February 28, 2025 – Auto Trader Reports Record Interest in New Car Listings
As the automotive industry gears up for the busy March plate change period, Auto Trader is reporting a surge in interest for new cars, marking an encouraging start to the year. Visits to the platform’s new car section saw a significant 23% increase year-on-year (YoY) and a 15% rise month-on-month (MoM) in February. These numbers indicate a strong demand for new cars, with both manufacturers and retailers intensifying efforts to capture consumer attention ahead of the highly anticipated 25-plate introduction.
A Growing Interest in New Car Purchases
The latest data signals a record-breaking start to 2025 for the new car market, with January and February registering the highest volume of visits to Auto Trader’s new car platform for this period. As UK motorists prepare for the March plate change, interest in brand-new vehicles is ramping up, suggesting a busy and promising month ahead for the automotive industry.
Bex Kennett, Auto Trader’s New Car Performance Director, noted, “Although the start of 2025 has been somewhat lacklustre, it’s incredibly encouraging to see the volume of visits to our platform. It indicates that consumers are ready to make their purchases for the new 25 plates, with both manufacturers and retailers taking the necessary steps to ensure they’re positioned well to benefit.”
Discounts to Drive Sales
In preparation for March, retailers and manufacturers are ramping up efforts to attract buyers with compelling offers, particularly as the ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) mandate increases to 28% in 2025. While discounts on new electric vehicles (EVs) have seen a slight decrease—from 11.3% in January to 10.8% in February—overall discounting across the new car market has increased slightly, rising from 8.8% to 9%.
This increase in discounting reflects a broader effort by brands to entice more buyers to make the shift towards electric vehicles, especially in light of the looming 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. Auto Trader predicts that, as the March plate change approaches, discounts on EVs may rise further, as manufacturers aim to meet their sales targets and encourage consumers to make the transition.
In addition to aggressive discounting, new car stock on Auto Trader has increased by 3% month-on-month and 20% year-on-year. These efforts ensure that consumers have access to a wide variety of vehicles, positioning retailers to capture the attention of an engaged audience of potential buyers.
MG ZS Dominates Electric Market
In the electric vehicle market, MG continues to make significant waves. The MG ZS, the brand’s popular crossover SUV, was the most in-demand new electric car on Auto Trader for February, accounting for 7.6% of all EV enquiries. The MG4, MG’s hatchback offering, remained a close second with a 6.6% share, while Porsche’s Macan rounded out the top three, receiving 4.2% of leads.
MG has firmly established itself as a leader in the EV market, with the brand securing 15.1% of all electric car enquiries in February, followed by BMW (14.2%) and MINI (7.8%). Other notable brands gaining traction include BYD (5.5%), which has seen a 2.3% YoY increase, driven by growing brand awareness following its sponsorship of the UEFA Euros and several new model launches.
Auto Trader’s Road to 2030 report also reveals that younger UK consumers—particularly those aged 17-34—are becoming more willing to consider Chinese car brands like BYD, which are offering affordable, high-tech electric vehicles.
Land Rover Stays Popular Across All Fuel Types
While electric vehicles are clearly making their mark, the demand for new cars across all fuel types remains robust. The Land Rover Range Rover continues to be a firm favourite, topping the list of most in-demand new cars for February with 4.4% of all enquiries. The Volkswagen Golf followed closely behind with 4.2%, while the Range Rover Sport rounded out the top three with 3.4% of leads.
Land Rover’s success isn’t confined to its individual models. The brand also regained its position as the most popular new car brand, securing 14.3% of all enquiries. This marked a shift from BMW, which dropped to second place with 13% of leads. Volkswagen completed the top three with 8% of enquiries.
What’s Next for the New Car Market?
With the March plate change right around the corner, both retailers and manufacturers are working overtime to ensure they’re in the best possible position to capture consumer interest. With an expanded range of new car listings and attractive offers, Auto Trader is confident that March will prove to be a busy and successful trading period for all involved.
As Kennett concluded, “The rising volume of visits and consumer enquiries shows that the UK’s largest audience of in-market car buyers is actively preparing for their next purchase. With March traditionally being a high-volume month, we’re optimistic that the coming weeks will see even greater activity across the platform.”
For more updates on the latest new car trends and discounts, visit Auto Trader’s new car platform and stay ahead of the curve as we head into a record-breaking March.
Most In-Demand Electric Car Models – February 2025
| Rank | Make | Model | Share of Enquiries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MG | MG ZS | 7.6% |
| 2 | MG | MG4 | 6.6% |
| 3 | Porsche | Macan | 4.2% |
| 4 | Kia | EV3 | 3.6% |
| 5 | Hyundai | IONIQ 5 | 3.3% |
| 6 | Skoda | Elroq | 3.2% |
| 7 | MINI | Electric Countryman | 3.2% |
| 8 | BMW | I5 | 3.0% |
| 9 | BMW | I4 | 2.8% |
| 10 | BMW | I7 | 2.8% |
Most In-Demand Car Brands – All Fuel Types – February 2025
| Rank | Make | Share of Enquiries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land Rover | 14.3% |
| 2 | BMW | 13.0% |
| 3 | Volkswagen | 8.0% |
| 4 | Audi | 6.8% |
| 5 | MG | 5.9% |
| 6 | Skoda | 4.5% |
| 7 | Hyundai | 3.6% |
| 8 | MINI | 2.9% |
| 9 | Kia | 2.9% |
| 10 | Porsche | 2.9% |
