All Chat, No Charts

This week on all chat, no charts, Emma and Marc unpack April’s used car market - where pricing is on the move despite a ‘flat’ headline.

From a 1.7% month-on-month rise (the strongest since 2021) to standout gains in convertibles and older vehicles, the story varies by segment. They explore why 10–15-year-old cars are still leading the way, how younger stock is correcting as supply returns, and what shifting demand means for pricing strategies.

No slides. No dashboards. Just the signals that matter.

This week, Marc and Emma unpack a huge moment for electric vehicles. From hitting 2 million EV registrations to a major pricing shift -with new EVs now cheaper than petrol cars for the second month running - the landscape is changing fast.

They explore what’s driving surging demand, why supply is tightening, and whether rising petrol prices linked to events in Iran may have pushed the market past the EV tipping point.

Plus, what it all means for retailers - and why now is the time to act.

No slides. No dashboards. Just the signals that matter.

This week on all chat, no charts, we unpack April’s car market performance and the surprising resilience behind it.
Despite a dip in consumer confidence, both new and used car markets delivered a strong month. New registrations jumped 24% year-on-year, driven not just by timing factors but also solid private buyer demand, while used car transactions rose 3% as demand continued to outpace supply.
Cars are selling quickly, averaging just 27 days and prices remain stable, giving retailers real confidence in the market.
No slides. No dashboards. Just the signals that matter.

This week, we unpack the fight back of private buyers, why the £20k–£30k price band is proving critical, and how aggressive discounting is reshaping electric car demand.

From record private registrations to a landmark moment where EVs undercut petrol on price, it’s a clear signal that competitive pricing is driving momentum.

The key takeaway? Find the market sweet spot, lead with strong offers, and make affordability visible to win private demand.

No slides. No dashboards. Just the signals that matter.

In this episode of all chat, no charts, Mark and Emma explore why hitting the right price point is more critical than ever for winning private buyers - and how to identify the market’s sweet spot to stay competitive.

No charts. No graphs. Just the key insights retailers need to understand where demand is growing, why pricing matters more than ever, and how to stay competitive in a fast‑moving market.

No slides. No dashboards. Just the signals that matter.

The used car market isn’t moving as one - it’s splitting by age.

In this episode of all chat, no charts, Marc and Emma break down how supply and demand are shifting across different age bands, and why retailers need to react faster than expected.

Overall supply is slightly down year-on-year, but the real story sits beneath the surface. The core 5-10-year-old segment is tightening, still feeling the impact of the Covid supply gap, with around 2.5 million fewer new cars feeding into today’s used market.

Meanwhile, the 3-5-year-old segment is bouncing back, with rising stock and growing demand, particularly as electric vehicles take a larger share. At the other end of the market, 10-15-year-old cars remain the most resilient, with steady supply and consistently strong demand.

The takeaway: demand is still there, but it’s shifting quickly. Retailers who diversify their stock across age bands will be best placed to keep up.

No slides. No dashboards. Just the signals that matter.

Despite falling consumer confidence, the car market isn’t slowing down.

In this episode of all chat, no charts, we break down the latest signals from the UK automotive market and what they mean for retailers right now.

New car registrations have hit their strongest March since before the pandemic, driven by the return of private registrations and heavy discounting, particularly on electric vehicles. Meanwhile, the used market remains steady, with around 8 million transactions this year.

We also look at the growing momentum behind used EVs, especially in the 3 to 5-year-old segment, where prices are stabilising and demand is picking up fast.

The takeaway: even with wider economic pressure, the market is holding firm - but pricing and discount strategy are becoming more important than ever.

No slides. No dashboards. Just the signals that matter.

Chinese car brands are no longer new entrants. They’re becoming a major force in the UK market.

In this episode of all chat, no charts, Emma Willett and Marc Palmer break down the rapid rise of Chinese manufacturers and what it means for retailers. With brands like MG and BYD capturing a growing share of new car registrations, their impact is now starting to flow into the used car market too.

We discuss how quickly these brands have gained traction, why they’re driving growth in electric and plug-in hybrid sales, and why this shift is something retailers can’t afford to ignore.

No slides. No dashboards. Just the key signals shaping the market, explained in 10 minutes.