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Dealers fear slu

30th July 1998, Page 54
30th July 1998
Page 54
Page 54, 30th July 1998 — Dealers fear slu
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Dealers are casting uneasy glances at the latest economic indicators which suggest a downturn in the fortunes of Great Britain Ltd over the next few months.

"Our order books are pretty full, but a lot of our international haulage customers are telling us that their outbound traffic isn't as great as it was, thanks to the strength of sterling," says Mike MacDougall, managing director of Renault dealership Diamond Truck & Van. "And if the Bank of England puts up interest rates yet again in a bid to hold down inflation, that situation is going to get worse."

With sites at Leicester, Banbury and Birmingham, Diamond is about to open a service dealership in Coalville in a joint venture with Securicor.

"Interest rates are of concern," agrees Mike Mudie, managing director of Tewkesbury-based Mercedes dealership Mudie-Bond. "Things are not as good as

they were, but there is no cause for alarm bells just yet."

Independent used truck sealer Chris Hodge shares the concerns expressed by Mudie and MacDougall over interest levels.

"It's been quite a good, strong market so far this year, but I'm not overly-optimistic about the next six months," he observes. "That said, the first half of the year is usually better than the second."

Hodge: Good so tar—but not over optimistic about the next six months.

"I believe there is still enormous pent-up demand for trucks and we've not suffered any cancelled orders," says Sandy Young, managing director of Canterbury-based Renault dealership KTS Trucks and Renault dealer council chairman. "Things are still going along extremely well, and we're quite comfortable with the situation."

KTS Trucks opened a new site in Mitcham, Surrey, eight months ago. "I don't believe there will be a major fall in the truck market during the next six months," says Ron Holmes, dealer principal at Hatfield, Herts Mercedes dealership S&B Commercials. "Actros is still in strong demand."

S&B was Mercedes-Benz Dealer of the Year in 1997.


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