A new year, a new beginning, the latest ideas. Motor Trader kick-started 2026 with the Leaders Brunch event on 29 January, bringing together franchised and independent dealers. It was held at Kia Oval and looked at the opportunities and challenges open to dealers in 2026.
Top of the agenda was the new Chinese car brands that have arrived in the UK and rapidly built-up market share.
BYD, for example, started 2025 with 52 dealers and now has 125. Last year it sold 51,422 cars in sharp contrast to the 8,788 sales in 2024.
BYD is not alone. Jaecoo ended the year with 28,232 sales operating from a network of around 80 sites. These businesses are presenting real opportunities for the dealers involved but inevitably are challenging long established rival brands.
Another key topic for 2026 is AI. Last year Motor Trader looked at how AI was changing lead generation with Swansway and Available Cars demonstrating it was making a tangible difference to their business. The Leaders Brunch looked at the latest developments in AI and what they mean for dealers.
Electric car sales, the role of government and the ZEV Mandate all came under scrutiny. What can dealers expect to see in 2026 that will impact their business on a day-to-day basis.
Used cars featured strongly for both franchised and independents. Selecting the right stock has never been more critical.
One area up for discussion at Leaders Brunch was motor finance and where the market will go in 2026 and the impact it will have on dealers who have a key role to play in communicating clearly with customers.
We also looked at team motivation and how to drive sales and reduce attrition and optimise your existing customer base.
