The development of the car aftermarket: launching our UK MARKETPLACE

At AUTODOC, our vision is to build Europe’s leading tech ecosystem for the automotive aftermarket. Since our inception in 2008, we have focused on simplifying the process of sourcing vehicle parts through a robust online retail model. However, as the automotive landscape shifts toward more diverse propulsion systems and increasingly digitalised supply chains, our business model must also evolve.

This principle has amongst others guided our strategic direction and underpins the launch of the AUTODOC MARKETPLACE.
The official launch of the AUTODOC MARKETPLACE represents a significant milestone in this evolution. Its rollout in the United Kingdom is the latest step in our transition from a traditional online retailer to a comprehensive, technology-driven automotive platform.

A proven European success: the journey so far

While the UK launch is a major highlight of 2026, the MARKETPLACE is already a proven concept with a rapidly growing European footprint. The technical journey began in early 2024, leading to our initial launch in France in February 2025. This pilot served as the blueprint for a rapid pan-European rollout.

Following the success in France, we expanded the platform to our home market in Germany and Austria in July 2025. Throughout the remainder of that year, the MARKETPLACE went live in Italy, Spain, Portugal and across the Benelux region. With the inclusion of the UK, the MARKETPLACE is now active in ten key European countries, offering competitive pricing and delivery times as well as a wide variety of specialised categories.

The third pillar

The MARKETPLACE is designed to complement our core operations and will not replace them. We categorise our business into three distinct pillars:

• B2C Retail: Our established direct-to-consumer online shop
• B2B (AUTODOC PRO): Our specialized service for professional workshops, fleet operators with workshops and independent mechanics
• MARKETPLACE: Our platform for third-party professional sellers

By integrating curated external vendors, we are moving toward a future-oriented platform that maximises flexibility. As Zadorojnii notes, “In addition to our B2C business and AUTODOC PRO, this MARKETPLACE will serve as a linking element, ensuring the consistent and sustainable continuation of our growth story.”

Strategic importance of the UK market

The United Kingdom is a unique environment within the European automotive sector. With its high density of vehicles and a sophisticated community of both DIY enthusiasts and independent professional mechanics, the demand for high-quality parts is constant.
“The UK has one of the most sophisticated automotive cultures in the world,” Zadorojnii emphasises. This cultural depth requires a localised approach. By launching the MARKETPLACE in the UK, AUTODOC is better equipped to offer specialised parts—such as right-hand drive components—by partnering with local distributors who possess deep expertise in the British car parc.

How the MARKETPLACE works

The UK MARKETPLACE is powered by a sophisticated technological stack in partnership with Mirakl, a leader in marketplace software. This ensures a seamless integration between our existing e-commerce interface and the diverse systems of our third-party partners.

• Curated Vendor Network: We do not operate an “open” marketplace. Every partner—whether a brand owner, wholesaler or OEM group—undergoes a rigorous vetting process.
• Real-Time Integration: Vendors connect via advanced APIs, ensuring that stock levels, pricing, delivery times and technical specifications are synchronised in real-time.
• Specialised Categorisation: Unlike generalist retailers, our platform is built by automotive experts. “Our goal is to provide a dedicated alternative to generic online retail stores,” says Zadorojnii. “British customers now have a one-stop shop where every listing is curated for the automotive context and the specialties of the British market.”

Benefits for customers and sellers

• For customers: The primary advantage is a vastly expanded catalogue. Beyond standard wear-and-tear parts, customers now have access to specialised tools, EV accessories and lifestyle products. Increased competition between sellers also helps ensure competitive pricing and faster local delivery.
• For sellers: Professional sellers gain access to our 9.3 million active customers (as of December 2025). This provides a digital storefront with massive pre-existing traffic and sophisticated SEO, allowing them to avoid being overshadowed on horizontal marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.

Addressing the challenges of a digital ecosystem

Operating a vertical marketplace in the automotive sector presents specific technical challenges that we are committed to solving.

Data accuracy and fitment

In our industry, a “wrong part” isn’t just an inconvenience; it can lead to safety concerns and high return costs. We address this through rigorous data management. We require our marketplace partners to provide high-quality compatibility data (standardised via ACES/PIES or equivalent regional formats). This ensures that our “Part Finder” tool remains accurate, matching products to specific vehicle registrations with a high degree of confidence.
It is worth noting, however, that the automotive parts ecosystem is inherently complex. A single vehicle model—say, a mid-range hatchback produced over a six-year cycle—may encompass dozens of distinct configurations: multiple engine displacements, regional trim variants, mid-cycle facelifts and manufacturer-specific OEM revisions, each requiring a different part. OEM part numbers can overlap across generations or differ between markets even for visually identical components. In practice, this means that when a customer selects a part based on model name or year alone—without specifying the exact engine code, body type or production date range—the resulting mismatch is not a failure of the platform, but a reflection of the genuine complexity embedded in the OEM supply chain. Our Part Finder tool is specifically designed to guide customers through these variables, and in the vast majority of cases where a part does not fit as expected, a closer review of the vehicle’s full specification reveals that a more precise selection was required. We actively work for clearer fitment guidance and richer product data to minimise such situations and help customers make the right choice the first time.

Quality control and seller vetting

We do not operate an “open” marketplace. Every seller undergoes a rigorous vetting process to ensure they meet our standards for product quality and operational reliability. Once onboarded, we monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as shipping speed and customer inquiry response times. This curated approach ensures that our brand reputation for reliability is upheld across all transactions, regardless of who fulfills the order.

Looking ahead

The launch of our UK MARKETPLACE is not the final goal, but a beginning. As we continue to refine the platform, we expect to see a more integrated automotive aftermarket—one where data-driven insights help us anticipate customer needs and provide a more personalised shopping experience. We intend to continue playing an integral role in this automotive aftermarket integration process by staying ahead of developments and growing our market share. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem, we are ensuring that AUTODOC becomes the primary destination for automotive solutions in the UK and across Europe.