Kia is the only brand in Britain’s top ten to improve on market share last year.
The ninth placed Korean brand saw a growth of 2.7% with 95,746 registrations while market leader Ford suffered an 11.6% decline, although Nissan sales collapsed 32.1% in seventh place.
Honda and Toyota have joined MINI and said they will suspend car production in April for a few days.
It follows the car makers’ concern over component supplies immediately after Brexit at the end of March and the likely impact on deliveries to MINI in Oxford, Honda in Swindon and Toyota in Derby, which sources its engines from Deeside, and word is awaited on plans for Nissan in Sunderland.
The rejection of a charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Southampton is a boost to the port as well as local businesses, according to FTA, which represents the UK’s logistics industry.
The introduction of the zone would have damaged its local economy and vital port while failing to deliver swift improvements in air quality for the city, according to Rebecca Kite, Environmental Policy Manager at the FTA, speaking after the announcement by Southampton City Council that the city does not require a charging low emission zone to meet its air quality targets.
Cenex Wireless Charging for Electric Taxi is a ground-breaking project in the field funded by Innovate UK.
WiCET provides a unique opportunity for the UK to lead the EV revolution by demonstrating the financial, operational and technical benefits of wireless charging for electric taxis and emergency service vehicles and will be tested in parts of Nottingham and north London.