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AutoImporter
For manufacturers & brands

Your route into the UK market. Handled end to end.

From first test vehicles to fleet-scale launch, AutoImporter ships, clears, adapts, tests and registers your EV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles for UK roads.

Book a market-entry consultationDownload capability overview (PDF)
  • Battery electric (BEV)
  • Hybrid electric (HEV)
  • Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Electric car in a minimal studio
  • Customs cleared: done
  • Battery documentation: done
  • IVA passed: done
  • DVLA registered: done

Why the UK, why now

A large market, with its own rulebook.

The opportunity

The UK is one of Europe’s largest new-vehicle markets, and it drives on the left. Demand is shifting steadily towards zero-emission and electrified vehicles, backed by the The UK rule requiring vehicle manufacturers to make a rising share of their new car and van sales zero-emission.. For a brand with the right product, it is a market worth testing early.

  • Large, established right-hand-drive market
  • Policy-backed growth in zero-emission sales
  • A natural test bed for other RHD markets

The challenge

UK roads have their own approval routes, Right-hand drive: the steering wheel on the right, as standard for UK roads. and lighting requirements, and registration process. High-voltage batteries add Cargo with special safety rules in transport. High-voltage lithium-ion batteries are classed this way by sea and air. logistics on top. Getting any of it wrong costs months.

  • GB approval: IVA through to small-series
  • Headlamps, mph speedometer, rear fog lamp
  • Battery shipping, storage and charge management
  • DVLA registration with the correct fuel type

Who we work with

Built for brands at every stage of UK entry.

Established OEMs

Testing a new model line, trim or powertrain in the UK before committing to a full launch.

  • Evaluation and homologation units
  • Pilot and pre-series vehicles
  • NDA and pre-production handling
Talk to our team

New-energy & start-up brands

Making a first entry into the UK and Europe, and needing a partner who knows the route.

  • Gap analysis against UK rules
  • Pilot fleet, registered and road-legal
  • One partner from port to plate
Talk to our team

Importers, distributors & fleet operators

Appointed to represent a brand in the UK, or running a fleet, and needing repeatable logistics and compliance.

  • Consolidated multi-vehicle shipments
  • Storage, PDI and dealer delivery
  • Single account manager
Talk to our team

Powertrain expertise

EV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Handled correctly.

Electrified vehicles bring rules that ordinary importers don’t touch. We plan for them from the first shipment.

Battery electric (BEV)

Fully electric vehicles with a large high-voltage battery. The battery shapes everything: how it ships, how it is stored and how it is worked on.

  • Batteries as dangerous goods

    High-voltage lithium-ion batteries shipped as regulated dangerous goods, with the right documents for sea or air.

  • Charge managed in transit

    State of charge set to carrier requirements before loading, then checked and maintained on arrival.

  • UK charging checks

    Charge port and connector checked for UK charging (Type 2 / CCS2), with adaptation advice where needed.

  • High-voltage-safe handling

    Isolation, storage and workshop procedures designed for high-voltage vehicles.

Battery electric (BEV) layout: High-voltage battery pack, Electric motor, Charge port (Type 2 / CCS2)123
  • 1High-voltage battery pack
  • 2Electric motor
  • 3Charge port (Type 2 / CCS2)

All high-voltage work carried out by trained technicians.

End-to-end launch services

Every step from factory gate to UK plate.

Use the full service, or the parts you need. Either way, one team owns the outcome.

  • Global shipping & logistics

    Container, RoRo or air. Consolidated multi-vehicle shipments, with dangerous-goods documentation for batteries.

  • Customs & duty

    HMRC clearance, NOVA and guidance on rules of origin, duty and VAT.

  • Compliance & approvals

    GB approval routes from individual IVA to small-series approval, plus a gap analysis against UK requirements.

  • UK adaptation

    RHD-market changes: headlamp beam pattern, mph speedometer, rear fog lamp, UK plates and plate lamps.

  • IVA & MOT specialists

    Preparation by our IVA specialists, booking and transport to the DVSA test centre, and any retest.

  • DVLA registration

    Registration, number plates and fleet-ready paperwork, with the correct fuel type.

  • Storage & PDI

    Secure storage, battery maintenance charging and pre-delivery inspection.

Launch roadmap

From first spec sheet to scale.

Start with discovery
  1. 01

    Discovery & gap analysis

    We review your model specs against UK requirements.

