LESS THAN A QUARTER OF NEW CARS HAVE MANUAL PARKING BRAKES

• CarGurus research reveals fewer than one in four new cars have traditional handbrakes
• Manual handbrakes dying out, as number of models fitted drops from 30% in 2019
• High volume models like BMW 1 series, 3 series, Peugeot 208 and Nissan Juke drop parking brakes
• Dacia the only mainstream manufacturer to offer standard handbrakes across range

Traditional handbrakes are continuing to die out as car manufacturers ditch them in favour of electronic parking brakes, according to research by CarGurus.

CarGurus, the fastest growing automotive shopping site in the UK(1) found that just 24% of new cars on sale in the UK today come with a manually operated handbrake, falling even further from 30% last year.

Some high-volume models, including the BMW 1 and 3 Series, Peugeot 208 and the Nissan Juke have all dropped classic manual parking brakes over the last year.

Only one mainstream manufacturer, Dacia, has a standard handbrake on every model in the range with the majority of car makers only offering the part on sportier cars or cheaper superminis.

A handful of manufacturers have phased out the part completely and replaced it with an electronic parking brake, while some use a foot-operated parking brake.

The CarGurus investigation found that Alfa Romeo, DS, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche and Volvo no longer have any models on sale fitted with a traditional handbrake.

While traditionalists would argue that the electronic parking brake removes the tactile feel, mechanical simplicity and interactivity of the classic handbrake, they are still considered a luxury convenience and safety feature by many, requiring less physical effort to hold the car more securely without the need for any adjustments.

Most electronic handbrakes disengage automatically when you pull away, plus they often offer an automatic hill-hold assist function as an additional safety benefit. From a design perspective, the switch helps de-clutter cabins too, taking up less interior space than a chunky lever on the centre console.

Chris Knapman, editor at CarGurus UK commented on the research, saying: "To the dismay of die-hard traditionalists it looks like the manual handbrake only has a few years left, as it continues its steady decline in the new car market.

"We expect the number of cars on sale with traditional handbrakes to decline even further over the coming years, likely relegated to a feature across a select few sporty and small-volume models. Though the manual handbrake may soon be a thing of the past in brand-new cars, its death might see some buyers dip into the used car market for some nostalgic handbrake turns."

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(1)CarGurus is the fastest growing online automotive marketplace in the UK among its nearest competitors based on the percent change in average unique monthly visitors from Q2 2019 to Q2 2020 (Source: Comscore MMX Multi-Platform®, Total Audience, Custom-defined list includes CarGurus.CO.UK, Motors.CO.UK, AutorTrader.CO.UK, Gumtree.com, Q2 2019 - Q2 2020, UK)

For further information, please contact:
James Drake at CarGurus – UKPR@CarGurus.com / 0208 541 3434 / +44 07809 657178

How CarGurus Works:
CarGurus helps car shoppers search local car listings and quickly find great deals from top rated dealers. Every day, the company analyses millions of data points on hundreds of thousands of UK car listings to calculate each car's Instant Market Value (IMV) or fair retail price. This data is used in combination with dealership ratings from other shoppers to rank and rate available cars results based on the quality of the deal: Great, Good, Fair, High or Overpriced. The site also provides transparency on how long the car has been on the forecourt and if it's had a price drop. Consumers can contact dealers directly.

About CarGurus:
Founded in 2006 by Langley Steinert (also a co-founder of TripAdvisor), CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG) is a global, online automotive marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of cars. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms and data analytics to bring trust and transparency to the automotive search experience and help users find great deals from top rated dealers. CarGurus is the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S. (source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, Automotive - Information/Resources, Total Audience, Q2 2020, U.S. (Competitive set: CarGurus.com, Autotrader.com, Cars.com, TrueCar.com)). CarGurus launched in the UK in 2015 and is the fastest growing online automotive marketplace in the UK among its nearest competitors based on the percent change in average unique monthly visitors from Q2 2019 to Q2 2020 (Source: Comscore MMX Multi-Platform®, Total Audience, Custom-defined list includes CarGurus.CO.UK, Motors.CO.UK, AutorTrader.CO.UK, Gumtree.com, Q2 2019 - Q2 2020, UK). In 2019, CarGurus acquired UK-based PistonHeads.com, which it operates as an independent brand. In addition to the United Kingdom and the United States, CarGurus also operates an online marketplace in Canada.

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