Veloce Publishing

What Veloce Publishing does

Veloce Publishing is an independent United Kingdom-based book publisher founded in 1991 by Rod Grainger and Judith Brooks, specializing in high-quality, detailed motoring and automotive titles for enthusiasts. The catalog spans marque- and model-specific works (e.g., Mercedes-Benz SL 'Pagoda', Nissan GT-R, Toyota MR2, Lotus Europa, Škoda Octavia, Mercedes-AMG), motorsport history (Grand Prix Ford), and era-based titles (60s Speed), with unit pricing between £19.99 and £200 and a typical mid-range of £25–£75. Books are sold as one-time purchases in physical hardcover/paperback and digital (PDF) formats; distribution combines a direct-to-consumer Lightspeed e-commerce storefront with worldwide wholesale via Macmillan (MDL) and global bookstore availability.

In 2024, the Veloce imprint was acquired by David and Charles, a hobby and interest-focused publisher that now handles trade contacts, ordering, and new submissions while the Veloce brand is retained. The company employs 11–50 people and ships from the UK to international customers via courier (UK via DPD). There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no proprietary technology stack beyond Lightspeed, and no disclosed revenue or headcount trajectory. The business is a niche consumer publishing imprint whose commercial mechanics are unit sales through enthusiast channels, with no enterprise customers, subscriptions, or recurring revenue components identified.

Name

Veloce Publishing

Legal name

Veloce Publishing

Website

https://veloce.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Veloce Publishing is a UK-based independent automotive book publisher, founded in 1991, that produces detailed motoring titles for enthusiasts. It sells physical and digital books direct-to-consumer via its website and through global bookstores, and has operated as a David and Charles imprint since 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB), Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Sales & Merchandising (Publisher Stores, Bundles) (MPAJAKAD), Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales) (MPAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Automotive book publishing
• Motoring reference books
• Classic car literature
• Motorsport history books
• Vehicle marque titles

Headquarters

HQ city

Dorchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Veloce Publishing generates revenue through the sale of physical and digital books focused on motoring and automotive content. Products are sold as one-time purchases with prices ranging from £19.99 to £200. The company also offers digital downloads (PDF files) for certain products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Core offering

Veloce Publishing is an independent automotive book publisher producing high-quality, detailed print and digital books on classic cars, performance vehicles, and motorsport history. The company sells these publications directly to motoring enthusiasts worldwide through its own e-commerce storefront and via global retail distribution.

Product overview

Veloce Publishing is a book publisher specializing in high-quality, detailed publications for motoring enthusiasts. The company produces a portfolio of automotive books covering classic cars, performance vehicles, and motorsport history. The product line includes individual book titles focused on specific vehicle models (Mercedes-Benz SL 'Pagoda', Nissan GT-R, Toyota MR2, Lotus Europa, Škoda Octavia), car brand histories (Mercedes-Benz AMG Cars), and motorsport subjects (Grand Prix Ford, 60s Speed). Books are available in physical format (shipped worldwide via their distributor Macmillan) and digital format (PDF downloads). In 2024, Veloce was acquired by David and Charles. The company utilizes the Lightspeed e-commerce platform for its online store operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Ultimate Book of the Mercedes-Benz SL 'Pagoda' A comprehensive hardcover book dedicated to the Mercedes-Benz SL 'Pagoda' (W113 series), covering its history, design, and engineering, aimed at motoring enthusiasts and Mercedes-Benz collectors. Priced at £200.
• The Nissan GT-R A detailed book covering the Nissan GT-R performance vehicle, exploring its performance heritage and technical specifications, intended for performance car enthusiasts. Priced at £75.
• Grand Prix Ford A book documenting Ford's involvement and achievements in Formula One Grand Prix racing, aimed at motorsport history enthusiasts. Available at £30.
• Toyota MR2 Coupés and Spyders A book dedicated to Toyota's MR2 sports cars, covering both the coupé and spyder variants, their development and legacy, for sports car enthusiasts. Priced at £25.
• Lotus Europa A book covering the Lotus Europa sports car, detailing its racing heritage and engineering, targeted at classic British sports car fans. Available at £25.
• Mercedes-Benz: The AMG Cars A book focusing on Mercedes-Benz's AMG high-performance vehicles, covering the history and development of the AMG brand within Mercedes, for performance and luxury car enthusiasts. Priced at £60.
• 60s Speed A book celebrating high-performance vehicles from the 1960s era, documenting the speed and innovation of the decade, for classic car enthusiasts. Priced at £24.99.
• Škoda Octavia A book dedicated to the Škoda Octavia vehicle, covering its history and evolution, for Škoda enthusiasts. Priced at £19.99.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• David and CharlesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, the Veloce imprint was acquired by David and Charles, a company whose mission is to create books and related products that ignite and nurture readers' hobbies and interests. David and Charles handles general company queries, trade contacts, ordering, and new book submissions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Brooklands Books: UK-based independent automotive publisher producing marque-specific and motorsport titles for enthusiasts. Closely comparable in niche focus, model-by-model deep-dive format, and British enthusiast market orientation.
• Haynes Publishing: UK-based publisher of automotive repair, maintenance, and motoring books, including owner/workshop manuals and enthusiast titles. Directly comparable as a long-standing British automotive book publisher serving the same enthusiast segment.
• Crowood Press: UK independent publisher with a significant automotive and motorsport catalog alongside other hobby subjects. Comparable in being a small-to-mid UK trade publisher producing enthusiast-grade automotive titles.
• Evro Publishing: UK-based independent publisher specializing in motorsport and high-performance car books. Closely comparable in producing marque-specific and racing-history titles for motoring enthusiasts.
• Porter Press: UK independent publisher of premium, large-format automotive and motorsport books for enthusiasts. Directly comparable in producing high-priced, illustrated, niche automotive titles for a collector readership.
• Osprey Publishing: UK publisher with an extensive automotive and motorsport line within a broader military and transport catalog. Comparable as a trade publisher producing high-quality illustrated automotive books for enthusiasts.
• Bentley Publishers: US-based publisher known for in-depth automotive technical and enthusiast books, including marque-specific and motorsport titles. Directly comparable in premium, detailed automotive reference content for enthusiasts.
• Motorbooks (MBI Publishing): US-based publisher specializing in automotive, motorsport, and transportation books for enthusiasts. Highly comparable in product category, customer base (motoring enthusiasts), and distribution model (trade and D2C).

Broad incumbents

• Quarto Group: Global illustrated book publisher with automotive and transport titles alongside many other categories. Comparable as a larger trade publisher operating in the enthusiast illustrated book space, but at much broader scale.
• David and Charles: UK hobby and interest book publisher that acquired Veloce in 2024. Now the parent operating company, sharing distribution, editorial, and trade infrastructure; broadly comparable as a hobby-focused trade publisher.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VeloceBooks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Veloce Publishing