European new-car sales fell 7.4 percent in January after changes to emissions rules and consumer-incentive programs hit demand. Registrations dropped to 1.135 million vehicles in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, industry association ACEA said yesterday and reported by Automotive News Europe. January's decline was the first drop in … [Read more...]
Tradelines 19 February
Hyundai Motor Group has announced its next generation ev platform for Hyundai and Kia cars will be developed by Los Angeles based Canoo. Their “skateboard” design is infinitely capable of working with various bodies and can be scaled to meet diverse needs. The National Association of Motor Auctions reports strong business at the end of 2019 and superminis were the most sought after. Louise … [Read more...]
Brexit’s been good for some in automotive sector
The UK transport industry has seen earnings on its investments in the EU rocket by more than 400% since the Brexit vote, the latest Office of National Statistics has revealed. UK transport trade earnings from investments in the EU rose from £177 million in 2015 to £1billion three years later – up 476% compared with before the vote. Firms involved in transportation had £3.6 billion invested in … [Read more...]
Fleets need to prepare for EV charge in demand
Fleets of all sizes will need support through a potential “sudden 2020 influx” of electric vehicles that is likely to create a vacuum of expertise, says FleetCheck. The fleet software specialist says that the new zero per cent benefit-in-kind tax rate, the availability of a wider range of models and the momentum created by the Government’s 2035 announcement are all creating a dramatic upsurge in … [Read more...]
Used dealers struggle with booming evs
The rise in used electric cars threatens to leave some dealerships flat, say analysts. A potential “charging crisis” could soon emerge among vehicle remarketing companies as electric vehicles start to make their way onto the used market in larger numbers, says the Vehicle Remarketing Association. The industry body, which represents businesses that handle, sell, inspect, transport or manage more … [Read more...]
Learners facing changed theory test
The theory test for learner car drivers is changing very soon. From 14 April, instead of reading a case study and answering five questions related to that, learners will watch a video clip and answer three multiple choice questions on it. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said, “This is a very positive change and should make the driving theory test accessible to many more people as watching case … [Read more...]
Thousands of drivers find flood insurance is void
Thousands of car owners over the next few days will find their insurance does not cover flood damage. Usually, only comprehensive policy cover will pay for the repair or replacement of flood damaged vehicles, and there may be limits to that. Drivers who ignored advice and tried to negotiate a flood which then overcame their vehicle may also find they get less, if any, payout from their … [Read more...]
Newslines 18 February
Jaguar I-Pace manufacturing in Austria has halted for a week, because it cannot get enough traction batteries from LG Chem’s Poland plant. It is the brand’s fourth best seller, reaching 17,355 units last year and the Polish plant also makes packs for Ford Mustang Mach E and forthcoming Transit E. Although nothing has been given to UK customers, Volkswagen Group is compensating some German … [Read more...]
More buyers looking at used cars
It is positive to see that the used car market grew in the last quarter of the year, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. The used car market saw a growth of 2.4% in the last quarter of 2019 with 1,804,343 transactions. Overall in 2019, the used car market finished almost on par with the previous year with a marginal decline of -0.1% and a total of 7,935,105 … [Read more...]
Newslines 18 February
Homeowners living near proposed Clean Air Zones where certain vehicles will pay a penalty charge to enter are poised to potentially earn more than £1,000 per year by renting out their driveways as parking spaces for drivers looking to avoid the daily driving charge. More than 60 local authorities have considered, or are considering, some form of new clean air measure, meaning that many parts of … [Read more...]