23rd June 2020 - This week's news and updates -
At last! We're all open, except Scotland.....
Where the majority of the U.K.'s car dealerships have now opened for business, dealerships in Scotland will be the last to open their doors on June 29. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's announcement late last week was greeted with frustration by many as car dealerships were seemingly classified simply as 'non-essential retail businesses' and little credit was given to the many who had worked so hard over many weeks to prepare safe environments for customers. See the article at Car Dealer here.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT calls for industry rescue package
A survey of the SMMT's members has concluded a third of staff in the industry remain furloughed across the UK. With reduced demand and social distancing measures slowing the sales pipeline, the SMMT is calling for unprecedented measures of support which include an emergency cut in VAT, additional access to emergency funding, business rate holidays, and short-time working measures. Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT will address an industry summit today where he is expected to state the industry is at serious risk if assistance is not forthcoming. He is also likely to quantify economic impact in the light of a no-deal Brexit. See the SMMT's news here.
Are bounce back business loans being used to buy sports cars?
The website Thisismoney.co.uk have reported supercar and sports car dealers have been claiming business is booming as certain businesses use the zero and low interest loans being made available by government to purchase expensive cars. Under the taxpayer-funded government aid scheme, small firms can borrow up to £50,000 per company under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) with the debt 100 per cent backed by government, no repayments for a year and 2.5 per cent interest after that. Read the full article at Thisismoney.co.uk here.
Former Chancellor Alistair Darling calls for emergency tax cut
Alistair Darling, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer 2007-2010, has urged the government to consider an emergency VAT tax cut to boost Britain's post Covid-19 economic recovery. Rishi Sunak, the current Chancellor, is expected to announce a package of measures in early July designed to assist those sectors of the economy hardest hit by the three month lockdown.
Tesla, the most valuable car company in the world?
Autocar this week published a super article on the fortunes of Tesla. From a challenger brand upstart which Bob Lutz of GM's hall of fame once described as 'heading to the graveyard', to its new found celebrity status amongst Musk's spaceships and Billions. See the full Autocar article here.
Please let us have your vehicle booking details as soon as you have them!
When making a booking please try to give us all of the vehicle's details as soon as you have them and as correctly as you can. We've been experiencing some difficulties with incomplete information which means we can't confirm time slots at some 'appointment only' locations and, In a few cases it's resulted in the wrong trucks being sent (Vehicle weight determines which vehicle transporter type from the fleet we use!) If you could let us have the details asap the team would be very grateful. Thanks you!
New website and mileage calculator coming soon
The website's due for launch in the next week or so and it comes complete with the mileage calculator we promised so you can get an idea of transportation costs before you agree on a deal with a customer. Many thanks to the wonderful team at Minty Creative who have worked so hard on this project. If anyone needs a website or some social media content crafted please do check them out. They're talented, capable and cost effective too. www.mintycreative.com
Enquiries & bookings
We are now taking advanced bookings for this weekend and for the weeks ahead. Simply call us on 0203 878 3331, use the form on the website or email info@proplaters.com with your requirements.
Backload opportunities
Availability next week (w/c 29.06.2020) for backloads is to and from Bridgend, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Coventry, Dundee, Exeter, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Newport, Northampton, Oxford, Paignton, Plymouth, Poole, Southampton, Swansea, Teeside, Telford, Truro, Warwick, Weston-super-Mare and Yeovil. If you have requirements for vehicles to be moved either to or from these destinations please do get in touch.