With our arguably unique position looking across the whole of the automotive distribution sector from a forward-looking perspective, we occasionally get asked to comment or advise on possible opportunities to invest in the sector.

A recent article in Automotive News highlighted one of the downsides of the everything-connected world of omni-channel retailing; that when something goes wrong in one place, its impacts are felt throughout the network and across a range of partners.

In 1999 I (Peter Bailey) completed my M Phil thesis which, as well as providing a social history of the car and its industry, attempted to create a 20-20 vision for the industry and its internal and external environment. This was quite a job! I recently re-read this weighty tome, and was surprised to see just how close to current reality it was.