LONDON -

Analysts who compiled White Clarke Group’s United Kingdom Asset & Auto Finance Survey 2017 say that the U.K. finance market has been resilient in the face of historic changes in the past year, but challenges will remain in 2017 and beyond.

The firm noted its survey points to a series of key factors that will have the greatest impact on the market, including:

• Brexit

• Legislation

• Vehicle sales (new and used)

• Residual values growing demand for PCH

• New technology and innovation

• P2P lending

“The first and most encouraging point to note is that the asset and auto finance market not only continued to grow in 2016, in spite of fears of what might happen in the aftermath of the vote to leave the EU and wider concerns about the global situation, it has carried on growing into 2017 and shows little sign yet of slowing,” White Clarke Group chief executive officer Brendan Gleeson said in the report.

“Nonetheless, there are genuine concerns about the potential effects of Brexit, even though the Article 50 starting pistol has only just been fired and the UK won’t be exiting the EU until 2019,” he continued.

Gleeson went on to say, “One outcome is that auto finance deals are expected to remain very competitive. Dealers need to ensure customers genuinely understand the benefits of finance. Keeping up with developments in finance technology is paramount.”

The complete survey report can be downloaded here.