Dealers are becoming more concerned about the impact their business is having on the environment.
That’s a key finding of research from Auto Trader, which found that the majority of retailers (80%) believe environmental impact is important to their business.
Franchise retailers were more likely to agree with 91% compared to 73% of independent retailers agreeing with the statement.
Over half (54%) of all retailers believe environmental responsibility will become more of a business priority in the future.
Retailers were also asked if there is enough information available to help them make informed decisions about the sustainability of their business and 75% of retailers agreed that there was.
The top benefits of increased awareness of their environmental impact selected by retailers were future-proofing their business with 34% of retailers voting for this, followed by cost savings on energy with 33% and then improved brand reputation with 30%.
Auto Trader launched the automotive Carbon Literacy toolkit in partnership with the Carbon Literacy Project at COP26 in November 2021.
The kit wad designed with input from dealers and carmakers, including Lookers, Nissan, Marshall Motor Group, Motorpoint and Available Car. Since launch, it has trained 2,176 automotive professionals across 144 organisations.
Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said: “It’s fantastic to see the importance retailers are placing on understanding and reducing their impact on the environment and this is sure to be a defining feature of retailers of the future.
“Taking an interest in sustainability often has dual benefits, for example carbon reduction initiatives can result in long-term cost savings which is always a priority for businesses.”