Description
Motor vehicle shop managers assume responsibility for activities and staff in a vehicle showroom. €‹They manage employees, monitor the sales of the store, manage budgets and order supplies when a product is out of supply and perform administrative duties if required.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to motor vehicle shop manager:
sales manager motor trade
automobile store manager
automotive store manager
light and heavy motor vehicles shop manager
vehicle store manager
new car sales manager
used car sales manager
car store manager
car showroom senior manager
principal sales manager
car shop manager
sales manager motor dealership
vehicle shop manager
car supermarket manager
dealership showroom manager
senior sales manager
car showroom principal
car show room manager
light and heavy motor vehicles store manager
automobile shop manager
shop manager in vehicle showroom
vehicle sales showroom manager
vehicle sales principal
dealership manager
franchise sales manager
dealership sales manager
store manager in vehicle showroom
Minimum qualifications
Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as motor vehicle shop manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Motor vehicle shop manager is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Motor vehicle shop manager career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to motor vehicle shop manager.
hardware and paint shop manager
toys and games shop manager
floor and wall coverings shop manager
second-hand shop manager
shoe and leather accessories shop manager
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of motor vehicle shop manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of motor vehicle shop manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
purchasing manager
ICT vendor relationship manager
motor vehicle aftersales manager
destination manager
licensing manager
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of motor vehicle shop manager.
New vehicles on the market: Latest developments and trends related to the new types of vehicles and vehicle brands on the market.
Car controls: The functioning of specific car equipment such as how to operate and handle the clutch, throttle, lighting, instrumentation, transmission and the brakes.
Legal requirements for operating in the automotive retail sector: Know existing regulations and legal requirements; ensure that all operations remain within legal boundaries.
Types of vehicles: Field of information which distinguishes rental agency classification systems, containing types and classes of vehicles and their functioning and components.
Sales activities: The supply of goods, sale of goods and the related financial aspects. The supply of goods entails the selection of goods, import and transfer. The financial aspect includes the processing of purchasing and sales invoices, payments etc. The sale of goods implies the proper presentation and positioning of the goods in the shop in terms of acessibility, promotion, light exposure.
Employment law: The law which mediates the relationship between employees and employers. It concerns employees’ rights at work which are binding by the work contract.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of motor vehicle shop manager.
Ensure customer focus: Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.
Study sales levels of products: Collect and analyse sales levels of products and services in order to use this information for determining the quantities to be produced in the following batches, customer feedback, price trends, and the efficiency of sales methods.
Set up pricing strategies: Apply methods used for setting product value taking into consideration market conditions, competitor actions, input costs, and others.
Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Maintain relationship with customers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Order vehicles: Order new or second-hand vehicles following business specifications and procedures.
Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
Obtain relevant licenses: Comply with specific legal regulations, e.g. install the necessary systems and provide the necessary documentation, in order to obtain the relevant license.
Organise resources for the vehicle showroom: Determine the resources and personnel needed for management and sales operations in a vehicle shop or vehicle showroom.
Oversee the presentation of vehicles in dealership: Direct and monitor the physical display of vehicles on the premises.
Set commercial strategies in vehicle showroom: Elaborate plans to increase sales of new or used cars in a local distribution of vehicles.
Oversee promotional sales prices: Ensure that sale prices and promotions are passed through the register as they should.
Ensure correct goods labelling: Ensure that goods are labeled with all necessary labeling information (e.g. legal, technological, hazardous and others) regarding the product. Ensure that labels respects the legal requirements and adhere to regulations.
Negotiate sales contracts: Come to an agreement between commercial partners with a focus on terms and conditions, specifications, delivery time, price etc.
Develop dealership forecasts: Establish dealership forecasts by estimating total sales, incomes and expenditures. Proactively monitor sales targets and develop effective solutions should there be any lack of sales.
Negotiate with stakeholders: Negotiate compromises with stakeholders and strive to reach the most beneficial agreements for the company. May involve building relationships with suppliers and customers, as well as ensuring products are profitable.
Measure customer feedback: Evaluate customer’s comments in order to find out whether customers feel satisfied or dissatisfied with the product or service.
Apply procurement: Undertake ordering of services, equipment, goods or ingredients, compare costs and check the quality to ensure optimal payoff for the organisation.
Maximise sales revenues: Increase possible sales volumes and avoid losses through cross-selling, upselling or promotion of additional services.
Ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations: Implement and monitor company activities in compliance with legal contracting and purchasing legislations.
Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
Provide information on trade-in options: Inform customers who consider a trade-in of their used car about their options; discuss all required documents and signatures; negotiate prices.
Set sales goals: Set sales goals and objectives to be reached by a sales team within a period of time such as the target amount of sales made and new customers found.
Operate dealership management system: Operate and maintain the management information system that caters to the needs of the finance, sales, parts, inventory and administrative aspects of running the business.
Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
Supervise merchandise displays: Work closely together with visual display staff to decide how items should be displayed, in order to maximise customer interest and product sales.
Monitor customer service: Ensure all employees are providing excellent customer service in accordance to company policy.
Manage theft prevention: Apply theft and robbery prevention; monitor security surveillance equipment; enforce security procedures if needed.
Negotiate buying conditions: Negotiate terms such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms with vendors and suppliers in order to ensure the most beneficial buying conditions.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of motor vehicle shop manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of motor vehicle shop manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Advise customers on vehicle’s extra services: Suggest optional services and products to customers, such as vehicle accessories or after-sales services.
Advise on vehicle characteristics: Provide advice to customers on the features, functionality and controls of a vehicle, such as colours, seating types, fabric, etc.
Execute marketing plan: Carry out all the activities involved in achieving specific marketing objectives within a given timeframe.
Advise customers on usage of vehicles: Provide advice to customers related to the types of cars for sale, such as engine types and different fuels (hybrids, diesel, electric) and answer questions about gas mileage and the sizes of engines.
Advise customers on financing options for vehicles: Provide car shoppers of financing options and warranties in order to buy vehicles; prepare all the necessary documentation and arrangements for customer’s vehicle insurance.
ISCO group and title
1420 – Retail and wholesale trade managers
References
- Motor vehicle shop manager – ESCO