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Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
The Online Car Dealers and Automotive Goods Retailers industry revenue is expected to fall at a compound annual rate of 1.2% to £2.8 billion over the five years through 2025-26, including a forecast drop of 0.9% in 2025-26. As the effects of the pandemic faded and normal conditions returned, the industry experienced slower revenue growth and declining demand. This downturn ultimately led to Cazoo entering administration in May 2024. Economic challenges, including inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, have further strained sales, prompting online dealers to diversify offerings to stabilise revenue. Despite these setbacks, increased internet usage has compelled traditional dealerships like Auto Trader and Pendragon to enhance their digital presence, intensifying industry competition. As a result, major retailers are focusing on digital marketing to capture a broader customer base.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released March 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code SP0.057. This industry retails cars and automotive goods to consumers and businesses via the internet. Retailers also provide services to aid in the purchase of automobiles. Automobiles include passenger cars, vans and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Some companies offer their customers trade-in, car financing and car-selling services. Related terms covered in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include sports utility vehicle (suv) , alternatively fuelled vehicle (afv) and passenger car.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include Easy-to-fit parts and accessories , Motor vehicles and Engine parts.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd, Halfords Group plc and Sytner Group Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is £2.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
There are 2,044 businesses in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?
The Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?
The Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom are Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd, Halfords Group plc and Sytner Group Ltd
What does the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom include?
Easy-to-fit parts and accessories and Motor vehicles are part of the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom is Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd.
How competitive is the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Online Car Dealers & Automotive Goods Retailers industry in the United Kingdom.
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