AN ELECTRIC vehicle dealership group with a showroom in Hook has picked up an award at the 2023 Car Dealer Magazine Used Car Awards.

EV Experts, won the Used Electric Vehicle Dealer of the Year trophy at this year’s ceremony, held to celebrate the best and the brightest dealerships working in the used car market across the UK.

In the hotly-contested Used EV Dealer category, assessors were looking for all-round excellence in selling electric vehicles, and helpful staff who could explain to customers what switching to zero-emission motoring entails.

Co-owner Martin Miller said: ‘‘We want to say a big thank you to all our customers because this wouldn’t have been possible without them. Our team have also been brilliant. We are growing all the time and we look to the future with confidence.’’

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Describing the accolade as ‘amazing’, fellow co-owner Estelle Miller said the "award is so important" because "it’s all based on mystery shopping".

Estelle added: ‘‘The thing with EVs is that because it is new technology, customers don’t have brand loyalty, which means they don’t know what to go for. We ensure that all our customers get treated with the greatest of respect and are given good advice as part of the EV Experts experience.’’

Thousands of automotive retailers, plus MOT testing stations and workshops, enter the awards each year – and each one undergoes a rigorous judging process and mystery shopping test before the gongs are handed out at a glittering ceremony in London.

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James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, said: ‘‘Successful EV dealers have to handle the challenges of a tricky area of the used car market. They also face the sometimes difficult task of winning over sceptical consumers. The team at EV Experts cope admirably with both tasks – and do so with a smile as well!

‘‘Both dealerships in the group delivered a fantastic experience when we contacted them online, and the company has a great website and brilliant brand.’’

Awards night compere, the TV host and automotive industry legend Mike Brewer, said: ‘‘We all know electric cars are the future and it’s great to see some wonderful EV dealerships out there.

‘‘The team at EV Experts certainly know their stuff and with their smart showrooms, friendly staff and well-presented stock, they’re deserving winners at this year’s Used Car Awards.  Well done to all concerned – you’re absolutely nailing it.’’