The Retail Automotive Alliance (RAA) enjoyed another record year of growth in 2018 with a rise in turnover of over 10% to £3.45 billion and an increase in its retail sales outlets to 250 across the UK.
With over 8,000 employees, the RAA Members, who are all Shareholders in the JV company, increased their new and used vehicle sales by over 5% to 245,000 across 27 motor franchises and the Group is now the 5th largest automotive retailing organisation in the UK.
The 24 current members range in size from a single site such as new addition Paynes of Hinckley up to Hendy Group, a Founding Member, with well over 20 locations which gives the RAA strong geographical coverage including Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
In its 14th year, the RAA has developed its business model by combining Member’s individual purchasing requirements across a range of suppliers from auction services and used car finance through to oil and number plates, striking industry-leading deals that deliver considerable annual savings to all shareholders.
John Matthews, the RAA’s Business Development Director said,
“The RAA is as strong as its Members and almost all of them grew their businesses significantly last year which has increased our value to the suppliers who run our wide range of procurement programmes.”
“We have added our first JLR franchise this year with Sturgess Group and further grown our Ford footprint with Birchwood, Paynes, and Dinnages.”
“2019 will see continued membership growth as we add more procurement programmes to our portfolio but the RAA is not just about scale, its core values lie in the Members supporting each other and sharing ideas and best practice for mutual business gain.”
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Notes to Editor
The RAA is a successful joint venture purchasing group delivering significant cost savings to its 24 Motor Dealer Group Members. Each Member is an equal Shareholder in the business, now in its 14th year, and the RAA has a combined turnover of £3.45bn in the UK. The Group’s Members employ 8,000 staff and sell 245,000 new and used cars annually through over 250 sales and service outlets which represent 27 motor vehicle franchises. The Group’s many purchasing programmes reduce dealership running costs considerably through a wide range of agreements with major suppliers from used car finance down to number plates and oil.