The UK’s used car market increased 5.1% in the first quarter of 2022, according to the latest figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Some 1,774,351 transactions took place, with 86,596 additional cars changing hands compared with the same period in 2021, when car showrooms nationwide were closed due to pandemic-related lockdowns with only click and collect transactions … [Read more...]
New drivers looking for EVs
A high proportion of learner drivers want their first car to be electrified, they told pollsters for the Motor Ombudsman. A survey revealed that nearly half (42%) of respondents would prefer their first car to be fully electric (26%) or in part electric i.e. a hybrid (16%), after passing their driving test. The research also found that male provisional licence holders are more likely than their … [Read more...]
First drive: All new Kia Sportage arrives
Having given our readers a static view sneaky peek of the all-new Kia Sportage last November at a Kia UK media test driving event for other models in the range, this week we got behind the wheel of this important mid-sized SUV family favourite, writes David Miles. Here is a quick specification résumé of the all-new Sportage UK line-up: It is the fifth generation Sportage with the original … [Read more...]
Welsh electric vehicle registrations accelerate 76% in a year
Wales is switching on to electric cars in a big way. Ultra low emission vehicles registrations across Wales shot up nearly 76% between July-September compared to the same time a year before. The Department for Transport’s figures show that at the end of September, 12,900 vehicles belonged to Welsh residents, up from 7,330 on July-September 2020. The data shows the pace of moving to electric … [Read more...]
EV charging network is in shocking state – claim
As more British drivers swap petrol pumps for an electric hook-up, Channel 4 Dispatches has new figures tonight revealing the shocking state of Britain’s electric car charging network. Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder of ZapMap said, “I think it's an issue that that needs to be improved. When I talk to the network operators, they are very aware of reliability and they know that is the … [Read more...]
Kia take ev lead as Welsh embrace zero emission cars
The comparative simplicity of electric cars is leading to a boom in their sales while conventional petrol and diesel models are stuck without adequate supply of semi-conductors for their technology. Latest figures show over one-in-three new cars sold in Wales last month was electric or hybrid and it's the only part of the UK to actually see all car sales rising. Kia became the best … [Read more...]
EVs overtake diesels in Europe
According to data for 26 European markets, new car registrations slowed once again in August, with a decline of 18% to 713,714 units. This marks the lowest recorded volume in August since 2014. Last month’s decline did not however offset the growth registered during the second quarter of the year. Year-to-date volume remains higher than last year, with 8,095,419 registered units compared with … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 September
IHS Markit, whose production projections are cited by automakers, suppliers and research analysts the world over, just took its biggest chop yet to estimates that have been falling all year due to the global chip shortage. IHS Markit slashed its production forecast for this year by 6.2 percent -- or 5.02 million vehicles -- and lowered its projection for next year by 9.3 percent, or 8.45 … [Read more...]
What Car? reliability reports throw up surprises
The UK’s most and least reliable new and used cars have been revealed in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey from Britain’s leading new car buying platform and consumer champion. Feedback from more than 16,000 car owners was analysed to find the country’s most dependable 178 models and 30 brands aged up to five years old. A record six models achieved 100%: the current versions of the Audi TT, … [Read more...]
Fleets expressing RV concerns over petrol & diesel models
Customers are already beginning to express residual values fears over buying new diesel or petrol cars and vans thanks to the prospect of rapid electrification, FleetCheck is reporting. Through its sister Fleetfind operation, the fleet software company helps its client base source vehicles, and says that buyers are concerned about the prospects for internal combustion engine (ICE) models in the … [Read more...]