Buy any two reports together for 10% off the total purchase price
Buy any three reports together for 15% off the total purchase price
Buy any four or more reports together for 20% off the total purchase price
"As mid-sized and small cars stay popular, buyers seek value, quality, and fuel efficiency. Digital marketing is now the best way for brands to showcase these benefits."
Utku Tansel, Senior Retail Analyst
The UK car market is undergoing significant changes, with a clear shift toward small to medium-sized vehicles. Used vehicles continue to dominate the landscape with a 79.5% market share, underscoring a prevailing consumer focus on value; driven by consumer confidence which remains split, influencing big-ticket purchases like cars. B-EVs reach a record 23.4% share, supported by government incentives and shifting consumer priorities, particularly in the face of ongoing inflation.
Affordability (51%) and quality (49%) remain the top factors influencing purchase decisions. This creates a significant opportunity for “affordable electrification,” particularly within the finance and used-EV sectors. Traditional car ownership is still the preferred choice for 65% of consumers, while leasing is up to 40% among 17-34s.
Government ZEV mandate and tax changes are the biggest industry-wide disruptors. Pay-per-mile taxation and supply-chain strain are the biggest threats that could slow EV momentum.
Safety features are a high priority for buyers, with 77% seeking cars equipped with safety assist technology, while 47% express interest in autonomous driving features.
Digital platforms have emerged as powerful channels for car brands to convey value propositions effectively, with social media playing a pivotal role in reaching younger demographics.
This Report investigates the changing face of the UK car market. It focuses on developments that are taking place within the car market and how these are impacting now and are likely to impact on the future demands of buyers. It presents a review of the UK market for passenger vehicles and the dynamics of the sector, as well as reviewing trends in areas such as category and brand share.
It is exclusively focused on passenger vehicles, and therefore excludes any discussion of the market for light commercial vehicles.
This Report specifically excludessales to businesses or operators of company car fleets although data for sales to all three markets is included where necessary.
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
Pay via credit card or invoice (net 30 payment terms)
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook avaliable on our platform
Discount automatically applied in basket
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.
As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.
We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.
Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.
Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.
There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.
However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.
We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.
Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
