Car Dealer Podcast

Car Dealer

The team from Car Dealer talk about the latest news and interviews in this regular podcast, sponsored by Autotrader.

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22 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes22

Newest first

Yesterday · 48 min
The AI Revolution: Car dealers reveal how AI is reshaping their businesses – Part 2
How are car dealers actually using AI in their businesses right now – and is it really saving them time and money? In part two of our special AI Week podcast – The AI Revolution: Will it change the motor trade forever – James Baggott speaks to dealers who are already using artificial intelligence to buy cars, improve vehicle adverts, handle customer complaints and communicate with leads 24 hours a day. Steven Douglas, owner of Really Easy Car Credit and co-founder of Dealerway, explains how he used Claude to build a tool that analyses auction catalogues, identifies the cars he is likely to buy, values them and recommends how much he should bid. George Manning, director of Hilton Garage, reveals how AI is being used across its 1,000-car operation – from stock sourcing and advertising to checking vehicle adverts against Auto Trader best-practice guidance. Michael Bell, chief executive of Available Car, discusses how the business uses Impel to communicate with customers around the clock and support its contact centre team. Car Dealer editor-in-chief and @CleverCarCollection founder James Baggott also explains how he has used AI to help build and run his own used car dealership – and where the technology has caused problems as well as solving them. This is part two of The AI Revolution: Will it change the motor trade forever?, our special podcast mini-series produced for Car Dealer AI Week.
Monday · 49 min
The AI Revolution: Will it change the motor trade forever? – Part 1
Artificial intelligence is changing the motor trade faster than any technology we’ve seen before. But is AI really going to transform the way car dealers sell cars... or is the hype getting ahead of reality? In this special Car Dealer Podcast for AI Week – which takes place from August 3-7 – James Baggott speaks to some of the biggest names in automotive technology to find out where AI is already making a real difference, where it’s falling short, and what the future of the motor trade could look like. From AI-powered customer conversations and lead handling to smarter vehicle buying, admin automation and the changing way consumers search for their next car, this podcast explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping every part of the dealership. On Wednesday, we’ll be publishing Part 2 of The AI Revolution: Will it change the motor trade forever? where the dealers tell us what they’re doing with AI in their showrooms.
Friday · 1 hr 8 min
Autotrader tweaks price flags, Luscombes shares bonus with employees, and is the stock market the best place for car dealers? – with Ian Plummer, episode 268
Weekly Briefing: Is the Stock Market really the right place for car dealers? Ford and Geely to create new cars at Valencia factory through new joint venture Former Stellantis UK boss Maria Grazia Davino joins Ford to lead European sales Autotrader ‘paused’ Deal Builder roll-out and is tweaking price flags following dealer feedback Blue Motor Finance collapses into administration but immediately sold in pre-pack deal Funder behind car finance legal claims collapses following FCA redress scheme delays Family car dealership shares £170,000 bonus pot with every employee
July 16 · 1 hr 3 min
Arnold Clark profits hit £112.5m, 3p per mile EV tax confirmed, and Car Dealer Power results – with John Veichmanis, episode 267
Dealers perplexed as Carwow radically shakes up its daily auctions removing reserve prices Government confirms pay-per-mile charges on EVs as plans get mixed response Arnold Clark profit hits £112.5m as Chinese brands help drive new car growth Car Dealer Power Cars of the Year – dealers pick their winners of 2026 Car Dealer Power 2026: Who won what at this year’s awards? Ford criticises ZEV mandate as boss calls for ‘urgent review’ of eco targets
July 10 · 1 hr 12 min
Volkswagen's drastic cuts, expensive Chinese cars and Skywell leaves UK with Sam Zales - episode 266
Volkswagen to cut models by up to 50% and reduce ‘complexity’ Denza electric supercar set to become UK’s most expensive Chinese car Skywell dealers left in limbo as UK importer collapses with immediate effect Weekly Briefing: What is Carwow planning for its used car advertising site?
