The chair of the Nissan Dealer Association, West Way Managing Director Jon Roberts, has revealed the three wishes he’d like granted to ensure a busy and successful 2023.
In an exclusive video interview with the Nissan Insider team, he also discussed the transition West Way has been through during the past couple of years.
Mr Roberts, who became chair of the NDA at the start of the year, reflected on the sale of nine West Way dealerships to the AW Rostamani Group, a long-standing commercial partner of Nissan’s in the United Arab Emirates.
The dealerships, in the Birmingham and Manchester metropolitan areas, were formerly owned and operated by Nissan Motor (GB). Four other West Way businesses were sold to Hendy Group, Yeomans and Glyn Hopkin.
Mr Roberts explained: ‘‘West Way was owned by NMGB for around 25 years and was originally set up to serve some market areas where Nissan was lacking representation. Over time, the group grew from a handful of dealers to 16 at one point.
‘‘The decision was taken a couple of years ago that Nissan wanted to concentrate on its core functions and wanted to divest from retail. So over the past couple of years, we have been preparing the company for sale.
‘‘It’s been a very busy period, coming off the back of Covid and the restrictions that the teams had to work under – they did an amazing job. We have also had the following winds of the used car market that has increased over the last couple of years.
‘‘That’s been good for the profitability of the dealer network. We have gone from a ‘push’ market to a ‘pull’ market and I think both dealers and OEMs have benefited from supply levels that have been slightly more limited, compared to what we have been used to over the last ten years.’’
During the interview, Mr Roberts also discusses his role as chair of the NDA; the importance of LCVs to West Way dealerships – and reveals those three wishes that would help ensure success during the remainder of 2023.
Watch the full video below.