Trading Statement

Inchcape PLC
16 December 2002

Monday 16 December 2002

Inchcape Pre-Close Trading Statement


Inchcape plc enters a close period on 3 January 2003.

Trading in Inchcape's six core markets is such that full year profit before tax*
is expected to be slightly ahead of the top end of current market expectations,
which is £106.2m.

Despite the economic weakness in some of our markets, Inchcape's geographic
spread and breadth of business activities have again proved to be important
factors in this strong performance and continue to give us confidence looking
forward to 2003.

With regard to Block Exemption we are in ongoing discussions with our core
partners and are confident that they will result in a positive outcome for the
Group.

Inchcape will announce its Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 December
2002 on 3 March 2003.

*Profit before tax, goodwill amortisation and exceptionals.


Notes to editors

Inchcape, as an international automotive services group, provides quality
representation for its manufacturer partners, a choice of channels to market and
products for its retail customers and a range of business services for its
corporate customers. Operating primarily in the UK, Greece, Belgium, Australia,
Hong Kong and Singapore, its key partners are Toyota, Subaru, Ferrari, Jaguar
and Land Rover. Inchcape's activities include exclusive Import, Distribution and
Retail, Business Services, automotive E-commerce and Financial Services.

For further information, please contact:

Group Communications, Inchcape plc
020 7546 0022

John Olsen/Tom Leatherbarrow, Hogarth Partnership Limited
020 7357 9477

For further information, visit us at www.inchcape.com


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange