A new dress code at BMW Park Lane in the UK dispenses with the tie and adds an optional blazer or sports jacket.

The dealership group’s customer experience manager Bellal Abbas said the move “generally made our whole approach less formal and more business casual”.

“This may not be huge news for many but this is a significant change for the sales teams here as it’s the first change of its kind in over 20 years,” he said.

In an article by AM Online in the UK, staff at some other BMW franchisees said they hoped the more relaxed attitude shown by BMW Group UK’s flagship London dealership would spread out across the network in future.

“Let’s hope the dealer network takes notice of this shift in mentality,” said one business manager.

Another added: “This is fantastic news and hopefully a move that will filter through the network.”

One said his dealership has had a sports club casual dress code for years and staff feel comfortable and confident while customers feel relaxed in less formal surroundings.

But consultant Daniel Fenwick challenged on LinkedIn that automotive business leaders must tackle the bigger challenges as a priority.

“I agree in marginal gains,” he said. “But in an industry that’s been declining steadily in the face of huge challenges and has the biggest one to come yet in Brexit, is losing ties really enough to make a difference?

“Innovation for automotive companies has been severely lacking. Transparent pricing, dealership experience, sales processes and skill sets of sales executives haven’t shifted in about 30 years,” he said.

By Neil Dowling