Insights

Tagged:
Clear filters
Industry
Topic
Segment

Event Webinar

Residual Value Outlook 2026: What’s Next for Europe’s Used Vehicle Markets?

For the last few years, used-car markets across Europe have been under pressure, and the second half of 2026 is shaping up to be just as unpredictable. However, in this webinar, you’ll get a clear, data-backed view of where residual values are heading, and why. What’s Driving Europe’s Residual Value Movements in the Second Half of the Year? Behind every shift in used-car pricing is a web of macroeconomic pressures, supply-demand imbalances, and powertrain-level dynamics that are constantly evolving. In 2026, that complexity has only deepened.  Meanwhile, the UK used-car market, one of Europe’s largest and most distinctive, is following its own trajectory.  In this session, our valuations experts will walk you through the latest residual value forecasts, the macro forces behind the numbers, and what it all means for vehicle value retention across the markets you operate in.  Register for the webinar  Join us on 16 July at 10:30 BST / 11:30 CEST,  for a live session covering the latest used-car market forecasts, depreciation trends, and key industry questions for the second half of 2026. SIGN UP NOW Questions we will answer How are macroeconomic trends influencing the automotive market right now? What is happening in used-car markets as we head into the second half of 2026? What do the latest forecasts reveal, and what should you prepare for today? Meet our experts Hear directly from our specialists with hands-on experience across European used-car markets, residual value modelling, and automotive pricing forecasts Who This Webinar Is For This session is designed for automotive industry professionals whose work is directly shaped by used-car values, vehicle depreciation, and market pricing dynamics: Finance, insurance, and risk analysts Fleet, leasing, and residual value managers OEMs Pricing and product managers Portfolio and remarketing managers Industry executives and business analysts What You Will Gain A clear view of the European used-car market conditions: Understand depreciation pressures, supply dynamics, and demand signals determining vehicle value retention across key European markets. The latest residual value forecasts, straight from the source: Get the most up-to-date RV projections and used-car pricing outlook, explained by the experts. A focused look at the UK used-car market: Dig into one of Europe’s largest and most unique automotive markets, its depreciation trends, pricing dynamics, and what they signal for the broader region. The market will remain uncertain for some. Yet, by attending this webinar, you can gain a sharper understanding of the forces shaping residual values and used-car price movements in the second half of 2026, and what they mean for the decisions you’re making right now.  Got questions? We’ll answer them live Submit your questions to [email protected], and if we don’t get to them on the day, one of our experts will follow up directly. Register now, and if you miss the live session, a recording of the webinar will be available.  
A german road representing the new car market

News

Are private buyers driving Germany’s new-car market forward? 

With another month of new-car registrations growth in Germany, one force appears to be driving the market forward. But how are powertrains and brands performing in the country? Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, explores the figures.  Deliveries of new cars in Germany rose by 2.7% year on year in April, reaching 249,163 units. According to KBA data, private buyers helped drive this growth. Registrations in this sector climbed by 8.2% to 88,182 units.   However, private buyers […]
|

News

What is an infotainment system?

Technological advances have rendered older in-car entertainment systems effectively obsolete. Now, carmakers combine entertainment and information as a central point of interior design. Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the rise of the infotainment system. The rapid development of technology has replaced in-vehicle cassette and CD players with new systems. While music streaming meant losing bulky radio units, the need to display more driver information required bigger screens.   By combining information and entertainment, the infotainment system has been a step forward for interior vehicle design and functionality. These systems are now a staple of modern cars, but some developments have been a cause for concern.  https://youtu.be/yVLCP0bfm-0 Growth of the infotainment system  With the development of touchscreen technology, integrating displays into vehicles for data and control access is a logical step. These screens provide more than just music playback. They also offer access to a wide range of systems.  These displays can provide navigation, views from external-facing cameras, as well as battery charge and health in electric vehicles (EVs). Many also feature Bluetooth connection for calls and smartphone integration. This allows users to bring their own music, apps and personal settings into the car.   Meanwhile, the infotainment system can act as a control location for certain vehicle functions. Menus and sub-menus provide detailed access to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle customisation, driver profiles, and more.  Some carmakers have even opted to reduce or remove physical buttons for certain systems. This produces a cleaner and sleeker interior design, but can also lead to potential safety issues.  Are screens a distraction?  The ability of an infotainment system to house various vehicle controls can free up space inside a car. However, with some controls buried in sub-menus, out of easy reach of the driver, there are concerns around distraction.  Climate control, driving profiles, heated seats, and regenerative braking levels in EVs can be reduced from physical to digital buttons. But searching for these settings on a touchscreen can mean less focus on the road.   Research published by  TRL, on behalf of safety charity IAM Roadsmart in 2020, highlighted these concerns. Findings showed that driving performance was more negatively impacted when using touch controls compared with voice control.   Study participants were able to keep their eyes on the road more when using voice control than touch control. They were also more likely to identify stimuli that required attention. Despite this, most participants in the study reported using touch rather than voice control in their real-world driving.  Ensuring infotainment system safety  The concerns over driver distraction have led to Euro NCAP making a button-based request of carmakers for 2026. The safety body is asking manufacturers to either offer physical controls or dedicate a fixed portion of the cabin display to primary driving functions. This includes the horn, indicators, hazard lights, windscreen wipers and headlights.   So, the road ahead looks to be a matter of balance when it comes to infotainment systems. The technology will still need to support an increasing number of vehicle capabilities while also meeting higher consumer expectations. However, this will need to be levelled with control accessibility and driver attention.   
|

