EVs dominating challenges going through UK sellers

Almost two thirds (62%) of UK sellers imagine EVs are the largest problem to their enterprise, in line with knowledge from Startline Motor Finance.

February’s Startline Used Automotive Tracker, which polled 58 sellers, reveals that the sensation of problem round EVs has jumped up from 45% in December.

Different rising considerations embody a discount in need for automotive possession (now 33%, up from 28% in December) and staffing prices (now 28%, up from 24%).

Paul Burgess, Startline Motor Finance chief govt, mentioned: “It’s not straightforward to say why sellers have immediately grow to be extra damaging about electrification after a gradual enchancment in sentiment over fairly an extended interval in our Tracker analysis.

“Nevertheless, our guess is that the ZEV mandate session and a variety of different information such because the closure of the Stellantis plant in Luton have had a damaging affect.

“We’re in an odd second the place electrical automotive adoption is rising fairly rapidly in each the brand new and used sectors however the temper music round them feels generally uneasy.”

Burgess mentioned the rise in considerations round staffing is extra simply defined.

The upper fee of employer Nationwide Insurance coverage introduced within the Funds will take impact quickly and Burgess mentioned he is aware of anecdotally that sellers are sad about that change.

Nevertheless, worries over a variety of different points appear to be lowering together with finance availability (now 48%, down from 50% in December), compliance (48%, down from 57%), inventory shortages (45%, down from 48%), premises prices (19%, down from 29%).

Burgess mentioned: “Whereas few of those adjustments are substantial month-on-month, they do counsel a slight lightening of their temper in some areas the place sellers have held longstanding considerations.

“It’s particularly attention-grabbing to see a giant fall in worries over premises prices, the place charges, hire and working prices have been rising for a while.”