Car retailer Cazoo goes into adminstration after Doncaster showroom closure

Cazoo became popular during the Covid pandemic when restrictions forced car buyers to browse and make their purchases online.

But the loss-making company has been struggling to raise money from investors, and in March changed its model from being a dealer, where it bought and sold cars itself, to a marketplace where consumers can buy and sell cars.

That move has led to 728 redundancies, administrators Teneo said, after being appointed to try to find a buyer for the business.

Teneo said the firm's 208 remaining staff would be retained for the time being during the administration process.

The Doncaster branch closed its doors in the spring of 2023.

It was not clear when the branch in Wheatley Hall Road shut, but online notifications said the business was ‘permanently closed’ and telephone numbers for the business in Doncaster were not being answered.

Founded in 2018 by Alex Chesterman – who also launched property website Zoopla – it had a rapid rise, sponsoring Aston Villa, Everton the Welsh Rugby Union, a number of annual horse races in Epsom and Doncaster, cricket tournament The Hundred and various events managed by the World Snooker Tour, the PGA European Tour and the Professional Darts Corporation.

It was different to other more traditional car dealers, delivering a platform that allowed shoppers to buy, part-exchange and finance vehicles entirely online.

It went on to launch in France, Germany, Spain and Portugal and employed 4,500 people at its peak.