Editor's note

As 2021 draws closer to its conclusion, the latest edition of Motor Finance has a retrospective feel to it – assessing the challenges following what has been a tough period for the industry. Supply chain issues continue to wreak havoc for manufacturers and customers alike, while the clock on net-zero targets continues to tick.

In our Feature section, our reporter Chris Farnell assesses the £620m EV grant announced by the government at COP26 and whether it’s enough for the UK to achieve its climate goals, considering the current difficulties in the new car market.

We also check in with the motorcycle finance market, which has enjoyed a period of success in wake of the pandemic. Increases in consumer spending, coupled with the continued growth in popularity of companies such as Deliveroo and Just Eat, has helped the market during a difficult period. Despite the success however, the motorbike market has not escaped the supply chain issues plaguing the rest of the market and has work to do to weather the storm.

Our Analysis section begins with a conversation with Martin Potter of Aston Barclay, who discusses the work that the company is doing in the motor finance sector, namely the introduction of cascading auctions for its finance house clients.

We also take a deeper dive into the manufacturing side of the market and what the current outlook for the future is. Using analysis from GlobalData, we assess the current state of the global chip crisis, while looking ahead to a possible employment crisis in the industry as the shift to electrification demands a major transitioning in how factories are run.

In the Comment section, Seán Kemple, managing director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, advises UK dealers on how they can navigate the post-pandemic landscape, encouraging them to work smarter, not harder.

James Fairclough, chief executive of AA Cars, looks at the growing trend of buying cars online, while Paul Harrison of Leasing.com looks back on what has been a tumultuous period for the UK automotive industry, looking specifically at the changing attitudes to finance and the rise of electric vehicles.

Chris Lemmon, editor