Auto Trader Retail Price Index

As of March 2020, the methodology for the Auto Trader Retail Price Index was adapted based on resegmentation of our data. We have regrouped car segments into more meaningful classifications of the different types of vehicles that consumers buy, from an even greater depth of data than before. As we now have a more detailed dataset, we have restated figures for prior periods to reflect the change in methodology.

The data for electric vehicles (EV) starts from September 2012 as at that point we began to record a sufficient volume of movements in the market to begin accurately analysing and producing year-on-year price movements.

Instead of a single overarching EV category, we have divided it into separate premium and volume categories to reflect the broad range of brands entering the EV market at different times, with differing volumes and contrasting price points, in order to more accurately track market performance.

Definitions

AFVs: alternatively fuelled vehicles – alternative fuelled vehicles – any vehicle powered by fuels alternative to petrol or diesel, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

EV - Premium: fully electric vehicles from the following brands: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, DS Automobiles, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Tesla and Volvo.

EV - Volume: fully electric vehicles from the following brands: Citroen, Dacia, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, MG, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

Like-for-like: percentage price changes, after removing the impact of stock mix.

Mix growth: percentage of changes in the mix of stock on Auto Trader’s marketplace (the types of vehicles entering or leaving the market).

Price: the average advertised retail price of a used car seen by Auto Trader.