The Retail Automotive Alliance is a joint-venture involving 20 franchised dealer groups running 155 sites in the UK. Each group has an equal shareholding in the organisation and will retain full individual control of their businesses. Talking to Motor Trader Philip Maskell, RAA inaugural chairman and managing director and chairman of the Essex Ford Group, said the move had been prompted by changes to the block exemption regulations which will see the removal of the location clause in October. He also highlighted the shared benefits of collective buying which could put the alliance on a more equal footing with the major plc groups. “We're not positioning ourselves to beat up manufacturers on prices – this is much wider than just buying cars. We see it as an opportunity to benefit from collective buying,” he said.