The Retailer Awards: Celebrating excellence in automotive retail
The Retailer Awards are one of the standout moments in our calendar. They’re a chance to recognise and celebrate the very best in automotive retailing. What makes these awards truly special is our independent, data-driven judging process. It’s completely unbiased, ensuring that recognition is earned purely on merit.
Each year, we honour the top 1% of over 14,000 retailers who partner with us to elevate performance. These retailers combine the power of our data, technology, and brand with their own deep local expertise, customer-first mindset, and years of experience. Together, they represent the gold standard in automotive retail.
So…what were the key takeaways from the event?
Market insights
According to SMMT, last month was the strongest September in five years, and the highest-ever monthly volume for EVs.
Since the launch of the Government’s Electric Car Grant, interest in EVs on Auto Trader has surged by almost 50%.
For grant-eligible models, interest has more than doubled, compared to a 25% rise for non-eligible models.
With affordability being the biggest barrier to EV adoption, the Grant is helping more drivers make the switch- signalling a confident trajectory for the electric transition.
New car market: a look ahead
Earlier this year, we saw confirmation of the ZEV mandate through to 2030, followed by the introduction of the Electric Car Grant in July. Our data shows it’s already having an impact:
Overall market up 4%
Retail sales up 5%
Chinese brands captured 12.4% of September’s new car sales
Looking ahead to 2026, we expect similar conditions. Interest rates are easing slowly, and the upcoming Autumn Statement may offer further clues about consumer confidence.
Electric Vehicles: progress and promise
There’s growing certainty around EVs, and infrastructure investment is helping pave the way:
The UK now has one charger for every 4 miles of road
Rapid chargers can power a car to 80% in just 20 minutes
Most EVs come with an 8-year battery warranty
While challenges remain, the direction is clear—and momentum is building.
Used car market: steady confidence
Used car supply may be tight for some retailers, but demand remains strong:
9 in 10 buyers feel as confident about affordability as they did last year
75% of in-market consumers plan to buy within the next six months
These figures suggest a healthy level of activity heading into 2026.
What we’re learning about buyers
Buyers are feeling confident and planning to buy.
9 in 10 are as confident or more confident in being able to afford compared to last year.
74% also plan to buy in the next 6 months.
Buyers are doing a lot of their “car buying jobs” online in preperation for their visit to the retailer.
58% prefer to find the specific car online
66% prefer to get part exchange valuation online
57% prefer to complete finance application online
And as they undertake those jobs, an increasing number are utlising Deal Builder with:
140,000 deals submitted via Deal Builder
69,000 retailer sales have been assisted by Deal Builder
Deeper learning, better experiences
Deal Builder isn’t just a product, it ‘s a foundation for our understanding of buyers.
By analysing online signals, we gain deep insights into what customers want, why they want it, and when they’re most likely to make a purchase.
For example, when a user saves a vehicle to their Autotrader garage, any enquiry they submit becomes 10% more likely to convert - actionable intelligence that retailers can leverage. Location matters too: buyers identified as local to a retailer are 20% more likely to convert than those without a proximity tag.
But the most powerful signal of all is high intent, a measure of how ready a customer is to buy, based on their engagement across Autotrader.
Later this year, we'll be rolling out Buying Signals, giving retailers powerful new insights to identify and engage with buyers.
By turning anonymous clicks into qualified leads, backed by real behavioural data from Autotrader - all made possible by Deal Builder.