The National Motor Museum has appointed a new chair of its board of trustees to help drive ambitious plans for the future after celebrating its landmark half century. International lawyer Robert MacGregor, Senior Partner EMEA at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), will begin his new voluntary role at Beaulieu on October 15. His passion for cars was fuelled by his father Ian MacGregor, a … [Read more...]
Finance News
UK Automotive faces serious risk from foreign evs
The transition to electric vehicles is posing a serious risk to the UK automotive sector as global competition intensifies, says the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. For the industry to survive, the Government needs to provide more incentives to consumers to buy electric cars as well as greater support to vehicle manufacturers. In its report “UK Automotive Sector: Surviving the Net Zero … [Read more...]
EV vans confusion needs clarification
Ongoing confusion over regulations surrounding 4.25 tonne electric vans mean that the Association of Fleet Professionals is urging fleets to “step up” lobbying of the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles and the Driver Vehicle Standards Authority. In 2019, a special concession was created by the Department of Transport (DFT) for electric vans. Normally, an individual with a standard B licence would … [Read more...]
Skoda update Scala and Kamiq
Škoda has announced UK specifications and pricing for the newly updated Scala and Kamiq, now on sale. Both have uprated equipment and refreshed exterior and interior design, including increased use of sustainable materials. There are new interior design selections: Loft, Lodge and Monte Carlo with the Scala priced from £22,095 and new Kamiq from £24,030. … [Read more...]
Car making declines in UK, not good for EVs either
UK car production fell -9.7% in August, following six consecutive months of growth, as 45,052 models rolled off factory lines, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Typically the smallest volume month of the year with often variable summer shutdowns which can lead to large percentage variations, August’s output was in part affected by … [Read more...]
TfL chasing thousands of innocent drivers
Hundreds of drivers are being hit with charges and fines in error while driving in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, car experts have warned. Over the last three months, VRM Swansea’s Plates4Less team have been inundated with questions after many drivers have been issued fines in error and have been working hard to help clients challenge and overturn ULEZ charges that they should never have … [Read more...]
Newslines 3 October
In the week prior to Rishi Sunak’s announcement that the ban would be pushed back from 2030 to 2035, 42% of drivers planning to buy a new car said they expected it to be a low emissions either fully electric or hybrid. Following the announcement, Kwik Fit’s researchers asked the nation’s drivers the same question and found that the proportion planning to opt for a low emissions vehicle has now … [Read more...]
Newslines 29 September
New research uncovers the average price of getting on the road for new drivers now stands at £11,137 - 47% more than just two years ago, when the expense amounted to £7,592. The cost of living has made it even harder for new drivers to get on the road and searches for ‘cost of learning to drive’ have been up by a staggering 1500% in the past month, with young people increasingly worried about … [Read more...]
Tradelines 27 September
A new study by Auto Trader has found that the number of people claiming they’ll never buy an EV has nearly doubled, on the back of the government’s U-turn last week. Of the 1,700 in-market car buyers who responded to questioning, 37 per cent said they were unlikely to ever buy an EV and the figure is close to double the 21 per cent of people who said they would never go electric when the 2030 ban … [Read more...]
Disabled drivers obstacles to evs and charging
Britain’s gradual move to more electric vehicles and charging will be a challenge for disabled drivers in particular, said one leading provider of mobility solutions. Andrew Miller (right), chief executive of Motability Operations, told members of the BVLRA at their annual meeting that his business had already moved more than 34,000 people into EVs and currently buys more than 7% of all … [Read more...]