Evolution Funding rebrands as Centeca in platform push

KAREN JOY BACUDO

Finance Editor

Evolution Funding Group has rebranded as Centeca, reflecting its expansion into a broader automotive commerce and fintech platform.

The business now facilitates more than GBP £6.5 billion in annual advances across finance, digital retail and compliance. Over more than two decades, it has grown from its origins in automotive finance through technology investment, in-house development and acquisitions.

Centeca works with more than 5,500 transacting retailers across the UK. The group also supports four original equipment manufacturer finance journeys, connects with more than 35 lenders and maintains more than 20 technology and data integration partnerships in the automotive sector.

The rebrand comes as car retailing shifts further towards digital processes and connected systems. Retailers, lenders and service providers are under pressure to simplify customer journeys that often span finance, vehicle sales and compliance requirements.

Platform strategy

At the centre of the group’s strategy is a platform model designed to connect parts of the automotive market that have often operated separately. Its system brings together specialist brands, software and data gathered from transaction history and retailer activity.

Built over more than 20 years, that data gives Centeca a broad view of activity across automotive commerce. It uses the information in areas such as decisioning, automation, lender connectivity and internal platform intelligence.

Growth has also come through acquisitions and brand development. The group includes Click Dealer, which provides dealer management systems, websites, digital retail tools and automotive marketing technology; Motion Finance, a motor finance brokerage; Creditas Financial Solutions, which provides appointed representative and compliance support services; and Automotive Compliance, which focuses on regulatory and compliance services.

Its Evolution Funding brand remains focused on automotive finance and lender connectivity. The wider group identity is intended to better reflect the range of services now within the business.

Retail links

One example of the company’s integrated approach is Dealer in a Box, which combines retail, finance and compliance services. The proposition recently received Credit Strategy’s Innovation Award 2026, according to the company.

Centeca is headquartered in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and employs about 600 people across the UK. It describes itself as one of the country’s largest automotive finance and technology providers.

The group is backed by LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, and Carlyle. The rebrand follows a period of sustained growth supported by those investors.

For customers, lending partners and other commercial partners, the name change will not alter existing services, relationships or points of contact.

Lee Streets outlined the rationale for the change.

“This is more than a change of name. It marks an important milestone for the business and recognises how far we have come.

“We have built a strong group of specialist brands, developed significant technology and data capabilities, and created foundations that position us for continued growth. Centeca gives us a group identity that better captures who we are today and where we are heading.

“The future of automotive commerce will be shaped by how well providers connect people, systems and data. Our focus is on creating the infrastructure that enables businesses to operate more effectively within an increasingly digital market,” said Streets, Chief Executive Officer, Centeca.

Duncan Josey, Chief Strategy Officer, Centeca, said the change reflects wider shifts in the structure of automotive retail.

“For many years, automotive retail has been built around disconnected systems and fragmented processes. Finance, retail technology and compliance have operated independently of one another, creating complexity for retailers and friction for consumers.

“As the market continues to evolve, those boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred. The name Evolution Funding Group has served us incredibly well, but it no longer reflects the breadth of our proposition. Centeca better represents our role within the wider automotive ecosystem and the unique combination of technology, data and specialist expertise we are bringing together through our platform strategy,” said Josey.