July 3 · 1 hr 9 min
GVE London accountant accused of fraud, FCA suspends part of redress scheme, and Cazoo hit by fresh legal battle – with James Reeve, episode 265
GVE London accountant denies defrauding supercar dealer but faces FOUR YEAR wait for trial Failed used car dealer Cazoo hit by fresh legal battle as creditor payouts put on hold Reform ZEV Mandate NOW or risk jobs, investment and UK car production – SMMT Independent Garage Association calls for MOT price rises ‘as a matter of urgency’ Is the Consumer Rights Act keeping pace with today’s more advanced vehicles?
June 26 · 1 hr 8 min
Steven Eagell's 'strong' performance, EVs sell fastest in June, and is the Consumer Rights Act unfair to dealers? – with Paul Willis, episode 264
Car dealer Steven Eagell delivers ‘strong and resilient performance’ despite dip in profits Used electric cars sell fastest in June while prices continue to hold firm Weekly Briefing: Is the Consumer Rights Act too harsh on car dealers? What can car dealers expect from changes to Autotrader’s Buying Signals?
June 19 · 1 hr 7 min
ZEV mandate could be chopped, Yeomans revenue up after Chinese brand expansion, and JLR targets cost-cutting – with Simon Shield, episode 263
‘Dramatic cut coming to ZEV Mandate targets’ after PM’s intervention Weekly Briefing: Why is the government meddling in electric car targets again? Car buyers still prefer dealerships as online-only purchases decline Car dealer Caffyns slumps to significant pre-tax loss amid fall in new vehicle sales Yeomans revenue hits record £609m after Mazda and Omoda & Jaecoo expansion Jaguar Land Rover targets £1.7bn cost cuts as luxury car buyers fuel growth plans
June 12 · 1 hr 2 min
Linda Jackson joins Hendy, EV prices on the up, and DVLA insider jailed – with Vince Pemberton, episode 262
Electric cars accounted for nearly half of UK’s biggest used car value risers in May Former Peugeot boss Linda Jackson joins Hendy as non-executive director Logbook lies: DVLA insider jailed alongside dodgy car dealers over record tampering Car finance compensation payouts pushed back until at least 2027 Motorpoint announces soaring profits, sales and turnover in stellar set of final results
June 5 · 1 hr 12 min
Vertu's mystery investor revealed, Cherys could be made in Sunderland, and why drivers are falling in love with Chinese cars – with Damien Dally, episode 261
Vertu’s mystery investor revealed as Constellation increases holding in car dealer to nearly 20% Chinese carmaker Chery to build vehicles at Nissan Sunderland plant in major UK deal Drivers are falling in love with Chinese cars – and it’s not just because they’re cheaper
May 29 · 1 hr 4 min
Ferrari's controversial EV, Arnold Clark sells car for £1, and when is the 2CV coming back? – with David Gott, episode 260
Ferrari unveils Luce grand tourer as Prancing Horse goes electric for the first time Used coupe prices increase more than other body styles as number of new models fall Citroen brings back 2CV as Stellantis targets affordable EV market Arnold Clark to sell car for just £1 as dealer group celebrates the opening of first Welsh dealership Weekly Briefing: Why legacy car makers are jumping into bed with the Chinese
May 22 · 1 hr 7 min
Auto Trader profits near £393m, Ford Fiesta may return, and is ChatGPT the future of used car search? – with Derren Martin, episode 259
Autotrader profits near £393m but admits Deal Builder roll-out hurt numbers Ford outlines product offensive with five new vehicles including potential Fiesta return Consumers can now search for their next car on Autotrader using ChatGPT Car dealer Brindley agrees franchise deal to open its first Lepas showroom
May 15 · 1 hr 7 min
Peter Vardy sells final dealerships, Vertu profits dip, and EV consideration hits record high – with Danny Bond, episode 258
Peter Vardy sells last remaining dealerships to Dutch dealer group Van Mossel Peter Vardy’s CarMoney eyes expansion after sale to Japanese trading group ITOCHU Vertu profits drop despite strong used car and aftersales performance EV consideration hits record high as nearly one in four expect to make switch Video: Used EV market rose in April as high petrol prices pushed buyers to electric Lotus scales back pure-electric future – and announces new hybrid V8 supercar
May 8 · 1 hr 7 min
