https://sundaypublishing.co.uk Latest news, analysis, and data for the UK automotive retail sector. en-gb Tue, 19 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/raban-replaced-at-group-1 https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/raban-replaced-at-group-1 Tue, 19 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Mark Raban is understood to have been replaced as UK managing director of Group 1 Automotive by Daniel McHenry, several sources have told Auto Sunday. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/from-seo-to-aeo-the-ai-shift-retailers-cant-ignore https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/from-seo-to-aeo-the-ai-shift-retailers-cant-ignore Tue, 19 May 2026 11:51:42 GMT Analysis noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Autotrader) Most people are aware of AI, explained Steve Greenfield at the Autotrader Road Ahead for Automotive Retail 2026 seminar, but not many know how to use it well. They’re treating it like a simple Google search, he said; the real power comes when more complex queries are structured. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/as-network-complexity-increases-oems-need-systems-to-support-network-management--1 https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/as-network-complexity-increases-oems-need-systems-to-support-network-management--1 Tue, 19 May 2026 06:54:21 GMT Analysis noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Paul Dillamore) OEM networks are growing increasingly complex. Certain key markets see fast-rising EV needs pushing demand for new facility investments, charging infrastructure and service capabilities. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/networks-report-2026-available-now https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/networks-report-2026-available-now Wed, 13 May 2026 16:06:09 GMT Data noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Auto Sunday) The Networks Report 2026 delivers the most comprehensive analysis of the UK automotive retail sector available anywhere in the market, combining exclusive forecasting, retailer profitability analysis, network mapping and deep manufacturer-by-manufacturer assessment. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/vertu-profits-down-but-ahead-of-expectations https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/vertu-profits-down-but-ahead-of-expectations Wed, 13 May 2026 06:23:37 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Vertu has seen its profit before tax fall to £20.3 million for the year to 28 February 2026. The figure marks a drop from £24.8m in 2025, however, the result is ahead of market expectations. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/mcphee-steps-down-at-hendy-to-join-brayleys-as-ceo https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/mcphee-steps-down-at-hendy-to-join-brayleys-as-ceo Wed, 06 May 2026 06:44:16 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Duncan McPhee is to step down from his role as chief operating officer at Hendy Group and is expected to join Brayleys as CEO. McPhee has only been in his current role for one year and was brought in to help turn the retail group around. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/networks-report-2026-profitability-drops-as-retailer-numbers-increase https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/networks-report-2026-profitability-drops-as-retailer-numbers-increase Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Auto Sunday) Auto Sunday’s Retail Networks Report 2026 reveals how UK car retailer networks are changing, with sales outlets rising with increased new entrant brands, while average retailer profitability falls. The report analyses the top 36 car brands, and includes sales forecasts, franchise profitability, EV trends and pre-registration activity across the UK automotive retail sector. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/fca-redress-scheme-hangs-in-balance-after-oems-launch-challenge https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/fca-redress-scheme-hangs-in-balance-after-oems-launch-challenge Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Mercedes-Benz Group has confirmed it will challenge the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) motor finance redress scheme. Auto Sunday understands Mercedes is not alone and the scheme will also be challenged by Volkswagen and the bank Credit Agricole which are understood to be asking for a judicial review. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/hendy-slips-to-18m-loss https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/hendy-slips-to-18m-loss Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:15:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Hendy’s latest results show the group suffered what it termed an “exceptionally challenging” year which saw the group drop to a loss before tax of £18 million in 2024 on a £1.1 billion turnover. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/retention-and-ai-take-centre-stage-as-retailers-confront-2026-reality https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/retention-and-ai-take-centre-stage-as-retailers-confront-2026-reality Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:48:19 GMT Analysis noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Autotrader) There were two key themes for the Autotrader Road Ahead for Automotive Retail 2026 event, explained chief customer officer Ian Plummer: customer retention and tech for profit. Why these? He pointed to a chart on screen, showing how, for years, auto retailers have averaged a 1.5% return on sales. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/motonovo-owner-to-exit-uk-market-due-to-fca-redress https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/motonovo-owner-to-exit-uk-market-due-to-fca-redress Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:11:09 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Firstrand, the South African bank that owns MotoNovo through its Aldermoor Group division has said it will sell the UK business due to the FCA’s motor finance redress scheme. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/fca-motor-finance-redress-scheme-full-details https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/fca-motor-finance-redress-scheme-full-details Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:00:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) FCA has published the full details of the motor finance redress scheme setting out compensation levels with lenders for those qualifying car buyers. