMMT)

Are car sales up or down in 2021?

There has been a cautious uplift in the car industry. The economy is displaying stronger indicators and car sales are improving. Fleet sales have demonstrated growth at more than twice the rate of private purchases in May 2021. The large fleets are responsible for 50% of all new vehicle sales, indicating that business confidence is growing compared to last year.

How many electric cars sold 2021?

The battery electric vehicle market share has gone from 12% to 8.4%. The performance in May 2020 was questionable because new cars could only be purchased by click and collect or delivery, which had the impact of distorting the numbers.

Image of Electic Plug In Cars (courtesy SMMT)

What percentage of car sales are hybrid?

Pure petrol and mild hybrid petrol cars so far account for 60.4% of registrations, while pure diesel and mild hybrid diesels took an 18.0% share year to date. This compared to 64.6% and 22.4% last year.

A wider view across 2021 indicates that electric (plug in) vehicles are responsible for new car registrations of 13.8%. This represents an increase of 7.2% on 2020.

However, the most rapid growth has been seen for plug in hybrids accounting for a whopping 60.4% of registrations.

For 2021, total registrations are down. Some 296,448 less (-29%) less than January to May over the last decade. Following the impact of the pandemic on the UK motor industry, this gives a flavour for the scale of recovery required,

There is good news.

New van registration data indicates an impressive increase, rising to a record breaking figure of 29,354. The figure demonstrates +239% over the pandemic ravaged market of 2020, importantly – beating May 2019 figures.

Image of Van Production (courtesy of SMMT)

What has caused the increase in new van registration data?

Essentially, new shopping habits which include an increase in home deliveries. Further easing of lockdown restrictions and an increase in the growth of construction have fuelled volumes. For the first five months of 2021, these levels are now at almost double the 2020 figures (an increase of 99.3%).

Although the economy will be reeling from the effects of Brexit, the UK recovery post pandemic is set to be stronger than previously predicted (based on estimates from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

Back to New Car Registration Data Home

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES MAY 2021

Map representing UK Franchised Dealerships

Image of Map Representing All UK Franchised Dealerships May 2021

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UK Dealership Data - Map Changes May 31, 2021

Overall:

43 New Database records created

597 Database records updated

37 Database records deleted

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Key Changes:

Aftersales Franchise Appointed 10

Aftersales Franchise Reappointed 10

Dealership Acquisition 18

Franchise Agreements Appointed 16

Franchises Reappointed 3

Name Change 4

New Showroom 4

Sales Franchise Appointed 7

Sales Franchise Reppointed

Sales Franchise Relinquished 6

Site Relocation 9

Site Relocation New Dealership 4

Status Change 14

Used Vehicle Franchise Appointed 5

Image of Database Driven Map Representing Changes to UK Franchised Dealerships May 2021

Map generated by Autosites

UK FRANCHISED DEALERSHIP DATA - MAP CHANGES APRIL 2021

UK Dealership Data - Map Changes April 2021

Overall:

91 New database records created

586 Database records updated

74 Database records deleted

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Key Changes:

Aftersales Franchise Appointed 12

Dealership Acquisition 6

Franchise Agreements Appointed 59

Franchise Relinquished 1

Name Change 5

Sales Franchise Appointed 5

Sales Franchise Relinquished 8

Site Relocation 3

Status Change 49

Used Vehicle Franchise Appointed 3

Used Vehicle Franchise Reqlinquished 1

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Image of UK Dealership Map - Data Changes April 2021