Liverpool-based independent dealership Solo Cars has secured four major regional and national honours following a landmark year of business growth, community involvement and digital innovation.
The dealership has been recognised by several leading automotive and business organisations for its customer service, commercial performance and contribution to the local community.
Leading the accolades was the Independent Community Dealer of the Year 2026 title at the national Motor Trader Independent Dealer Awards, regarded as one of the UK’s leading awards programmes for independent dealerships.
Presented at The Belfry, the award recognised Solo Cars’ longstanding commitment to supporting communities across the Liverpool City Region.
Judges highlighted the dealership’s involvement in local initiatives extending beyond traditional sponsorship arrangements.
Solo Cars founder and director James McConville is a committee member and sponsor of West Kirby United, one of the UK’s largest grassroots football clubs, which has more than 1,000 registered players.
The dealership also donates £25 to each community charity event shared with the business, hosts networking events at its showroom and supported Bongo’s Bingo’s 10th anniversary celebrations as the event’s headline prize partner.
As part of the celebrations at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, Solo Cars gave away two vehicles live on stage in front of audiences of more than 11,000 people each night.
The national award followed further success at the 2025 Merseyside Independent Business Awards, where Solo Cars was named Retailer of the Year.
The dealership secured the title ahead of fellow finalists including 92 Degrees, Crosby Coffee and ThinK Wine.
Judges recognised what became the strongest trading year in Solo Cars’ history, with turnover rising from £8.6 million to £11.6 million.
The growth was achieved while the business completed a £400,000 transformation of its showroom.
Solo Cars remained open throughout the six-month redevelopment, with employees operating from temporary shipping-container offices to maintain services and minimise disruption for customers.
The dealership was also named as one of six finalists for Auto Trader’s Customer Experience Award, placing it among the top one per cent of more than 14,000 retailers across the UK.
The recognition followed one of the automotive industry’s largest undercover mystery-shopping programmes.
Solo Cars was assessed without warning while its team was working from the temporary showroom during the redevelopment.
Alongside the company’s achievements, McConville was Highly Commended in the Rising Star category at the National Influencer Awards after developing one of the UK automotive industry’s fastest-growing social media audiences.
Without using an agency or paid advertising budget, he films the dealership’s content himself using a mobile phone.
Solo Cars’ Instagram audience has grown from 27,000 to more than 50,000 followers in the space of a year, while its TikTok following has increased from 3,000 to more than 22,000.
At its peak, the dealership’s social media content reached more than 16 million people in a single month.
Around half of the company’s vehicle sales now begin through enquiries generated on social media, underlining the growing importance of its digital strategy to the business.
James McConville, Founder of Solo Cars, said:
“Receiving one award is always special, but to receive recognition across so many different areas of the business means even more because it reflects everything we’ve worked so hard to build.
“Whether it’s supporting our community, delivering the very best customer experience, investing back into the business or finding new ways to connect with customers, every award belongs to the incredible team we’ve built at Solo Cars.
“To be recognised by some of the industry’s most respected organisations whilst remaining proudly independent is something we’re hugely proud of. It gives us even more motivation to keep raising the bar and continuing to do things differently right here in Liverpool.”
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