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NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey: record response rate as dealers rate manufacturers

NFDA 07/09/2020

“It is extremely positive that the latest NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey has received a record response rate of 60.1% showing the value that dealers place on the survey as a crucial tool to monitor the health of their business relationship with manufacturers”, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle dealers in the UK, commenting on the results of the NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey summer 2020 published on Monday 7 September.

The NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey summer 2020 was conducted in July 2020 and asked franchised dealers 56 questions about the on-going relationship with their respective manufacturers. The survey was conducted entirely online for the first time and received 2,590 responses from 31 franchised equating to a record 60.1% response rate.

The questions covered a range of business issues and their impact on dealers’ satisfaction levels with their manufacturers’ relationship. Responses were scored from 1 (extremely dissatisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied).

How would you rate your manufacturer overall on a scale of 1 to 10?

The key question how would you rate your manufacturer overall? had an average score of 6.0 points, which was 0.1 point higher than six months ago and 0.4 points up from last year. Lexus remained the highest rated manufacturer with 9.5 points followed by Kia (9.4) and Toyota (9.0). Fiat (3.6), Jeep (3.3) and Hyundai (2.5) had the lowest scores.

Overall average score

Lexus was the top performer for the third consecutive edition with the highest average score across all questions of the survey, 8.9 out of 10 points. It was followed by Kia (8.9) which gained 0.6 points since the previous survey and Toyota (8.4). Mercedes (7.5), Mini (7.4) and Honda (7.2) followed. Fiat (3.8), Hyundai (3.7) and Jeep (3.6) had the lowest ratings. The overall average was 5.9, a slight decline of 0.2 points from six months ago but a marginal improvement from last year’s 5.8.

Manufacturer support during COVID-19

Dealers were questioned about their satisfaction levels with the support received by their respective manufacturers throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Dealers returned an average score of 6.4 points out of 10. Lexus (9.6), Toyota (9.5) and Kia (8.9) were the top performers in this area, while dealers gave the lowest scores to Vauxhall (4.0), Fiat (3.9) and Hyundai (2.7).

Sue Robinson added, “It is encouraging that most dealers were fairly satisfied with the support received during the pandemic from their manufacturers. Overall, current profit return and return on capital remain key concerns for many retailers.

“Looking at the future of the market, it is encouraging to see that most dealers are satisfied with their alternative fuel vehicle offering and that average satisfaction levels in this area continue to rise. 

“As our industry’s stability is threatened by a number of external challenges, it is vital that manufacturers and dealers continue to closely work together for the benefit of the whole automotive sector”.

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About the RMI

The Retail Motor Industry represents the interests of operators in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man providing sales and services to motorists and businesses. The RMI has a formal association with the independent Scottish Motor Trade Association which represents the retail motor industry in Scotland.