Photo Credit: https://www.vehicle-focus.com/
If there’s one aspect of the UHNW-oriented industries that’s constantly evolving and giving rise to bold new horizons, it’s the world of ultra-luxury motoring and high-end vehicles.
Indeed, classic cars and supercars (and the relatively new designation of the hypercar) continue to push the envelope of possibility. Driven by a changing landscape of collector and investor interests, dynamized by groundbreaking technologies and imbued with the fascinating and ever-changing contemporary facet of sustainability, it’s an area of the UHNW investment market that calls for a keen eye and reliance on expert insight in order to remain on top of the latest developments.
Expert insights into a fast-paced luxury scene
Make no mistake, the world of luxury vehicles as they pertain to UHNW interests continues to change at a rapid pace. To gain a deeper perspective and understanding on the current lay of the land regarding assets and luxury car ownership – and to better comprehend the potential future of automotive luxury – we caught up with Lawrence Slatter-Buesnel, founder of Vehicle Focus Automobile Concierge Services.
Slatter-Buesnel diligently supports a client base of elite customers, providing a bespoke, asset-focused vehicle management service with a global reach. As such, his knowledge and insight into the most significant trends and market shifts in the luxury vehicle industry are as on-the-ball as they are profound. Indeed, while many might point to technological shifts in the luxury automotive world as the most significant for UHNW clients, Slatter-Buesnel sees an important structural change underway. As he states:
“Classic, super, and hypercars are now widely recognized within ultra-high-net-worth circles as a distinct alternative asset class, combining cultural relevance, global liquidity and emotional return. The global classic car market alone is estimated to exceed $30 billion today and is forecast to almost double over the next decade. This has been driven by wealth concentration, finite production numbers and growing institutional-style interest.”
The numbers are clear and paint a remarkable picture; the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index indicates that classic cars as an asset have shown more than a 400% growth over the past decade, outperforming no shortage of more ‘traditional’ luxury asset categories across the same timespan. Slatter-Buesnel believes that this partly comes down to the fact that luxury car ownership structures have become considerably more sophisticated in recent years. He points out that:
“Vehicles are increasingly being held within private collections, syndicates or offshore structures, and they’re often managed across jurisdictions rather than tied to a single location. As a result, the conversation has moved beyond “what to buy” towards how assets are governed, protected and enjoyed over time. Electrification remains part of the narrative, but its trajectory at the luxury end is far from linear. Buyers prioritize emotion, usability, and long-term desirability over regulatory headlines.”
The impact of technology on luxury car investments
While the electric vehicle revolution may not – according to Slatter-Buesnel – be necessarily as far to the front of UHNW buyers’ minds as certain other driving forces, there’s little doubt that technology and sustainability are having a key impact on market trends. This can most interestingly be seen in how the luxury market is responding to the way vehicles are bought, collected and stored, rather than how they are used on the road.
“Technology’s most important role in luxury automotive today is not what sits on the dashboard – it’s what sits quietly behind the scenes.
As values rise and cars become more globally mobile, informal ownership models start to show their limits. Vehicles that are stored, transported internationally, or used infrequently can deteriorate quietly if not properly monitored. In response, purpose-built digital platforms, such as Vehicle Vault, are emerging to provide continuous, structured oversight.
For ultra-high-net-worth owners, technology becomes a form of quiet risk management, preserving condition, provenance, and long-term optionality without intruding on the enjoyment of the car itself. Sustainability, meanwhile, is increasingly expressed through longevity rather than replacement. Fewer cars, better cars, kept properly for longer.”
It’s an important point, and one which resonates with many aspects of UNHW investments: that alongside headline-grabbing and game-changing aspects such as electrification and use of renewables, preservation, recommissioning and correct, responsible stewardship are sustainable practices in their own right.
Generational differences in luxury car ownership
It’s no secret that Millennial and Gen-Z UHNW individuals are approaching their investments in often radically different ways to their predecessors, and this is something that can be felt in the luxury car industry, too.
While Gen-X and Baby Boomers selected their vehicles based primarily on matters of taste and brand loyalty, their children’s generation are viewing luxury cars as both assets and as an aspect of experiential living. Syndication, co-ownership, shared access models and expectations of digital transparency regarding condition, usage and value are all considerably more commonplace among younger investors and owners; behaviors which are in line with broader trends and themes regarding how a new generation of UHNW individuals are using and considering their wealth.
Slatter-Buesnel goes on to point out another key difference:
“Millennial and Gen-Z buyers also tend to be less brand-loyal than previous generations. They are cross-shopping more freely and placing greater emphasis on identity, design and how a vehicle fits into a broader lifestyle.
Older collectors often built their collections more informally, relying on long relationships and personal knowledge. However, even established collectors are increasingly recognizing the need for clearer governance, documentation and succession planning as collections grow and values rise.”
A changing landscape for the luxury vehicle sector
The classic, supercar and hyper car markets – like so many luxury assets – are subject to an array of misconceptions and misunderstandings, some of which have proven to be remarkably persistent across the years. One of the most enduring misconceptions is that high-end cars represent inherently depreciating liabilities.
There’s little doubt about where this belief stems from; the vast majority of vehicles on the market do indeed depreciate in value, and do so at a rapid pace. However, it simply isn’t the case for well-selected and well-managed models at the uppermost end of the market. In fact, many of the most collectible vehicles have demonstrated long-term resilience, so long as there are proper controls for condition, appreciation and usage in place.
For those seeking to begin or expand their luxury car collection or enter the world of luxury vehicle investments, Slatter-Buesnel recommends focusing on innovation over individual brand names. He states:
“Tech-luxury challengers, particularly from Asia, are forcing established marques to rethink design, digital experience, and value propositions. At the same time, ultra-low-volume specialists and boutique manufacturers continue to thrive by offering scarcity, craftsmanship, and clear identity”
And what of the legacy brands and those which have long been the backbone of the marketplace for UHNW investors?
“Interestingly, legacy brands are narrowing their focus. They’re producing fewer models, offering deeper personalization, and prioritizing long-term desirability over short-term volume. In a market increasingly shaped by asset thinking, clarity and restraint are becoming competitive advantages.”
As with so many aspects of high-end investments, for UHNW owners, luxury has never been about acquisition alone – the market today is focused on stewardship and continuity.
There’s little doubt that the luxury car industry of tomorrow will throw forth myriad twists and turns, but for the UHNW, ensuring that what is enjoyed today remains protected for the next custodian will remain at the heart and forefront of the industry’s future.
