Auto Trader saw an average of 64 million cross platform visits in 2021, marking a 15% increase on the prior year.
This growth was supported by significant consumer marketing activity throughout the year.
2021 represented Auto Trader’s largest ever annual marketing investment, and culminated in the launch of a new campaign on Christmas Day.
In addition to more visits, the level of consumer engagement on Auto Trader has also strengthened.
It reports that over 75% of all time spent on UK automotive sites is spent on its marketplace.
It said that the volume of leads delivered to retailers in 2021 also saw significant growth, increasing 20% on 2020, and 62% on pre-pandemic 2019.
Nathan Coe, Auto Trader’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “2021 was a remarkable year for the industry, and I’m pleased that the very strong levels of consumer demand resulted in many retailers achieving record performance. The high demand, which we saw reflected on Auto Trader, also helped to fuel unprecedented double-digit price growth, and with it, very strong margins. Last year also marked important changes in consumer buying behaviours and a further positive shift in sentiment towards digital retailing, all of which will have a long-lasting influence on automotive retailing.
“As we look forward to the year ahead, and beyond, we’re proud that the strength of our marketplace puts us in the best possible position to help our retailer partners. Not only to capitalise on the growth in consumer demand, but as we continue to provide more tools, more data, and more insight, to also successfully embrace the huge opportunities that these changes present.”
