12 Quotes by Christopher Macgowan

So far this year the market has suffered from two things; firstly a surge in demand for diesel cars distorting the market at the end of 2005 and secondly weaker consumer confidence.

We expect 2006 to be another tough year for the industry. Dealers will continue to fight hard for every sale.

There is little scope for significant price reductions, but we will be seeking to work with the government to ensure that U.K. customers continue to buy with confidence from U.K. dealers.

Export volumes continue to boost car production in the UK. Eight in every ten cars made in the UK in November is destined for export markets and we expect the 2005 total to reach record volumes and market share. Overall car output in 2005 should hit 1.6 million units, a little down on 2004 but still a strong performance.

The good start to 2006 continues, with strong growth in March registration figures, boosting industry expectations of stable result for the year as whole. 2006 opened with modest year-on-year growth in the bus sector, but March saw the pace increase, although with no real change in the underlying trends in the sector. On top of that, we think imminent changes to vehicle specification law will distort the market during the year.

Dealers will have to fight for every sale.

The new 2006 registration and some excellent deals have seen new buyers heading back to dealerships ... but 2006 will continue to be a challenge as we fight for every sale.

Improvements in efficiency, on top of strong export demand, have helped boost commercial vehicle production.

However, a reasonable March cannot mask the poor start to the year, and 2006 will continue to be a challenge for the industry as we fight for every sale.