Autocar

Automotive Media and Journalismautocar.co.uk

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

Location

Headquarters

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 offering

Core 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 profile

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Autocar technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Autocar partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Autocar competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct 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 financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Autocar leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Autocar funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Autocar M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&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?

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.