Published: April 2025

According to a recent report from Jato, Chinese car market share in the UK has increased from 2% in 2015 to 9% in 2024, a figure likely to climb at pace over the next few years. With the growth in representation of new entrant brands, including GWM, OMODA, JAECOO, and BYD, across our client base, we have been tracking enquiry levels for these marques and have seen an ever-growing increase each quarter, a strong indication that our clients are effectively engaging the market.

National brand awareness has always been important for manufacturers; this was made evident during the 2024 Euros, with Auto Trader reporting a 69% increase in engagement with BYD stock listings during the tournament’s opening weekend, thanks to its status as an Official Partner of UEFA EURO.

However, awareness marketing requires big budgets, so retailers should be leveraging manufacturer activity with local content strategies that will go a long way to help them stand out from the competition. Email, SMS, and Social Media are proven marketing tactics that enable cost-effective promotion of upcoming events and can raise awareness of wider brand activity.

Our marketing automation platform, VoiceBox, empowers retailers with the tools and strategies to attract customers, improve conversions, and enhance customer retention, all while delivering outstanding experiences.

Reach Relevant Audiences with Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for increasing brand awareness at both a national and a local level, sharing relevant information and engaging directly with audiences. Through organic posts and paid advertising, retailers can build trust and connect with potential customers, guiding them through the decision-making process.

VoiceBox Social is a solution that enables automotive retailers to enhance their social media presence through a multi-platform approach, combining organic posts and paid advertising across the Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram) as well as LinkedIn.

We support clients in reaching consumers with informative ads during the ‘pre-enquiry’ phase, using audience targeting tools and remarketing pixels from the brand pages of their website. These campaigns keep dealerships front of mind throughout the research phase – which is likely longer than average for emerging brands – encouraging engagement and, ultimately, enquiries.

Engage Prospects with Email and SMS Campaigns

With increasing enquiries and orders, now is the time for retailers to actively build and connect with their customer database. Our research shows that 56% of consumers would still like to visit a showroom when shopping for their next vehicle, and this number is likely higher for those considering a new entrant brand.

VoiceBox Sales helps retailers boost sales with automated, on-brand email and SMS messages. Automated post-visit communications and subsequent messages are proven to keep prospects engaged whilst taking the burden off sales teams who are managing multiple leads of varying warmth.

Key features include enquiry follow-ups, Stock Alerts and Lost Sales re-engagement, and with our integrated call portal, LeadBox, retailers can streamline and improve customer follow-up processes.

Amplify Performance Without Compromising Customer Experience

VoiceBox provides full-service management solutions, along with a self-serve functionality designed to complement in-house capabilities. Whether retailers opt for full account management support or a flexible platform to build and schedule emails in-house, VoiceBox ensures that all marketing efforts drive results and strengthen customer relationships.

For more information on how we can support you in establishing your new brand, contact us today.

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