What Auto Express does

Auto Express is a UK-based consumer automotive media brand founded in 1988 and operated by Carwow Studio Limited, part of the Carwow Group, with editorial headquarters in London. It publishes a weekly print magazine (1.8M+ annual copies), the autoexpress.co.uk website (45M+ annual unique users), email newsletters, and active channels across YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, targeting UK car buyers, enthusiasts, and existing car owners through news coverage, expert road tests, long-term tests, group tests, used-car buying guides, and annual awards programmes (New Car Awards with 27 categories, Car Product Awards, Driver Power owner-satisfaction survey).

The core offering is editorial: in-house automotive journalists produce reviews and verdicts built on real-world test data, supplemented by a proprietary annual Driver Power owner survey that underpins reliability and satisfaction rankings. Adjacent utility products include free car valuation, MoT history checks, and car tax calculators. Underlying technology is a digital publishing platform with car review, news, and marketplace integration, with Carwow-licensed Find A Car marketplace connecting readers to franchised dealers for new, used, and lease vehicles.

The business model combines three revenue streams: advertising (display, sponsored content, and ad features across website and magazine), affiliate/referral income from the Carwow-managed marketplace where Carwow Ltd and Carwow Leasey Limited receive fees from dealers advertising finance (regulated by the FCA), and recurring print/digital magazine subscriptions at discounted rates versus newsstand pricing. Auto Express now operates alongside Carwow Group sister titles Carbuyer and DrivingElectric, with shared editorial leadership (Paul Barker as group Editor; Steve Walker as group Head of Digital).

Name

Auto Express

Legal name

Carwow Studio Limited

Website

https://autoexpress.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Auto Express, founded 1988 and operated by Carwow Studio Limited within the Carwow Group, is the UK's leading car news and reviews publication, delivering expert road tests, buying guides, and annual awards via a weekly print magazine, website (45M+ users), and social channels for UK car buyers, enthusiasts, and owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Auto Express generates revenue through display advertising, sponsored content, and advertisement features on its website and magazine. The publication attracts significant readership that advertisers targeting car buyers would find valuable.
2. Referral/Lead Generation: The Find a Car marketplace service partnered with Carwow generates referral fees when customers are introduced to dealers or finance providers through the platform. Carwow Studio Limited and Carwow Ltd receive fees from retailers advertising finance.
3. Magazine Subscriptions: The publication sells print and digital magazine subscriptions, with options for individual issues or ongoing subscriptions at discounted rates compared to newsstand prices.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Auto Express is a UK automotive media brand that publishes expert car reviews, road tests, long-term vehicle evaluations, and breaking automotive news through its website, weekly print magazine, and digital editions. It operates the Find a Car online marketplace (in partnership with Carwow) connecting consumers with franchised dealers for new, used, and leased vehicles, and provides free online tools including car valuation, MoT history checks, and car tax verification. Revenue is generated through advertising, referral/lead-generation commissions, and paid magazine subscriptions.