'Ghost car' finance fraud uncovered, Blue Motor Finance rumoured to be exiting, and Nissan to adjust Sunderland production – with Andrew Edmiston, episode 257
Land Rover Discovery named Britain’s most unreliable used car as brand dominates list Revealed: The used vehicles that even car dealers avoid buying at all costs Blue Motor Finance ‘teetering on the brink of collapse’ with £50m redress bill – reports Exclusive: Police investigating huge £10m ‘Ghost Car’ finance fraud after dealers ‘go rogue’ Nissan to close production line at Sunderland plant as part of Europe-wide restructure
May 5 · 33 min
Ghost Car Fraud: A £10m Finance Scam
In this podcast we explain how scammers have used ghost cars, rogue dealers and fake finance applications to take the industry for more than £10m. In this special Car Dealer Podcast episode, James Baggott speak to finance brokers hit by the scam, including DSG’s Rob Woollen and Octane Finance’s Daniel Horner, who reveal exactly how the con works and find out why it’s been so hard to stop. This is not a victimless crime. Dealers have lost their businesses, brokers have taken huge financial hits, and even genuine customers have been caught up in the chaos. In this episode, you’ll hear: – How ‘ghost car’ fraud actually works – Why real customers are being used in the scam – The role of rogue (and sometimes unwitting) dealers – How criminals are exploiting the finance system – The scale of the losses — and why it could keep growing – What dealers MUST do to protect themselves The Metropolitan Police has confirmed this is an active investigation — and this could be one of the biggest frauds the motor finance industry has ever seen. Join us as we explain how it works.
May 1 · 1 hr 8 min
Vertu's £3.4m JLR insurance payout, Cazoo ditches Motors, and Hendy's huge losses – with Jason Cranswick & Ian Plummer, episode 256
Hendy Group falls to huge loss as late accounts finally posted – plus 2025 will be bad too Cazoo positioned as ‘credible challenger’ to Autotrader as Motors ditches brand Autotrader’s AI tools write 2.5 million car adverts in first 12 months Vertu Motors to receive £3.4m insurance payout after JLR cyber attack disruption Volkswagen finally reveals its new electric supermini – the 282-mile ID. Polo
April 24 · 1 hr 6 min
Lookers staff claim they face 'fresh threats of redundancy', Autotrader customer advisory groups take place, and Swansway's impressive results – with Sandy Burgess, episode 255
Staff at car dealer Lookers claim they ‘face fresh threats of redundancy’ Weekly Briefing: What dealers said at Autotrader’s customer advisory groups FCA faces legal challenge over £9.1bn car finance compensation scheme Family-run Swansway sees profits and turnover soar in impressive set of 2025 accounts
April 17 · 1 hr 5 min
Cargiant to close, £100k Chinese EV launches, and Norton Way's profits slip further – with Craig Walker, episode 254
Official: Huge used car supermarket Cargiant will close on April 24 Car Dealer Recommends: The best used car advertising platforms rated and ranked Volkswagen reveals overhauled ID.3 Neo hatchback – now with added buttons Weekly Briefing: What happened at luxury Chinese brand Denza’s big launch? Losses more than double to £5.7m at car dealership group Norton Way
April 10 · 1 hr 1 min
FCA crackdown on sale or return, Jaecoo 7 tops sales charts, and Motorpoint back in profit – with Clive Messenger, episode 253
Chinese car tops UK sales charts as EVs power best March since 2019 Weekly Briefing: Which car brands are most at risk of the Chinese newcomers? FCA launches sale or return crackdown after sudden closures of GVE London and Targa Florio Mitsubishi appoints first new dealer partners return to UK sales edges nearer Motorpoint backs profits to soar to £7.5m after record-breaking year of sales in 2026 Big Motoring World reveals record sales in Q1 as firm looks to move on from Waddell saga
April 6 · 52 min
Jaguar boss Rawdon Glover on that relaunch – Jaguar Rebrand: Mistake or Genius Ep.3
In the final episode of our podcast series, Car Dealer talks to the man at the centre of the Jaguar relaunch: Rawdon Glover. The brand’s managing director speaks about what it was like being inside Jaguar when that controversy broke the internet. We cover the personal attacks he and his team faced, why Jaguar needed to be so dramatic and find out whether Gerry McGovern leaving the business will change the direction. You can catch up with all the episodes of Jaguar Rebrand: Mistake or Genius now.