    What you get: Compliance gap report

  2. 02

    Pilot vehicles

    First units shipped, cleared and adapted.

    What you get: Adapted pilot units in the UK

  3. 03

    Testing & approval

    Testing and approval on the agreed route.

    What you get: Approval certificates

  4. 04

    Registration & handover

    Road-legal vehicles delivered to your team, press or partners.

    What you get: UK-registered pilot fleet

  5. 05

    Scale

    A repeatable process for larger volumes, with a single account manager.

    What you get: Documented launch playbook

Engagement models

Start small. Scale when you’re ready.

1–5 vehicles

Pilot

Evaluate the UK market with a small number of road-legal vehicles.

  • Gap analysis
  • Shipping, clearance and adaptation
  • Testing and DVLA registration
  • Portal access
Discuss your project

Pre-series batch

Launch

A pre-series or market-entry batch, with approval support.

  • Everything in Pilot
  • Approval-route support
  • Storage, charging and PDI
Discuss your project

Ongoing volume

Partner

Repeatable volume with dedicated account management.

  • Everything in Launch
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Fleet portal for every vehicle
  • Agreed service levels
Discuss your project

Every engagement is priced to your vehicles, volumes and approval route, and agreed in writing before work starts.

Fleet portal

Every vehicle, every document, one dashboard.

Live status for each VIN, battery state of charge for EVs, and every shipping, customs and approval document in one place.

  • Status per vehicle, from port to plate
  • Battery state of charge for EVs in storage
  • Documents by vehicle and by shipment
  • One account manager, one thread
portal.autoimporter / fleet / UK-launch

UK launch · Pilot fleet

6 vehicles · 2 shipments

  • 2In transit
  • 1Customs
  • 1Workshop
  • 1Testing
  • 1Registered
Illustrative fleet status by vehicle
VINModelStatusBattery
LVX•••••••••41207Model A · BEVRegistered82%
LVX•••••••••41208Model A · BEVTesting64%
LVX•••••••••41211Model A · BEVWorkshop58%
LVX•••••••••52003Model B · PHEVCustoms47%
LVX•••••••••52004Model B · PHEVIn transit40%
LVX•••••••••60119Model C · HEVIn transit—

Illustrative example. Portal design may differ.

FAQ

Questions from manufacturers.

Still have a question?

Talk to a real person who imports cars every day.

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Can you handle a brand’s first vehicles before UK approval is in place?

Yes. Pilot and evaluation vehicles can usually be approved individually through IVA while a longer-term approval route is planned. We start with a gap analysis so you know what each vehicle needs.

How are EV batteries shipped safely?

High-voltage lithium-ion batteries are regulated dangerous goods by sea and air. We work with carriers who accept them, prepare the declarations and set the state of charge to carrier requirements before loading.

Do you handle UK customs clearance for business imports?

Yes. We prepare the HMRC import declaration, file NOVA, and calculate and pay duty and import VAT on your behalf, including guidance on rules of origin for reduced or zero duty rates.

Do vehicles need converting for right-hand-drive markets?

Usually, if they were built for left-hand-drive markets. Typical changes include headlamp beam pattern, an mph speedometer and a rear fog lamp. The gap analysis lists exactly what applies to your model.

Which UK approval route is right for small volumes?

It depends on volume and timing. Individual approval (IVA) suits pilot and evaluation units; small-series approval can suit limited production runs. We’ll recommend a route after reviewing your specs.

Can you store and maintain charge on vehicles awaiting launch?

Yes. Vehicles can be held in secure storage, with battery maintenance charging and a pre-delivery inspection before handover.

Do you work under NDA with pre-production vehicles?

Yes. We sign NDAs on request and can agree handling, storage and photography rules for pre-production or unreleased vehicles.

Can you support ongoing volume after the pilot?

Yes. The process we build for your pilot becomes a repeatable playbook, with a single account manager and fleet portal access for every vehicle.

Start the conversation

Tell us about your UK plans.

A market-entry specialist will review your details and come back with next steps.

  • Response within one working day
  • NDA available on request
  • Single point of contact
  • Gap analysis scoped before any commitment
Powertrain(s)
Estimated volume in the first 12 months
Services needed (choose any)

Your details are only used to reply to this enquiry.

Ready to take your brand to the UK?

Book a consultation and we’ll map your route from first vehicle to fleet scale.

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