Product overview

Auto Express is a UK-based automotive reviews and news publication offering a comprehensive digital platform for car buyers and enthusiasts. The core offering centers on expert car reviews, road tests, and long-term vehicle evaluations, complemented by breaking automotive news and industry coverage. The platform operates a car dealer marketplace in partnership with Carwow for new, used, and leased vehicles. Additional services include free car valuation tools, MoT and car tax checkers, and extensive car product testing for accessories and tyres. The publication runs the annual New Car Awards program with over 27 categories, and publishes curated buying guides, used car buyer guides, and practical motoring tips and advice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Car Reviews and Road Tests In-depth expert reviews, road tests, long-term tests and head-to-head group tests of new and used cars covering performance, practicality and real-world fuel economy, written for UK car buyers and enthusiasts.
• Car News and Industry Coverage Breaking automotive news covering new model launches, industry developments, regulatory changes, consumer issues and market trends for UK motorists.
• Find a Car Marketplace Online car marketplace connecting buyers with franchised dealers for new, used and leased vehicles, operated in partnership with Carwow and offering cars at discounts over manufacturer list prices.
• Free Car Valuation Tool Free online tool that allows users to assess their vehicle's value for selling purposes.
• MoT History Checker Online tool enabling UK motorists to check a vehicle's MoT history and status.
• Car Tax Checker Online tool that helps users calculate and verify vehicle road tax obligations.
• Car Product Testing and Reviews Expert testing and reviews of car accessories, tyres, car care products, dash cams and automotive tools, including the annual Car Product Awards.
• Best Cars Rankings and Buying Guides Curated buying guides and rankings covering best electric cars, hybrids, SUVs, family cars and reliability, based on Driver Power owner surveys.
• New Car Awards Annual awards program recognizing the best new cars across 27+ categories including Car of the Year, selected through expert evaluation and owner feedback.
• Auto Express Weekly Print Magazine Weekly print magazine providing in-depth car reviews, industry coverage and consumer advice, available via UK newsstands and paid subscription.
• Digital Magazine Subscriptions Digital editions of the Auto Express magazine delivered via Zinio on a subscription basis at discounted rates versus newsstand pricing.
• Auto Express YouTube Channel YouTube channel delivering video reviews, car tests and automotive content to UK motorists.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Carwow LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuto Express 'Find A Car' service is managed by Carwow Ltd. Carwow Studio Limited is the owner/licensee of intellectual property rights in the Auto Express website. Carwow Ltd and Carwow Leasey Limited are credit brokers that may receive fees from retailers advertising finance. Carwow is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Car and Driver: Car and Driver is a US-based automotive magazine and digital publisher with an analogous editorial model of reviews, news, and comparison tests. While US-focused, it competes for global English-language automotive search traffic and advertiser attention.

Others

• Carwow: Carwow is the parent company's car-buying marketplace platform that powers Auto Express's Find a Car service. It is a sister brand within the same group that monetizes the audience Auto Express generates through editorial content, making it an ecosystem partner rather than a direct editorial competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Auto Trader: Auto Trader is the UK's leading car classifieds marketplace and competes with Auto Express's Find a Car service in connecting buyers with dealers. While primarily a marketplace rather than editorial brand, it competes for the same car-buyer intent traffic and dealer ad budgets.
• Carbuyer: Carbuyer is a sister title to Auto Express within the Carwow Group, offering car reviews and buying advice. It overlaps in target audience and product but focuses more on new-car buying guidance, making it a related competitor within the same corporate portfolio.
• DrivingElectric: DrivingElectric is another Carwow Group sister title focused specifically on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It overlaps with Auto Express's EV coverage but operates as a focused, niche property within the same group.

Direct peers

• Motor1: Motor1 is a global digital automotive publisher delivering news, reviews, and videos to enthusiast and buyer audiences. It competes for UK search traffic and ad spend with a similar content-led, multi-platform editorial model.
• Top Gear: Top Gear is a globally recognized UK automotive media brand producing reviews, news, and video content for car enthusiasts. While more entertainment-led, it competes with Auto Express for the same UK enthusiast audience and advertiser spend.
• Autocar: Autocar is the UK's longest-running car magazine and a direct competitor to Auto Express in automotive news, reviews, and road tests. Both titles cover the UK car market with similar editorial formats, weekly print magazines, and digital content aimed at car buyers and enthusiasts.
• Parkers: Parkers is a UK car review and buying-advice site (now part of the Haymarket automotive group) that competes directly with Auto Express in car reviews, valuations, and buying guides targeting UK consumers.
• What Car?: What Car? is a leading UK car review and buying-advice publication competing directly with Auto Express in new car reviews, comparison tests, and pricing tools. It operates a similar content-plus-buying-tools model targeting UK car buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AutoExpress
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Autoexpress
• Facebookfacebook.com/AutoExpress
• Instagraminstagram.com/autoexpressmagazine/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@autoexpress?lang=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auto-express-magazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Auto Express