Paul Jolly: Why we must save our local car dealerships

The retail motor trade or regional dealer network of garages has changed out of all recognition from the days when I started out as a salesman for an independent dealership in Surrey in the 1970s.

But some aspects have remained, and for good reason. The local garage, mostly now found on out-of-town industrial estates, offers you, the customer, a hands-on, face-to-face service which is paramount to the well-being of your motor car and the safety of you and your family.

It is they whom you trust to supply and service your new car through the period of ownership. It is also they who will conduct manufacturer warranty claims on your behalf. You will also entrust the annual MOT checks to them as and when due with appropriate reminders and recommendations where necessary.

These large dealerships, to be found in Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton, Yeovil and the like, are at risk together with the vast numbers of employees they retain. The regional retail motor trade and its workforce are an essential element to the continued success or even survival of the parent manufacturers in the Midlands and elsewhere.

So, when the likes of Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, Vauxhall, Nissan and others are threatened by global strife, potentially leading to their closure, then we must be very concerned for our local workforce who rely on the manufacturing chain of supply for their jobs.

The government target of 28 per cent this year for EV production is as unrealistic as the 22 per cent target for 2024, which was not met. Putting a £15000 fine per unit missed from these targets will simply drive these car manufacturers out of business or, at best, drive them to offshore production in more welcoming countries while benefitting the Chinese producers of EVs.

Trump’s tariffs will also seriously damage those manufacturers like JLR, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Aston Martin who rely heavily on exports for survival and who are struggling enough as it is.

Our government needs to do more to look after our brilliant car businesses and lessen the idiotic road taxation and EV targeting before it’s too late.

When it’s gone, it’s gone.