London, Feb 16, 2026, 15:45 GMT — Regular session.
- Autotrader stock edged roughly 0.6% higher during London trading.
- Company data points to a sharp jump in EV advert views and dealer enquiries in 2025.
- Up next for investors: Autotrader’s full-year numbers hit May 21.
Autotrader Group plc (AUTOA.L) shares edged up 0.6% to 461.7 pence as of 1545 GMT on Monday. The online car marketplace released new figures showing a pickup in consumer appetite for electric vehicles.
Why does this update matter? Investors are hungry for a straight take on UK consumer demand and what car dealers are actually seeing, especially after recent swings in growth stocks. Autotrader’s grip on pricing and the volume of leads it generates are both seen as real indicators of sentiment in the showrooms—especially now, with the market trying to gauge how fast buyers will actually switch to battery-powered cars.
London’s main stock indexes pushed up, driven by a bounce in financials. Traders are watching a series of UK data releases this week—key for gauging where the Bank of England might head next.
Autotrader’s “Road to 2030” report shows a 28% jump in views of both new and used EV ads on its platform in 2025. Enquiries to retailers—sales leads, like customer messages or contact requests—climbed 27% from 2024. The report also puts UK new EV registrations last year at just under half a million, which worked out to roughly one in four new cars sold. Road to 2030
Still, demand isn’t uniform, the company noted. Autotrader reported that just 31% of users in UK postcode areas, on average, had clicked on at least one EV ad in the last 90 days. Their consumer research flagged a significant divide: city drivers are far more engaged than those in rural areas. “A two-speed road to 2030,” said Chief Customer Officer Ian Plummer, who argued policymakers should expand support — like the Electric Car Grant — to used vehicles, not just new, to “bring everybody with us.” AutoTrader
Shares moved from 460.8 pence to 472.2 pence on Monday, after finishing Friday’s session at 459.1 pence. In the last 52 weeks, they’ve ranged from as low as 454.6 pence up to 920.0 pence, Investing.com data shows.
Autotrader faces a risk if EV demand remains linked to shifting incentives and fluctuating monthly financing—factors that can swing fast with changes in policy or discount strategies from automakers. There’s also exposure on the dealer side: when car retailers pull back on advertising during a sluggish market, the platform’s revenue can dip, regardless of how site traffic looks.
All eyes now turn to May 21, when Autotrader reports full-year numbers. The company is set to share fresh details on trading, dealer demand, and its pricing outlook.
