Automotive Insights, the Manchester-based data and tech company which specialises in the automotive industry and surveys more than 1,000 UK motorists every month, has appointed former Ford UK MD and chairman Andy Barratt as chairman of the company’s advisory board.
Barratt who is a seasoned Industry leader having served in senior roles at Toyota, Lexus and emerging Chinese brands across the United Arab Emirates; Kia, Changan and Volvo Truck in Kuwait, and is a former vice president of the SMMT alongside his senior positions at Ford Motor Company (UK and Ireland) said: “It was once said that ‘data is the new horsepower’ in the automotive industry. Yet despite fierce competition, price pressure, shifting consumer expectations and the growing threat from new entrants emerging from China and across Asia, the sector still has a blind spot when it comes to truly understanding the consumer.”
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He continued: “We know just how important customer insights are to the retail automotive industry today, and I was so impressed with the level of insights available through Automotive Insights innovative platform – I was excited to get involved, and assist the team with their purpose of setting the new standard in just-in-time market intelligence.”
Nigel Morris, commercial director of Automotive Insights & Research Services added: “Andy’s appointment is another demonstration of our ambition, and his experience will further inform our future plans both in the UK and internationally.”
The Manchester based company is about to issue its first annual report, which has been overseen by former Auto Trader director of research & insights Richard Walker. The report provides a unique perspective of the insights behind the numbers and will be available later this month.
Walker, now executive director of research & insights, said: “It has been a really interesting project to pull this report together. With us being able to use a combination of extensive desk research with our propriety data from surveying 12,000 UK motorists, it certainly will provider readers with a unique understanding of the insights behind the numbers.”
Automotive Insights works closely with Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Greater Manchester academics and PHD students, and in January 2025 started investing in speaking to 1,000 UK motorists a month and continuing to engage industry leaders on what was “keeping them awake at night”.
