Following the best February performance in 26 years experienced by the new light commercial van market, it is positive to see that the market has continued this trend with another month of growth, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association commenting on the latest SMMT’s new van registration figures. "March witnessed a significant surge in fleet renewal … [Read more...]
Finance News
FRF Group & North Road are Toyota’s award winners
South Wales' FRF business has won the Toyota Best Retailer in Town Group award. Their Swansea dealership also collected the award for new vehicle sales in 2023. This is the 10th year of the Toyota BRIT awards which recognise the top-performing Toyota centres in the UK. FRF Group, winner of the Best Toyota Group award, is a family business that has operated in South Wales for more than 20 … [Read more...]
Agency dealers are giving poorer service
Adoption of the dealer agency model appears to be leading to poorer quality vehicle deliveries in at least some instances, says the Association of Fleet Professionals. Members of the organisation have complained of a fall in standards, with electric vehicles (EVs) being delivered with little charge and internal combustion cars with only a small amount of fuel. Paul Hollick, chair at the AFP, … [Read more...]
Newcomers from VW, Audi and Skoda
The latest version of the Volkswagen Golf is available to order in the UK on 11 April – 50 years after the original model began what is now one of the biggest automotive success stories. This latest chapter in the story of the Golf features Volkswagen’s newest infotainment system – complete with ChatGPT integration and an intuitive operating concept – plus a sharper design that incorporates, … [Read more...]
Call for end to hybrid vehicles
Hybrid vehicles are an expensive farce rather than a stepping stone to electrified transportation, says the director of a charging point company. "Hybrid vehicles are undermining the important environment work to electrify the UK transport network," says Jack Parsler, Development Director of nationwide electric vehicle charge point installer Crystal EV. "Hybrid vehicles were heralded … [Read more...]
More time needed for EV infrastructure network
In a sector under pressure to be at the forefront of the green transition, more time is what it’ll take to get us there, say drivers. Research by Close Brothers Motor Finance found that almost a third (30%) of British motorists feel that the delay to the new petrol and diesel vehicle ban will allow for more time for an expansion in electric vehicle infrastructure and improvement in … [Read more...]
EV comparison tool to fix lower costs
UK drivers can now calculate the savings of going electric by using New AutoMotive’s new electric vehicle (EV) Dealer Comparison Tool. It’s the first EV only dealer comparison tool on the market, and the platform allows users to shop from hundreds of offers from the top EV dealers from around the country, helping them find the best deal possible on new electric vehicles. When drivers enter … [Read more...]
Newslines 5 April
Honda has revised pricing for the e:Ny1 with the Elegance model starting from £39,995 or £299 per month. The Advance starts from £42,195 or £339 per month and e:Ny1 is available with 1.9% APR and a £3,000 deposit contribution until 30 June. On the road prices for Mazda MX-30 BEV are reduced by over £3,000, plus there's a 0% APR PCP offer. Retail customers for the Mazda MX-30 BEV get a free Pod … [Read more...]
Plate change boosted by fleet registrations
The 24-plate change boosted new-car registrations in March, according to SMMT figures. But private buyers have put the brakes on pure electric purchases and the car makers want Government incentives to be increased to meet emissions targets.. March signals a twentieth month of consecutive growth for the automotive sector, a remarkable milestone for the industry, said Sue Robinson, Chief … [Read more...]
Company car drivers need convincing of EV benefits
It's becoming a grind convincing company car drivers to switch to electric models, admits Paul Hollick, chairman of the Association of Fleet Professionals. Pushing back against “scare stories” about electric vehicles (EVs) is becoming a key task for fleet managers, he said and pointed to a flood of misinformation appearing in both traditional and social media. “Sadly, it seems to have become … [Read more...]