News

The Automotive Update: What fleets learnt about electromobility at Flotte

Fleets flocked to Flotte in Germany, with industry experts taking to the stage to share vital insights. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus finds out what happened at the event in the latest Automotive Update podcast. In this episode, Dr Christof Engelskirchen, chief economist and director of professional services, Europe, JD Power, shared his Flotte insights. This includes electrification, the role of fleets, and the opportunities and risks for these businesses. Subscribe to the Autovista24 podcast and listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music. Fleets and Flotte Taking place between 25 and 26 March in Düsseldorf, Germany, Flotte welcomes Germany’s fleet industry experts and decision makers. Among them was a team from JD Power, including Dr Christof Engelskirchen, who gave a presentation at Flotte. His session was titled ‘E-mobility in the headwinds – fleets as a beacon of hope and risk factor’. Speaking with Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus, he outlined some of the major points from this presentation. Of all the topics that could be presented to a room full of fleet professionals, one stood out: electrification. Fleets play an important role in the push towards electric vehicles, while the technology presents big risks and opportunities. Fleets behind the steering wheel In major EU new-car markets, electrification continues to be a subject in the headlights. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) currently make up under 30% of new-car registrations in each of Germany, France, Italy and Spain, according to ACEA. ‘That is a long way to go when you consider what the EU has been prescribing, which used to be a 100% tailpipe CO2 emission reduction by 2035 and is now becoming a 90% reduction,’ Engelskirchen said. ‘So, we have that gap that needs to be bridged.’ One of the biggest markets in the region, contributing heavily to the powertrain development, is Germany. With a large fleet industry making a significant proportion of registrations, these businesses will be vital to electrification. Weighing things up at Flotte There are sizeable opportunities for fleets within this transformation. Engelskirchen outlined that one of the biggest opportunities is the additional volume that is running through leasing companies and banks. Other buyers, such as private consumers and other companies, may not want to hold BEV asset risks. But this is not a result of disliking the powertrain. It is because it is not their core business to manage asset risks. Instead, this is the business of banks and leasing companies, Engelskirchen outlined. Leasing companies are now shifting their portfolios from what was 95% internal-combustion engine vehicles towards a greater balance. By 2035, it is conceivable that these fleets will have changed massively in favour of BEVs. However, this transition brings about its own risks. ‘You do need to get your head around the different residual value and depreciation profiles of electric vehicles. It is very dynamic,’ said Engelskirchen. ‘It certainly requires additional variables to consider in your risk management.’
Radio microphone on black background. 3d illustration|

News

The Automotive Update: The changing fortunes of Chinese and European EV markets

How did the Chinese and European electric vehicle (EV) markets perform at the start of 2026? Plus, which manufacturers are speeding up plug-in vehicle charging? Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, presents the latest episode of the Automotive Update. In this episode, Autovista24 looks at the varying performances of the Chinese and European EV markets. Plus, how are carmakers speeding up EV charging? Also, an insight into which manufacturers are turning to robotics and AI for use in their production lines. Subscribe to the Autovista24 podcast and listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music. China sees EV struggles China’s EV market recorded a decline of 27.1% in January, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. Both the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sectors saw sales decline year on year. The results were reflected in the best-seller tables, where mainstream models struggled. The Xiaomi YU7 was the leading BEV in January, with a dominant display. It  was some way ahead of the second-placed Nio ES8. The Tesla Model Y finished third. Meanwhile, the PHEV table saw BYD dominance slip away. Leading the charge was the Fang Chen Bao Tai 7, a BYD sub-brand and model. It was ahead of the Aito M7, while the BYD Song Pro finished third in the month. Europe’s EV market on a high Conversely, Europe’s EV sales grew, according to EV Volumes data. Sales were up 19.2% overall in January, with both BEVs and PHEVs seeing increases. PHEVs posted a 33.5% rise, while BEV deliveries increased by 12.7%. The Skoda Elroq was Europe’s best-selling BEV in January. It was followed by the combined results of the Renault 5 and Alpine A290, with the Tesla Model Y in third. In the PHEV market, two Chinese models led the way. The BYD Seal U came first, ahead of the Jaecoo J7. Both PHEVs were well ahead of the Volvo XC60 in third place. Even faster battery charging The Denza Z9GT, a model from BYD’s premium marque, is set to arrive in Europe later this year. It could enable quicker charging times of up to 12 minutes. According to Denza, the Z9GT delivers a 10% to 70% charge in only five minutes, and a 10% to 97% refill in just nine minutes. The carmaker also quoted a 20% to 97% recharge in 12 minutes, even in temperatures around -30°C. Meanwhile, Chery has revealed its all-solid-state battery that can achieve a range of over 1,500km, Electrek reported. A robotic future? Renault is using an AI-trained humanoid robot, called Calvin, to help it build cars. It was developed by French robotic firm Wandercraft. Renault plans to roll out a further 350 humanoid robots over the next 18 months, according to Auto Express. This comes as carmakers increasingly identify automation and robotics investment as a key response to rising costs and competitive pressures. A recent survey by ABB robotics revealed that 31% of vehicle manufacturers and suppliers felt this way.

Displaying 12 of 44 insights