7:55 am, January 2, 2026
Our weekly look at the most important automotive industry news has continued to grow in popularity this year – but if you’ve missed out, these have been the most popular stories of 2025.
There have been big sector shifts, new brands arriving and plenty of struggles, and our fantastic guests have talked about it all with the Car Dealer team.
Now, you can listen to all of the most popular episodes that are ranked below or watch the video of our favourite stories of the year at the top of this page.
1. Episode 222 – JLR hacked, GVE enters administration, and only six cars likely to get full EV grant – with Joe Betty
This episode topped the charts as car dealer Joe Betty joined the Car Dealer Podcast to discuss the fallout from JLR’s systems hack, the collapse of GVE, and confusion surrounding EV grants.
2. Episode 192 – Chancellor wades into car finance debate, Motability’s huge losses, and VW says goodbye to agency – with Malcolm Beattie
Car dealer Malcolm Beattie from MB Motors appeared on this hugely popular episode to unpack government intervention in car finance, mounting losses at Motability, and Volkswagen’s agency rethink.
3. Episode 200 – Tesla protests and vandalism continues, Arnold Clark creates charging network, and car buyers “more disloyal than ever” – with Ben Cooper
Ben Cooper from Impel joined the podcast when backlash was growing against Tesla, including protests and vandalism, alongside wider shifts in consumer loyalty.
4. Episode 197 – Chinese cars boom in Europe, BMW cans EVs in Oxford, and James Batchelor mentions the war – with James Wilson
James Wilson from Motorway joined the discussion as the team examined the rapid rise of Chinese manufacturers in Europe and BMW’s EV decision in Oxford.
5. Car Dealer Podcast Live 2025 – with Vicky Hart, Matt Galvin and Alex Bradley
Recorded live, this special episode featured Vicky Hart, Matt Galvin and Alex Bradley discussing the biggest challenges and opportunities facing dealers. Covering profitability, leadership, and market pressures, the live format and high-profile panel helped make it one of the year’s standout listens.
6. Episode 228 – Geely launches in UK, Robert Forrester hits out at “Motability tax”, and how quickly should a dealer answer the phone? – with Nic Thomas
UK MD of Changan Europe Nic Thomas joined this wide-ranging episode covering Geely’s UK ambitions, Robert Forrester’s criticism of Motability policy, and customer response times.
7. Episode 198 – Marshall closures, EV sales up in February, and Tom Hartley in Harrods – with Phil Nothard
Cox Automotive’s Phil Nothard appeared on this episode where they discussed Marshall Motor Group site closures alongside encouraging EV sales data, while also touching on luxury retail trends.
8. Episode 226 – Car finance customers to get £700, GVE London accounts laid bare, and a surprising car outsold the Vauxhall Corsa – with Lee Shayler
Lee Shayler from DealerKit joined the team to break down what we know about the expected finance redress payments, discussed GVE London accounts, and unexpected registration data.
9. Episode 223 – JLR downtime spans two weeks, Harwoods offloads Land Rover sites, and FCA redress scheme due next year – with Steven Douglas
Steven Douglas from Dealerway featured on this episode examining the prolonged JLR systems outage, dealer disposals by Harwoods, and the upcoming FCA redress scheme.
10. Episode 234 – Top 100 most profitable dealers revealed, Gerry McGovern mysteriously departs JLR, and Zipcar pulls out of UK – with John Veichmanis
Carwow’s John Veichmanis joined this year-end episode revealing the Top 100 most profitable dealers while also discussing senior changes at JLR and Zipcar’s UK exit. The episode offered a data-led look at success in a difficult market, alongside signals of wider industry change.
