Mintel Retail Intelligence last examined the car retail sector in March 2000, when it was suffering from negative publicity concerning high car prices in the UK. Due to a combination of government initiatives and consumer pressure, manufacturers began to introduce price reductions in late 2000 and consumers returned to car showrooms, pushing sales of new cars to a record high in 2001.

The car retailing sector is going through a period of change, evolving from a fragmented franchise network controlled by manufacturers into a more consolidated sector in which the larger dealerships are beginning to flex their muscles and look for ways of developing their own distribution networks. Whereas in the past each dealer sold cars supplied by a single manufacturer, it is estimated that some 15% of UK dealerships now operate on a multi-franchise basis. Four of the largest dealers have established themselves as procurement and distribution specialist for major new Internet retailing sites.

Exclusive consumer research and authoritative market analysis throughout this report offers new insight into all the key industry issues, including:

- Overcoming consumer concerns – how manufacturers persuaded consumers to return to the showrooms and oversaw rebounding sales in 2001

- Used car sales

- The impact of new ranges of small cars which are fuel-efficient and good for city parking

- Consumer attitudes towards car retailing and confidence in car retailers

- Why, despite the cost of motoring continuing to increase in terms of total cost car purchase, car repair, car tax and fuel costs, the trend in the UK car parc continues to be upwards

- Speculation about supermarkets entering the car retailing sector

- Internet car retailers strengths and weaknesses

- Ways for major dealerships to develop the aftersales market and increase their market share for new cars.

This report is broken down into the following sections:

Retail Sales/ Consumer Expenditure/ Retail Structure/ Market Factors/ Consumer Shopping/ Retail Market Share/ Retail Profiles/ Retail Practices and Operational Issues/ Forecast