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/why-customer-retention-is-increasingly-the-retailers-responsibility https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/why-customer-retention-is-increasingly-the-retailers-responsibility Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT Analysis noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Glenn Mercer) What really matters, commercially, is not loyalty but retention. A loyal customer may love car brand Acme, but if the customer needs a crossover and Acme sells only saloons, Acme will not retain the customer. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/fca-issues-details-for-car-finance-redress-scheme https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/fca-issues-details-for-car-finance-redress-scheme Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:08:26 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) The FCA has set out partial details, including several key changes, for the car finance redress scheme and said full details will be issued later this month. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/hmrc-cross-tax-audit-led-reviews-what-auto-retail-needs-to-know https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/hmrc-cross-tax-audit-led-reviews-what-auto-retail-needs-to-know Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:05:24 GMT Analysis noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Karen Riley & Martin Jackson) HMRC wants to understand how your finance systems operate, what data sources are utilised, and how data flows through systems from a tax perspective, focusing on tax determination, controls and reporting https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/pinewood-takeover-discussions-end https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/pinewood-takeover-discussions-end Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:00:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Auto Sunday staff) Private equity firm Apax Partners has ended takeover discussions with Pinewood.AI. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/lithia-delivers-record-revenue https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/lithia-delivers-record-revenue Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Auto Sunday staff) US-based retail group Lithia & Driveway, which owns Evans Halshaw, Stratstone and Jardine Motors in the UK, posted record full-year revenue of $37.63billion (£27.46bn) in 2025. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/pinewood-mulls-630m-takeover-offer https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/pinewood-mulls-630m-takeover-offer Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Private equity giant Apax Partners is in discussions over a potential takeover of automotive retail DMS specialist Pinewood.AI in a deal that could value the business at more than £630 million. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/group-1-financials-reveal-further-uk-cuts-in-2026 https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/group-1-financials-reveal-further-uk-cuts-in-2026 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Group 1 Automotive has grown revenue to a record $22.6 billion (£16.4bn) for 2025, up 13.2% on the previous year. However profit has been hit by UK impairment charges totalling £20.6m. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/eved-dominates-westminster-ev-group-meeting https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/eved-dominates-westminster-ev-group-meeting Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:20:42 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Auto Sunday staff) The government’s recently proposed eVED pay-per-mile charge for electric cars dominated proceedings at a meeting of the Electric Vehicle All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), this week. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/cox-challenges-bca-aston-barclay-takeover https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/cox-challenges-bca-aston-barclay-takeover Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:16:53 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Manheim owner Cox Automotive has submitted evidence in the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into Constellation Automotive Group’s acquisition of Aston Barclay, arguing the deal would significantly weaken competition in the UK vehicle auction market. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/motonovo-appoints-kc-to-battle-fca https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/motonovo-appoints-kc-to-battle-fca Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:15:51 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) South African bank First Rand, which owns MotoNovo in the UK, has appointed both a Kings Counsel and economic advisors to fight the FCA’s redress scheme. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/dealer-checklist-preparing-for-eved-pay-per-mile-from-2028 https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/dealer-checklist-preparing-for-eved-pay-per-mile-from-2028 Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:38:08 GMT Analysis noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) A simple eVED checklist with actionable points automotive retailers. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/ford-reports-ev-cancellations-due-to-pay-per-mile-plan https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/ford-reports-ev-cancellations-due-to-pay-per-mile-plan Sun, 23 Nov 2025 15:42:22 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Electric car buyers are cancelling or delaying their purchase due to government plans to introduce a pay-per-mile charge for BEVs and PHEVs, according to Ford managing director Lisa Brankin. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/mg-to-expand-longbridge-training-facility https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/mg-to-expand-longbridge-training-facility Sun, 23 Nov 2025 15:40:48 GMT News noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) MG is near-doubling the size of its retailer training facility in Longbridge. The expanded Cecil Kimber College (named after the driving force behind MG’s pre-war success) is expected to opened in Q2 2026, according to MG’s head of product David Allison. https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/nfda-dealer-attitude-survey-analysis-november-2025 https://sundaypublishing.co.uk/article/nfda-dealer-attitude-survey-analysis-november-2025 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:10:57 GMT Analysis noreply@sundaypublishing.co.uk (Tristan Young) Here’s a few of the main points from the latest NFDA survey based on the key question ‘How do you rate your manufacturer overall?’