Stock Surge Lifts Used Car Retail Value to £52.6m
Dealer Auction reported that used‑car retail value surged to £52.6 million (about $66.8 million) in March, up from £42 million the month before. Fresh‑stock listings jumped 20 %, driving nearly 80,000 bids and adding roughly $12.7 million in retail uplift. The sub‑£10,000 segment saw the Citroën C3 claim the top spot, while the Volkswagen Tiguan broke into the top‑10 and the Jaguar XF re‑emerged. Overall, the platform’s average "days to sell" fell to 2.7 days, indicating brisk market activity.
WSG and iStoreDOCS Launch Digital GAP Partnership for Dealers
Warranty Solutions Group (WSG) has teamed with iStoreDOCS to launch a digital GAP insurance solution for UK car dealers. The service delivers a 30‑day complimentary cover through iStoreDOCS’s portal, with WSG handling all FCA compliance and providing call‑centre support. Early...
Car Finance Firm Zuto Appoints New Chief Executive
Zuto, the UK car‑finance fintech, has named long‑time COO Aimee Gethin as its new chief executive, succeeding founder Jim Wilkinson. Gethin, who joined in 2015, takes the helm as part of a multi‑year succession plan backed by Bridgepoint’s small‑cap growth...
International Motors to Distribute New Chinese Van Brand in UK
International Motors Ltd (IML) has secured a multi‑year agreement to become the official UK distributor for Chinese commercial‑vehicle maker Foton, launching the brand’s light trucks, vans and buses in 2026. IML, which already represents Xpeng, Great Wall Motors, Subaru, Mitsubishi...
Jaecoo 5 Gains Full-Hybrid Option From £26,270
Jaecoo UK is adding a full‑hybrid version of its compact SUV, the Jaecoo 5 SHS‑H, priced from £26,270 (about $33,400) for the Pure trim and £29,765 (about $37,800) for Luxury. The model pairs a 1.5‑litre turbo petrol engine with a 1.83 kWh...
Phyron Brings AI-Powered VIN-Level Video Ads to TikTok
Phyron is launching an AI-driven solution that generates video ads for every vehicle in a dealer’s inventory, targeting TikTok’s automotive audience at the VIN level. The product, integrated with TikTok’s new Automotive Ads for Inventory, is currently in a closed...
West Motor Company to Expand Into Former Harwoods Dealership
West Motor Company has acquired the former Harwoods Land Rover dealership in Edenbridge, Kent, adding a 4.5‑acre, 23,000‑sq‑ft site to its portfolio. The location becomes the group’s fourth used‑car showroom and its first outside the M25, extending its reach into...
Used Car Values Stable Despite Confidence Threats, Data Shows
The UK used‑car market held steady in March, with an average transaction price of £17,370 (≈ $22,100), only 0.2% lower month‑on‑month and 0.4% down year‑on‑year. Prices for 10‑15‑year‑old vehicles rose 9.7% and sold in just 24 days, reflecting a shortage of...
Best Locations to Run an EV Named by E.ON UK
E.ON UK has identified Wakefield in West Yorkshire as the UK’s most EV‑friendly town, scoring 79.74 thanks to 94.97% of homes for sale having off‑street parking, 61.5 public chargers per 100,000 residents and 65.91% of those chargers offering 50 kW+ power....
UK Consults on Adopting New Vehicle Emission Standard
The UK Department for Transport has opened a consultation to adopt the Euro 7 emissions standard, the EU’s most rigorous set of limits for new cars and vans. Euro 7, due in the EU from 29 November 2026, tightens controls on exhaust pollutants and...
Renault 4 and 5 E-Tech Earn Top Green NCAP Rating
Renault’s rebooted 4 E‑Tech and 5 E‑Tech have earned the highest five‑star rating from Green NCAP, reflecting minimal lifecycle emissions and strong real‑world efficiency. The 4 posted a 9.4 Clean Air Index while the 5 recorded 9.1 for clean air and 9.3 for...
Land Rover Named as Most Profitable Brand for Online Sales
Carwow’s Q1 2026 analysis shows Land Rover delivered the highest dealer profit potential in online auctions, averaging £3,914 (≈$4,970) per vehicle, ahead of Audi (£3,050) and Lexus (£3,028). The Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE topped model profitability with a £6,212 (≈$7,894) margin,...
Kia EV2 Gains Electric Car Grant Eligibility
Kia announced its EV2 First Edition qualifies for the UK Electric Car Grant at the £1,500 (≈$1,900) Band 2 level, reducing the on‑the‑road price from £28,495 (≈$36,200) to £26,995 (≈$34,300). The First Edition is equipped with a 42.2 kWh battery delivering up...
DM Keith Expands in Sheffield with Europa Takeover
Yorkshire‑based dealer group DM Keith has acquired Europa Sheffield, adding a Mercedes‑Benz approved‑service centre and expanding its after‑sales footprint in South Yorkshire. The Sheffield site will retain its Subaru line while introducing Changan models, broadening the brand portfolio. The purchase...
Fuel Prices Near £2 a Litre Could Push 44% of Drivers Towards EVs
Rising fuel costs in the UK are reaching a tipping point, with prices near £2 per litre (about $2.50) prompting a shift in consumer sentiment. A Cazoo & Motors Consumer Insight Panel of 2,008 car‑buying decision makers found that 44% of non‑EV...
Arthurs Motor Group Passes to New Owner After MD's 46 Years at Helm
Shropshire‑based Arthurs Motor Group, a family‑run dealership, has been sold to STTR Holdings after managing director Nigel Williams stepped down after 46 years. Steve Drew, former director of AM100 dealer Arbury, will lead the business, promising to keep its customer‑first ethos...
