Cap hpi sets its sights on further European expansion

Leeds-based automotive data specialist Cap hpi is expanding into Europe, particularly focusing on the German and French markets.

The firm, which has its global headquarters in Capitol House in Leeds, has gone through a period of significant growth in recent years. The firm provides data on vehicle valuations and vehicle transactions, for both major corporate clients including vehicle manufacturers and motor sales groups like JCT600 and Sytner, as well as fleet firms such as Leeds-based Zenith and consumers directly.

Managing director Chris Wright said: “According to our data, across the ownership of a car, there are 54 different transactions in its lifetime; this includes licences, accidents, insurance; the whole sphere of information.

“Our data is there to forecast and inform; to simply the process of buying car – to reduce risk and inform decision making. It also identifies the vehicle’s values and depreciation is also a huge factor.”

The firm employs 350 people most of which are based in Leeds. Now, Wright and his team are launching their products in Europe and have employed field based people in those countries to expand into the new territories.

Wright added: “We have started to complete German and French valuations in the last six weeks and it is currently on trial with clients. We have deployed market experts and we also have a data centre in Slovakia. It will all be operated from our HQ and we are continually innovating.”

Wright said they were also looking at other countries to expand into, adding: “Looking at the next 1.5 months, we need to mobilise things very quickly.

The firm was started in Skipton 75 years ago, with just ten employees, and has since grown and also gone though several changes of ownership. It is now owned by US-based Solera,which processes over 200 million transactions annually.

Wright said consumers and commercial clients now wanted information quicker and in a more tactile format, which means that the firm has to develop products much quicker to meet demand. A recently  established ‘Innovation Hub’ has been established which brings together data scientists, analysts, developers and motoring experts to develop tools that help all sectors of the motor industry.

Wright, who has worked in the automotive industry for many years, added: “This means we can spin out ideas and thrash through the full concept. A project that may have taken months before has to take much less time now – perhaps only weeks.

“The consumer is ever more demanding of information and data and it is about putting the right information in front of them.”