Newly-launched Autovia comprises a stable of automotive digital and print media brands, including:
- AutoExpress – a weekly car magazine and accompanying website
- Driving Electric – a brand dedicated to the emerging electric market
- Car Throttle – a social media car community
- Driver Power – an in-depth survey into the UK car-buying public
These are coupled with BuyaCar, one of the UK’s leading used car buying websites. Partnering with over 1,400 dealer sites nationwide, it offers used cars to purchase and have delivered direct to the door.
According to the publishers, the combined business, Autovia, gives customers looking to purchase a car intelligent, trusted advice and then a platform to easily buy the car they want. It provides dealers and OEMs with an efficient and effective way to market and sell their cars.
Autovia will be led by a new management team under Chair Peter Plumb and CEO Andy Oldham, both accomplished digital leaders within their own sectors.
Peter Plumb is the former CEO of JustEat and MoneySuperMarket and is also Chair of Photobox.
Andy Oldham built Britain’s leading cashback and voucher platform Quidco to seven million members, 5,000 retail partners and retail sales of over £1.5bn per year.
Nicola Bates has been appointed CEO of Autovia’s media division.
Andy Oldham, CEO of Autovia, said: “With nine million monthly visitors, 14 million social media followers, relationships with the top 30 OEMs and over 1,400 dealer sites, we are already the destination of choice for the consumer and go-to partner for the industry.”
“Combining the insight and influence from the UK’s most widely-consumed automotive media brands, with almost 20 years’ experience hosting, selling and delivering cars direct to consumers enables Autovia to even more effectively serve partners and support growth.”
Peter Plumb, Chairman of Autovia, said: “Autovia is ideally positioned to support the industry’s growth ambitions, bringing customers and dealers closer together online.”
“The investment pouring into online car sales over the last two years has jump-started a sector-wide race to digital, opening up opportunities for those with the broadest and most engaged reach, the richest audience data and the most trusted brands and content.”
The new company is being launched as an independent business by parent company Dennis. Dennis is backed by private equity firm Exponent.
