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Auto dealers optimistic 2023's 40% surge keeps momentum

A Bahamian new auto dealer yesterday voiced optimism that price stability and better availability will further boost sales in 2024 following a 40 percent year-over-year surge for the first 11 months last year.

Business Licence full audit ‘screams you don’t trust us’

The Government’s enhanced Business Licence verification regime “screams that you don’t trust us” to pay all due fees, the Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president argued yesterday.

Corporate income tax: Not ‘holding the bag’

The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president says a corporate income tax levied on net profits would be “fantastic” for the industry if it eliminates a Business Licence regime that can tax companies into a loss.

Dealer’s ‘art’ expansion as auto sales jump 60%

A Bahamian dealer yesterday revealed it will imminently launch its Automotive Art subsidiary in the belief operators cannot survive on vehicle sales alone despite an industry-wide 60 percent increase for the 2023 first-half.

No worry over electric as gas car sales ‘booming’

The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president said he is not worried about electric car sales in the country rising because gasoline car sales are “booming”.

Businesses awaiting Budget with 'anxiety'

Bahamian business owners yesterday admitted to feeling "some anxiety" over today's Budget as the Davis administration was urged to prioritise ease of doing business reforms to generate faster economic growth.

Auto dealers: Sales ‘20% higher’ if we had supply

Bahamian auto dealers yesterday said industry-wide sales would be “20 percent higher” than the actual 159 year-over-year increase for 2022 to-date if vehicle supplies matched pre-COVID levels.

NIB rate hikes ‘totally impossible’ to absorb

Bahamian businesses have warned it is “absolutely impossible” to absorb the contribution rate increases required to save the National Insurance Board (NIB), adding: “The can’s been kicked to pieces at this point.”

Gov’t seeks tariff slash proposals

The Government is seeking private sector recommendations on potential Customs tariff cuts that could be implemented via the upcoming 2022-2023 Budget as a means to ease the impact of soaring inflation on Bahamians.

Auto dealers to seek price control freedom

The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president says the industry plans to address “the very outdated policy” of price controls with the Government, adding: “We need to let it go.”

New auto chief eyes VAT cut sales bump

The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) newly-elected president yesterday voiced optimism that the VAT rate cut could spark a 10-20 percent uptick in consumer auto purchases.

Auto dealers ‘scrape bottom of the barrel’

Auto dealers were yesterday “scraping the bottom of the barrel” after supply chain woes slashed vehicle inventories by up to 70 percent and left them unable to meet higher-than-expected demand.

‘Terrifying proposition’ of COVID third wave

Reimposing COVID-19 restrictions to combat a “third wave” of infections was yesterday branded “a terrifying proposition” for Bahamian businesses already struggling with pandemic-inflicted devastation.

Lockdown 'death sentence' fears

The Government was yesterday warned that it will hand "a death sentence to an economy already teetering on the edge" if it reimposes a full New Providence lockdown to curb COVID-19's spread.

Economy reopens 'in the nick of time'

A Bahamian auto dealer yesterday said his parts section sold "25 percent of what we normally do in an entire month" on the economy's first reopening day, which arrived "just in the nick of time". Ben Albury, Bahamas Bus and Truck's general manager,

‘Boiling point’ struck on COVID open inequality

A Bahamian businessman yesterday revealed he has reached "boiling point" over the "inequality" that is allowing some competitors to open amid the COVID-19 lockdown while he and others remain closed.

'Don't kill the fly with the sledgehammer'

Bahamian businessmen yesterday warned that the two-week national lockdown could be “more devastating than COVID-19 itself”, and urged: “Don’t use a sledgehammer to kill a fly.” Ben Albury, Bahamas Bus and Truck’s general manager, told Tribune Busine

Auto industry re-opening 'matter of life and death'

Auto dealers say today’s full sector re-opening was increasingly becoming “a matter of life and death” with as much as “half the industry” in danger of folding had the Government not relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.Ben Albury, Bahamas Bus and Truck’s g

Auto dealer: 'Level the playing field'

A Bahamian auto dealer is urging the government to “level the playing field” as he voiced concerns that competitors are being allowed to open in-store more frequently than his own business.Ben Albury, Bahamas Bus and Truck’s general manager, told Tri

Auto dealer: 'We cannot go another month'

The auto industry “definitely cannot go another month” under the current lockdown conditions imposed on it, one dealer said yesterday, adding: “We cannot let the economy die.” Ben Albury, Bahamas Bus and Truck’s general manager, told Tribune Busines

Albury, Gibson call for gun changes

A MEMBER of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) yesterday called on the Christie administration to “fast-track” the issuance of gun licences to “upstanding citizens who have no criminal records” so that they will not be “left defenceless and at the mercy of violent criminals”.

Dealer: Sales 'up 30-40%overnight' if tax change

A new car dealer yesterday told Tribune Business that his sales would “go up 30-40 per cent overnight” if the Government would revert back to the industry’s old tax structure, adding that until that happened: “We’ll all be in trouble.”

Albury challenges party leaders over oil

DNA MONTAGU candidate Ben Albury is asking the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader why they have "backtracked" on comments they made concerning oil.

Call for government to come clean on oil

AS THE expiration of Bahamas Petroleum Company's permits to drill for oil in the Bahamas draws near, the DNA is again calling on the government to come clean on the future of the deal.

DNA hopeful proving a challenge for FNM in Montagu

TRADITIONALLY a strong FNM seat, some observers feel the race for Montagu could be a little closer this election due to the popularity of the DNA's Ben Albury and the fact that governing party candidate Richard Lightbourne is new to front-line politics.

Candidate turns crimefighter

BEN Albury, the DNA's Montagu candidate, used martial arts yesterday to restrain a thief who tried to escape from a defence force officer. The man was caught trying to break into the Chinese Embassy on Village Road.

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