Vehicles to Watch in 2021

New year. New car?

2021 has finally arrived! And with it, comes a whole new wave of car buying trends...

This article is going to highlight some of the key vehicles and buying persuasions that could be affecting your customers decision to buy a car this year.

Growth of the Compact SUV

SUV’s have been slowly making their way into the UK market for the last few years. But 2020 saw the rise of the small/compact SUV style, with 3 of these vehicle types even making it into the top 10 vehicles sold last year! These were the Nissan Qashqai, the Ford Puma and the Volvo XC40.

So, why are smaller SUV’s so popular? Carbuyer (2020) said it’s the combination of SUV advantages with the running costs of a family hatchback which has driven the shift. Whereas AutoCar (2020) commented that it’s the combination of internal space, premium quality and everyday practicality which has driven the move in this direction.

Whatever the reason may be, there are plenty of options available to meet your cust+omers’ requirements. Here are just some of the superb compact SUV’s that we have available at auction:

Growing Demand for Electric Vehicles

Despite the pandemic and its effect on car usage, sales of Electric Vehicles continued to grow in the UK in 2020.  Tim Pollard of CarMagazine( 2021) comments that the 3 things currently feeding the growth of EV's is the gradual lowering of price tags, the expansion of EV options and the growth of the charging network available, which is only expected to get bigger and better in the near future.

Many customers who do not yet feel ready to make the full conversion to an electric vehicle have opted for a compromise, the Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). CAR's Road Test Team of CarMagazine (2021) described the hybrid option to offer customers “an appealing blend of efficiency, range, power and low emissions”.

Whether your customers are looking for an Electric Vehicle or a Hybrid, we’re sure to have something for them among our stock:

So, what are the predicted key factors affecting car buying decisions this year?

1. Practicality –The beginning of the pandemic saw public transport come to a halt, meaning that many who relied on this were left without any options. Since the re-introduction of public transportation, there has been a shift in attitude towards it, especially among young adults. In fact, 1 in 8 public transport users have now opted to purchase a vehicle of their own (Kyle Keogh, Steven Rampersad - Think with Google, 2020).
2. Low emissions – Concerns for the environment and the low emission zones imposed by the government to lessen the effect of this has been a driving effect for many when choosing which car to purchase. As mentioned above, electric and hybrid vehicle sales have increased, whereas the sales of high emissions vehicles, such a diesel have seen a downturn (Jim Pollard - Car Magazine, 2020).
3. Financial stability – With the pandemic still ongoing, it’s no surprise that the finance available to buy a vehicle has been a big concern. In addition to car dealerships offering price-saving deals to try and heighten interest in this new vehicles, the sales of used vehicles started to pick up towards the end of 2020 with many UK dealers expecting 2021 to be a strong year for the Used Car market (John Kirwin - Motor Trader, 2020).

Set yourself up for a fantastic 2021 and replenish your forecourt!

Whatever kind of car your customers are looking for, you’ll be spoilt for choice with our expansive selection of used and salvage vehicles.

View Used and Salvage Stock 

References

Autocar. (2020). Top 10 best small SUVs 2020. Available: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/best-cars/top-10-best-compact-suvs. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

Cars On Demand. (2021). Car Buying Trends. Available: https://www.carsondemand.co.uk/post/car-buying-trends. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

Carbuyer Team. (2020). Best small SUVs. Available: https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/recommended/best-small-suvs-and-crossover-cars. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

CAR's Road Test Team. (2021). Best hybrid cars and PHEVs 2021. Available: https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/hybrid/best-hybrid-cars-and-plug-ins/. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

Jasper Jolly. (2020). UK car dealer sales rise as Covid drives people from public transport. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/20/uk-car-dealer-sales-rise-as-covid-drives-people-from-public-transport. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

John Kirwan. (2020). Dealers expect used car transactions to rise in 2021. Available: https://www.motortrader.com/motor-trader-news/automotive-news/dealers-expect-used-car-transactions-values-rise-2021-19-11-2020. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

Kyle Keogh, Steven Rampersad. (2020). 5 trends shaping the auto industry’s approach to a new normal. Available: https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-gb/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/auto-industry-impact-during-coronavirus/. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

Tim Pollard. (2020). Should you still buy a diesel car in 2021?. Available: https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/motoring-issues/should-i-buy-a-diesel-car-uk-tax-scrappage-ban/. Last accessed 22/01/2021.

Tim Pollard. (2021). Best electric cars 2021: our top EVs to buy. Available: https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electric/best-electric-cars-and-evs/. Last accessed 22/01/2021.