Autocar
Autocar, founded in 1895 and published by Haymarket Motoring Publications, is the world's oldest car magazine, serving consumer car buyers and enthusiasts — and via Autocar Business, automotive industry professionals — across print, web, video, podcast and membership channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1895
- HeadquartersTwickenham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Autocar does
Autocar is a British automobile magazine and digital media brand founded in 1895, making it the world's oldest car publication. It is published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd, a subsidiary of the private Haymarket Media Group, and operates out of Twickenham, UK. The brand targets two primary audiences: consumer car buyers and motoring enthusiasts, and, more recently, automotive industry professionals served through the B2B Autocar Business membership. Coverage spans new car reviews, road tests, industry news and electric vehicle reporting.
The product surface is a multi-channel media platform rather than a single publication. It comprises a print magazine, a website, long-form video on YouTube, podcasts, email newsletters, social media channels, and dedicated verticals such as Autocar Electric. Commercial output is diversified across print and digital advertising, consumer subscriptions, paid membership (including the Autocar Business tier), and affiliate revenue partnerships with downstream automotive commerce players (Motorway for car resale, ALA for gap insurance and warranty, What Car? Leasing). Editorial output is produced under IPSO-regulated journalistic standards.
The business model is a hybrid publishing model. The consumer content layer is largely free and monetized through advertising and affiliate commerce, with a subscription/membership upsell for enhanced access. The B2B layer monetizes automotive trade professionals directly via paid membership. Strategic emphasis has shifted toward revenue diversification — away from print advertising dependence and toward B2B membership, affiliate commission, and EV-focused verticals — in response to structural pressure on legacy print media.
Autocar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Autocar
- Legal name
- Haymarket Media Group Ltd
- Website
- https://autocar.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1895
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Autocar, founded in 1895 and published by Haymarket Motoring Publications, is the world's oldest car magazine, serving consumer car buyers and enthusiasts — and via Autocar Business, automotive industry professionals — across print, web, video, podcast and membership channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Autocar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Twickenham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Autocar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Autocar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Autocar is a British automotive media platform publishing car reviews, industry news, buying guides, and long-term tests since 1895, operating through its website (autocar.co.uk), a weekly print magazine, podcasts, video content, and newsletters. It serves both consumer car buyers seeking expert purchasing guidance and automotive industry professionals seeking news, analysis, and B2B intelligence.
Product overview
Autocar is a comprehensive automotive media platform offering a unified portfolio of car review content, industry news, and consumer buying services. The core offerings include in-depth vehicle reviews, curated Top 10 buying guides across vehicle segments (SUVs, electric cars, sports cars, luxury vehicles, convertibles, super-GTs, and family hatchbacks), the annual Autocar Awards program, used car advice, and specialized coverage for electric vehicles and company cars. Additional services include car search tools, newsletters, podcasts, and B2B automotive intelligence through Autocar Business. The platform operates primarily through its website at https://www.autocar.co.uk/ and publishes the Autocar magazine.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Car Reviews In-depth road tests, expert verdicts, and ratings for new and used cars across all segments including sports cars, SUVs, electric vehicles, and luxury vehicles, intended for car buyers and automotive enthusiasts.
- Car News Latest automotive industry news, features, opinions, and analysis covering new car launches, corporate developments, consumer advice, and automotive trends for car buyers and industry followers.
- Best Cars Top 10s Curated rankings and buying guides categorizing best cars by segment including SUVs, electric cars, sports cars, luxury cars, family cars, convertibles, and super-GTs to assist consumers in vehicle selection.
- Autocar Awards Annual awards program recognizing outstanding industry figures and exceptional vehicles across various categories, including the prestigious Issigonis Trophy.
- Used Car Reviews and Advice Expert guidance on buying and owning used cars, including buying guides, depreciation analysis, and reliable vehicle recommendations across price points for prospective used car buyers.
- Autocar Electric Dedicated section covering electric vehicles including reviews, range guides, charging advice, and EV-specific buying recommendations for consumers considering electric vehicles.
- Company Car Services Business-focused automotive content including company car tax calculator, fleet advice, and company car buying recommendations aimed at fleet managers and business drivers.
- Autocar Business B2B automotive intelligence covering industry trends, manufacturing news, corporate strategy, and automotive business analysis aimed at automotive industry professionals.
Companies that use Autocar
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Autocar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Autocar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Autocar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EVO: UK performance-car-focused magazine and website with deep road test reviews and enthusiast content. Direct peer in automotive enthusiast publishing with overlapping target audience and editorial approach.
- Top Gear: BBC-owned automotive media brand producing car reviews, news, video content, and entertainment. Directly comparable as a UK-focused automotive publication targeting enthusiasts and car buyers with overlapping editorial scope.
- Auto Express: Weekly UK automotive magazine and website covering new car reviews, news, and buying advice. Direct peer competing for the same UK car-buyer and enthusiast audience with a similar editorial product.
- What Car?: Haymarket's own sister title focused on new car reviews, buying advice, and car search tools. Direct comparison because it operates in the same UK automotive media space, serves the same audiences, and is published by Autocar's parent company.
- CAR Magazine: Long-running UK monthly automotive magazine covering reviews, features, and industry analysis. Direct peer with comparable editorial product targeting enthusiast car buyers and automotive professionals.
Emerging players
- Carwow: UK online car marketplace and review platform that connects buyers with dealers. Emerging player in automotive content-plus-transaction, intersecting with Autocar's new and used car search and dealer partnership offerings.
- PistonHeads: UK-based online automotive enthusiast community and classified marketplace for buying and selling enthusiast cars. Comparable as a digital-first automotive media and marketplace destination, though more transactional than Autocar's editorial focus.
Broad incumbents
- Car and Driver: Major US-based automotive magazine and website providing reviews, news, and buying advice. Broad incumbent with overlapping editorial scope serving a global English-speaking audience of car enthusiasts and buyers.
- Road & Track: Long-standing US automotive enthusiast publication covering reviews, motorsport, and features. Broad incumbent with a similar editorial heritage and audience overlap in enthusiast automotive journalism.
- MotorTrend: Established US automotive media brand covering reviews, news, video, and TV content. Broad incumbent offering comprehensive automotive journalism comparable to Autocar's multi-format content strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Autocar social profiles
Digital presenceAutocar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Autocar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Autocar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Autocar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Autocar
What does Autocar do?
Autocar is a British automotive media platform publishing car reviews, industry news, buying guides, and long-term tests since 1895, operating through its website (autocar.co.uk), a weekly print magazine, podcasts, video content, and newsletters. It serves both consumer car buyers seeking expert purchasing guidance and automotive industry professionals seeking news, analysis, and B2B intelligence.
Is Autocar a public or private company?
Autocar is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Autocar founded?
Autocar was founded in 1895. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Autocar based?
Autocar is headquartered in Twickenham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Autocar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EVO, Top Gear, Auto Express, What Car? and CAR Magazine. Emerging players are Carwow and PistonHeads. Broad incumbents are Car and Driver, Road & Track and MotorTrend.
Does Autocar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Autocar.