Car Dealer Podcast

Graeme Potts, founder and CEO of Eden Motor Group joined James and Jon on the podcast this week, along with Autotrader's head of strategy and insights, Marc Palmer.

Potts chatted to us about the trends he's seeing in both new and used sales, across the group's plethora of brands, including MG and Leapmotor. Naturally, we also couldn't help but ask a few questions about his illustrious career too – and his plans for the future.

Palmer meanwhile was on hand to give a peek behind the curtain at Autotrader's latest data, including how consumer confidence may be stronger than we might have predicted.

Stories discussed include the new Jaguar Type 01, impending tariffs on Chinese cars in the UK, and what James picked up from a recent motor finance conference (aside from just some free pens).

Links to stories:
Weekly Briefing: Are diesels dead? And an economist on what’s next for car sales
UK government preparing tariffs on Chinese electric cars amid pressure from EU
Used car prices fall for first time this year – but EV values keep climbing
Oct 7: Asos hacked; Badenoch to give ‘tax-cutting’ speech; Renault revives MPV with E-Space
Freelander returning to Britain as new car brand with JLR and Chery backing
This is the Jaguar Type 01 – the 1,016bhp EV tasked with reinventing the British brand

Cazoo's Lucy Tugby joined Jon and Batch for this week's podcast, discussing the marketplace's recent consumer trust survey – which revealed some rather painful truths about the relationship between buyers and dealers.

Tugby, who serves as Cazoo's Chief Marketing Officer, also chatted to us about the platform's (relatively) recent brand name switch from Motors, and what effect it's had on the business and its customers.

Read the full results of Cazoo and Car Dealer Magazine's joint survey below:
Cazoo speaks out after two trust surveys show deep cracks in car buying process

Other news covered this week includes SMMT stats for September, why dealers don't want diesel part exchanges, and why Dodge is making a return to the UK.

Stories covered:
New car market surges 12% in September as private buyers return to showrooms
Soaring fuel prices spark rush for used EVs – but dealers don’t want diesel part-exchanges
Unity Automotive appointed primary UK dealer for new Dodge Charger

Nominate yourself for a Used Car Award (Nominations close Monday 28th September)
Weekly Briefing: I’ve driven 10 different Chinese cars this week – and learned a lot
Mercedes owner hit with £43,700 engine quote after catastrophic failure at 48,000 miles
Volkswagen slashes 2026 profit forecast after €10bn hit as China struggles deepen
Bentley unveils its first electric car as £170,000 Torcal takes aim at luxury SUV rivals

Unreasonable car buyer customer behaviour ‘has got worse’, reveals Car Dealer Trust Survey
‘Survival of the fittest’: Aion UK boss predicts brutal shake-up for car industry
Weekly Briefing: Why we’re all seeing more angry used car buyers

With used car margins under pressure, finding extra profit is becoming harder — but that doesn't mean the opportunities have disappeared.
In this special Car Dealer Podcast for Profit Clinic Week, James Batchelor speaks to Dealer Auction, Autoglym, Warranty Solutions Group and TekCor4 about where dealers can make more from the business they are already doing.
From buying the right stock and knowing when to move it on, to making more from added-value products, protecting margin after the sale and converting customers who slipped through the net, this episode looks at the practical ways dealers can squeeze more profit from every stage of the used car journey.