Arnold Clark hosts NFDA Parliamentary Engagement Programme in Glasgow

The National Franchised Dealers Association’s most recent Parliamentary Engagement Programme took place at Arnold Clark’s Innovation Centre in Glasgow. Graham Simpson, member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), visited the centre with Arnold Clark senior executives and Sue Robinson, chief executive of the NFDA. The discussions covered electric vehicles, consumer confidence, the development of skills in the workforce, and charging infrastructure in Scotland.

Sue Robinson said: “Arnold Clark’s Innovation Centre was the perfect place to take Graham Simpson, to encapsulate the efforts and investments retailers are putting towards the future of private mobility transport. Franchised dealers are preparing their sites for government’s net-zero targets by training their sales and aftersales staff and investing into infrastructure to sell EVs; it is therefore essential that government understands this and matches the sector’s efforts.”

The NFDA and Arnold Clark highlighted their commitment to promoting sustainability within the automotive industry through their state-of-the-art innovation facility. Discussions included increasing the adoption of electric vehicles and NFDA’s Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) scheme.

The NFDA underscored the significance of bolstering consumer confidence in the automotive market, particularly for electric vehicles by introducing attractive price incentives to encourage widespread adoption.

Recognising the skills shortage impacting the automotive sector, the NFDA emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to reform the apprenticeship levy, invest in training programmes, and ensure a robust pipeline of talent through schemes such as the NFDA’s Drive My Career.

The NFDA discussed the strides that the EV charging network has made in Scotland. The parties also discussed what political and regulatory mechanisms could aid in further increasing the instalment of charging infrastructure.

“The NFDA looks forward to continued engagement with policymakers, stakeholders, and industry leaders to shape a resilient and innovative future for the automotive sector.”