Honda Super-N to Launch in July Priced Under £20,000
Japanese automaker Honda will debut its Super‑N compact electric car in the UK this July, with a starting price below £20,000 (approximately $25,000). The model offers up to 199 miles of city range and a combined 128‑mile range, targeting urban...
Used EVs and Petrol Cars Hit Price Parity in Q1, Finds Autorola
In Q1 2026 used electric vehicles (EVs) and petrol cars reached near price parity, with the average wholesale gap shrinking to just $241. Average used EV prices fell 9.1% to about $19,660, while used petrol prices rose 5.1% to roughly $20,000....
Big Motoring World Sets Q1 Record with 18,300 Used Car Sales
Big Motoring World reported a record first‑quarter performance, selling more than 18,300 used vehicles across its ten dealerships – a 25 % increase over Q1 2025. The surge was driven by strong demand for battery‑electric cars, which accounted for 26 % of...
MotoNovo Owner Looks to Sell and Exit UK Motor Finance Market
FirstRand, the South‑African owner of MotoNovo, announced it will exit the UK motor‑finance market after the Financial Conduct Authority’s car‑loans redress scheme forced a provision of £750 million (≈$945 million), far exceeding the division’s decade‑long profit of £275 million (≈$346 million). The FCA scheme...
Mitsubishi Appoints First Dealers Ahead of Sales Relaunch
Mitsubishi Motors UK has announced the first wave of dealer appointments, securing 33 of its targeted 60 sales sites ahead of a May launch of the new Outlander plug‑in hybrid and L200 Series 7 pickup. The appointments blend long‑standing franchisees such...
Vaylens Targets Dealerships with New UK Sales Lead
Vaylens, a provider of intelligent EV‑charging software, has appointed Dianne Smith as its UK sales manager to drive growth in dealership and reseller channels. Smith, who spent over two decades at Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen and Audi, will lead efforts...
FCA to Probe Sale or Return Risk Controls at Dealerships
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has begun writing to dealerships that promote sale‑or‑return (SOR) services, demanding evidence of robust risk controls, transparent consumer communication, and senior‑level oversight. The regulator’s outreach follows several high‑profile SOR failures that left customers without cars...
Rebrand and Renewed Website Signals Growth Phase for Car Supermarket
CarSupermarket.com is undergoing a full rebrand to reflect its ownership by France‑based Aramis Group, which is majority‑owned by Stellantis. The rollout will cover all 12 UK showrooms and collection centres by autumn, with a 13th site slated to open and...
AM100 Dealer Group Takes on First Alfa Romeo New Car Sales Franchise
AM100 dealer group, operating as Lithia UK, has added Alfa Romeo to its Evans Halshaw Cardiff location, turning the site into a six‑brand multi‑franchise hub that now sells new Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Peugeot alongside Citroën, Vauxhall and DS. The move restores Alfa Romeo new‑car...
UK Supply Chain Offers £4.6bn Investor Opportunity, Says SMMT
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) estimates the UK automotive supply chain can generate an extra $5.8 bn in domestic manufacturing value by 2030 as automakers shift toward electric vehicles. Demand for UK‑sourced components is expected to rise 80%,...
Kia EV Retail Success Down to Product Range, UK Boss Says
Kia celebrated its 100,000th electric‑vehicle registration in the UK, reaching 104,794 units by April 1. The brand’s EV share in the private retail market hit 25%, well above the 17% market average, while its fleet EV share was 31%, also outpacing...
AM100 Dealer Group Adopts Indicata Pro Insights Platform
John Clark Motor Group is deploying Autorola's Indicata Pro insights platform across its 54‑dealer network. The cloud‑based solution delivers real‑time used‑car pricing, stock visibility and competitor benchmarking to inform pricing and inventory decisions. Group Managing Director Chris Clark says the rollout...
Research Finds Four-in-Five Drivers Would Avoid High-Mileage Cars
eBay research shows 81% of UK drivers would avoid buying high‑mileage cars. 72% would not purchase a vehicle with over 100,000 miles, and 52% reject cars above 50,000 miles. The study also revealed that more than six million cars were...
New Toyota Rav4 Specs and Prices Announced
Toyota announced the sixth‑generation RAV4 for the UK, equipped as a plug‑in hybrid with an 85‑mile electric range. Four trims – Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport – launch with front‑wheel or all‑wheel drive options. On‑road prices start at roughly...
BYD Dealer Group Signs Strategic Partnership with Humax
Harmony Automotive, a UK dealer group operating six BYD showrooms, has entered a strategic partnership with Humax EV Charging. The deal lets customers bundle the Humax MX7 home charger and installation into their vehicle financing, priced at £999 (about $1,270)....
Generational Adds Cell-Level EV Battery Testing for Dealers
Generational has introduced cell‑level voltage testing to its EV battery diagnostics platform, enabling dealers to spot individual cell imbalances before they affect overall health scores. The feature lets non‑technical staff run on‑site checks, identifying weak cells that could reduce range...
Volkswagen Dealership Transfers to New Ownership
Lloyd Motor Group announced the acquisition of the Volkswagen dealership in Carlisle from Lookers, rebranding it as Lloyd Volkswagen Carlisle and retaining its Auchinleck Drive location. The deal transferred 33 staff members to Lloyd and added ten new roles through...
New Leadership for Stellantis UK Vans Business
Stellantis UK has appointed Charles Martin as director of its LCV Pro One division, overseeing the commercial van lineup from Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall. Martin joins with over two decades of experience across sales, parts, servicing and logistics within...