Motorpoint FY26 trading update: record volumes, 83% profit jump, and a new Leeds store
Motorpoint has served up a punchy full-year trading update for FY26, with a blend of record volumes, sharply higher profit, and a measured nod to macro risks. The headline: profit before tax is expected to be around £7.5 million, up 83% year on year, powered by record retail volumes of about 65,000 vehicles and the strongest “metal margin” performance the Group has seen. A new store is set to open in Leeds this summer, extending the network and the brand’s reach.
There is a clear narrative here: supply back to normal, better buying and pricing through data, and early wins from AI. The caution flag is up on inflation and interest rates, but Motorpoint’s omnichannel model and customer service scores suggest the engine is running smoothly.
Headline numbers investors need to know
| Metric | FY26 (expected) | FY25 (reported) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail volumes | c.65,000 | Not disclosed | Up 8.0% |
| Profit before tax | c.£7.5m | £4.1m | Up 83% |
| EBITDA | c.£27.0m | £23.9m | Up 13.0% |
| Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) | c.70% | Not disclosed | n/a |
| Net Promoter Score (NPS) | 83 | 80 | Improved |
Notes: EBITDA is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. ROCE is a measure of how efficiently a company turns its capital into profit. NPS is a customer satisfaction gauge from -100 to 100.
Outperforming the used car market, with data doing the heavy lifting
Motorpoint’s volumes grew 6.0% in the 2025 calendar year versus 2.2% for the overall used car market. That is meaningful outperformance in a space where the tide of supply and pricing can dominate outcomes. Management points to a normalising supply backdrop and more bulk deals, plus greater use of the Group’s Sell Your Car channel to secure stock.
The standout line is “record metal margin performance” – in plain English, stronger profit per vehicle after acquisition and preparation costs. The Group credits an embedded data-led approach to buying and pricing. That discipline helped offset inflationary pressures, especially in labour costs, which remain a watchout.
AI is already selling cars – c.900 incremental sales
Since launching its new agentic AI tool to reactivate historic closed quotes, Motorpoint attributes about 900 additional vehicle sales to this channel. That is not a rounding error – it shows AI is moving from buzzword to revenue driver. The application is practical, targeted, and squarely within Motorpoint’s core sales funnel.
The key question into finals will be sustainability and scalability: can AI-driven reactivation maintain momentum, and will it expand into other parts of the journey like pricing or service follow-ups? For now, the early proof point is encouraging.
Customer love trending higher
NPS improved to 83 from 80, reinforcing the customer service angle. In the used car world, trust and simplicity drive repeat custom and referrals, so this is more than a vanity metric. It underpins the omnichannel promise – online ease with in-store reassurance – that Motorpoint leans on to win share.
ROCE at c.70% highlights capital-light execution
Return on Capital Employed of about 70% is a striking number. It signals that Motorpoint’s model – running an omnichannel platform with a disciplined approach to inventory and site investment – is producing strong returns on the capital it deploys. High ROCE can be a buffer in tougher markets and a springboard when the tailwinds blow.
Leeds store opens summer 2026: footprint and flywheel
The Group will open in Leeds this summer, tapping a new, large market. Alongside its 21 sales and collection stores and its Motorpoint.co.uk platform, this adds another point of presence to feed both retail and sourcing. The omnichannel flywheel matters here: local brand presence supports site visits, part-exs, Sell Your Car intake and awareness, which in turn feeds online conversion.
What’s positive, what’s not
Positives
- Record retail volumes of around 65,000 and clear market outperformance.
- Profit before tax up 83% to about £7.5 million, supported by record metal margins.
- EBITDA growth of 13.0% to about £27.0 million shows operating progress.
- ROCE at around 70% supports the capital-light strategy.
- AI delivering approximately 900 incremental sales – early but real traction.
- NPS up to 83 from 80 – customer proposition strengthening.
- Leeds store opening expands the addressable market.
Watchouts
- Management flags macro uncertainty, with risks from higher inflation and interest rates.
- Inflationary pressure remains, notably in labour costs.
- “Record metal margin” sets a high bar – sustaining it as supply normalises will be a focus.
How I read it
This update is plainly good. The mix of volume growth, margin improvement and disciplined capital use tells a coherent story. Importantly, the uplift is not just a rebound in supply – Motorpoint is leaning on data and now AI to extract more value per unit and re-engage customers.
The caution on the macro is sensible. If inflation or rates push higher, affordability could wobble and wage costs bite. Even so, a stronger service score, a new store in Leeds, and an omnichannel setup that customers recognise should help Motorpoint defend and grow share.
What to watch for in June’s final results
- More colour on metal margin – how much of the profit uplift came from buying vs pricing discipline.
- Channel mix and sourcing – the contribution from bulk deals and the Sell Your Car channel.
- AI roadmap – beyond reactivating closed quotes, where next and what metrics will they share.
- Leeds details – opening timeline, expected capacity and any capex or payback guidance (not disclosed in this update).
- Current trading – commentary since year-end and how macro risks are feeding into demand and costs.
Quick context: what Motorpoint does
Motorpoint calls itself the UK’s leading independent omnichannel vehicle retailer. Customers can buy, sell or finance nearly new cars online at Motorpoint.co.uk, in store, or a mix of both. A network of 21 sales and collection stores underpins the physical footprint. On the B2B side, Auction4Cars.com is the online wholesale platform selling vehicles sourced from part-exchanges or directly from customers.
Bottom line
Record volumes, stronger margins and a big step up in profit make for an upbeat FY26 trading update. Add in a rising NPS, a high ROCE and a tangible AI contribution, and Motorpoint looks to be executing well into a still-tricky backdrop. The Leeds opening should add another lever for growth, while June’s results will fill in the detail on just how repeatable these gains are.
