The New Car market continues to gather pace, and over the past year we’ve focused on strengthening the experience for consumers, retailers and manufacturers alike. That work is already paying off. In 2025, the New Car audience on Autotrader grew by 10%, lead volumes rose by 12%, and more than 2 million visits were made to New Car adverts every month.
With over 90% of stock now carrying retailer images, buyers are getting a clearer, more engaging view of the cars they’re considering, and they’re responding. A lot of this growth is driven by targeted product improvements designed to make the New Car journey simpler, clearer and more conversion‑led from the very first interaction.
One of the most significant steps forward has been the introduction of New Car Offers, allowing retailers to surface static, finance‑led deals directly against their stock. As finance penetration continues to rise, it’s become increasingly clear that adverts which clearly present finance options attract stronger engagement and better lead performance. Giving buyers this upfront transparency helps them self‑qualify faster and move more confidently towards enquiry.
Alongside this, we’ve launched an Enhanced package for New Car to help retailers stand out in search. This additional layer of visibility is giving vehicles greater prominence in the moments that matter, helping to convert increased demand into more meaningful opportunities for our customers.
We’ve also refreshed the Search and Grid View experience, redesigning how New Cars are presented across the site. The journey now includes cleaner card layouts, carousel imagery and clearer access to pipeline stock, all built to make discovery faster and more intuitive. These changes keep buyers engaged for longer, and, in turn, drive more leads to retailers. This improved experience is supported by deeper integration with manufacturers.
Over 25 brands are now feeding stock and finance data directly into Autotrader, creating a more accurate, more complete picture of the market. Manufacturers are also continuing to invest significantly to drive high‑quality traffic to New Car listings, reinforcing demand for retailer stock.
All of this sets the stage for an even bigger year ahead. In 2026, we’ve launched a major national advertising campaign designed to inspire the next wave of New Car buyers, particularly younger audiences who are increasingly considering New Cars alongside used. By driving more of these consumers into the market, we’re creating new demand and continuing to deliver more leads directly to retailers.
Every improvement we’ve made is focused on one goal: helping you win more New Car sales by giving buyers a clearer, more confident path to purchase.
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