Techwatch: The latest developments to support UK motor retailers

Welcome to Automotive Management’s new monthly Techwatch section, where we summarise the latest technology news, product launches and developments of interest to motor retailers and finance specialists.

By Alex Wright

Leasys has launched an e-commerce platform that enables car buyers to lease electric and hybrid cars. The Leasys e-Store was piloted in the Netherlands in March and has now rolled out to the UK.

The online marketplace, which was developed in collaboration with Capgemini, provides customers with a fully digital experience, allowing them to self-serve for low-emission vehicle rental or leasing. Accessible through the Leasys.com website, the e-Store enables customers to complete the entire rental process quickly and securely, from configuration to ordering, using integrated identity and credit checks.

“We are very proud of this project, which demonstrates our commitment to making mobility more accessible and sustainable. The new marketplace makes a concrete contribution to the transition to e-mobility,” said Rolando D’Arco, chief executive of Leasys.

The e-Store has a range of low-emission and fully electric vehicles readily available for quick delivery. The digital platform is an additional channel for promoting low- and zero-emission vehicle adoption, giving PCH customers a convenient, self-service way to lease vehicles.

Leasys e-Store also includes long-term rental packages that cover base insurance, assistance and infomobility services, ensuring efficient and sustainable mobility. Customers can customise their rental options based on duration, mileage and advance payments.

Autofinity has launched ViSOURCE, which aggregates wholesale vendor stock and information to provide used car buyers with an extensive view of the market. ViHUB enables automotive retailers to pool vehicle data and automatically populate online marketplaces, as well as better manage stock with up-to-date inventory details.

Autofinity CEO Andy Whitehair said: “Used car buyers within franchised and independent retailers source used cars from a variety of vendors each operating their own platforms with their own page displays, descriptions and rating systems. ViSOURCE has been designed to aggregate all this data into one system making it easy to compare vehicles, prices, spec and condition.”

Further integration with Auto Trader Connect means its desirability index is overlayed on each vehicle to help used car buyers readily select the best vehicles at the right price.

Auto Trader showcased Co-Driver, its new suite of AI-driven tools that enables vehicles are bought and sold online, at this year's Automotive Management Live. Built by Auto Trader’s team of more than 400 data scientist and engineers, and based on more than one decade of data and consumer insights, Co-Driver will provide dealerships with a powerful tool, reducing the time needed to create a high-quality vehicle listing from an average of 28 minutes to a matter of seconds.

Co-Driver uses Auto Trader’s data, including more than 80 million monthly cross-platform visits, 619 million combined monthly search minutes and around 1.6 million daily vehicle observations, to provide retailers with deep insights into buyer behaviour and preferences. The first tool in the Co-Driver suite, Smart Image Management, uses cutting-edge AI and machine learning to optimise the presentation of vehicle images.

Based on data about buyer engagement, the tool automatically arranges images in the ideal sequence, flagging any missing images and organising them to maximise visual appeal.

In early 2025, Co-Driver will introduce AI-generated descriptions, enabling retailers to quickly populate listings with detailed, engaging and accurate vehicle descriptions at the click of a button. These descriptions will draw on Auto Trader’s consumer data, providing buyers with the specific details they most value. Enhanced by comprehensive vehicle information from vehicle identification number data provided by manufacturers, the AI-generated descriptions ensure that each listing is informative as well as appealing.

The third tool in this initial wave, Key Selling Points, will automatically highlight the most attractive features and specifications unique to each vehicle model and individual listing, flagging the most distinctive characteristics to help listings stand out.

Every feature in the Co-Driver suite will be included in all used car and van advertising packages, ensuring broad access through the Auto Trader Portal and it can also be integrated into third-party systems through Auto Trader Connect, allowing for uninterrupted workflow and easy adoption.

Auto Trader’s chief product officer Karolina Edwards-Smajda said: “These initial solutions, as well as all future Co-Driver releases, will not only alleviate many of the challenges facing our partners today, but will help them deliver retailing excellence.”

Auxillias has launched the Motor Finance Hub, a comprehensive online resource that supports motor finance professionals in meeting ever-evolving regulatory requirements.

The free-to-access hub consolidates expert advice, industry updates and resources, serving as a central reference point for firms managing compliance challenges. It also draws on Auxillias’ expertise in helping businesses through the legal and regulatory complexities that have reshaped the sector over the past five years.

The Motor Finance Hub provides insights on pressing regulatory topics, including the latest discretionary commission guidance and overarching compliance requirements, such as Consumer Duty.

Jo Davis, Auxillias CEO, said: "Our clients are facing a time of fast pace legal and regulatory change and a high level of regulatory oversight and they need quick access to resources and guidance that cut through the noise."

The Motor Finance Hub features a timeline of key regulatory milestones in discretionary commission arrangements and other initiatives, as well as a collection of Auxillias resources, including guidance on current industry issues.

Users can also schedule a free initial virtual consultation with an Auxillias team member to discuss any immediate concerns.

Percayso has partnered with Cartotrade to launch a new market intelligence tool that provides dealers with access to comprehensive vehicle pricing and ownership data.

The tool, powered by Percayso, will initially be offered for free for three months to Cartotrade members or those signing up for a free trial. After that it will become an optional add-on with no automatic sign-up required.

The new tool provides dealers with market demand insights, vehicle-specific data, extensive data coverage and real-time valuations using valuation algorithms to offer insights based on a "retail back" methodology for improved accuracy when buying, selling or appraising stock.

The platform also aggregates data from more than one billion live and historic vehicle adverts, providing insights into key market indicators, such as pricing, days to sell and vehicle history.

The market intelligence integrates with the Cartotrade website, enabling dealers to make data-driven decisions on stocking, pricing and retail strategies.

Ian Lilley, head of partnerships at Percayso, said: “Our solution empowers retailers to make data-driven decisions, optimise valuation and management processes, and achieve greater profitability. We’re aligned with Cartotrade in wanting to help dealers be more agile and maximise retail performance.”

Laura Cannon, head of sales and marketing at Cartotrade, said: “This tool offers dealers vital support in decision-making about stock - whether for forecourts or trading based on what’s performing well locally and how long vehicles take to sell.”

Dealers can trial the tool free of charge for three months, after which it will become an optional add-on with no automatic sign-up required.