The Welsh Government will be investing £1m to create a network of car clubs to connect rural communities, says outgoing Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters. The move comes as part of plans to meet ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions with aims for public transport, walking and cycling trips to account for 45% of journeys by 2040 and the clubs will provide an easy and … [Read more...]
Car sales boom on eve of Budget
February’s figures reinforce the robust performance of the UK automotive sector, maintaining a strong start to 2024 and signalling a nineteenth month of consecutive growth, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association, commenting on the latest SMMT new passenger car registration figures. In February, a total of 84,886 new cars were registered, an increase of … [Read more...]
EV sales are trickling ahead of last year
Five of the largest EV manufacturers in UK market increased their sales last month compared to 12 months ago, according to the latest data from New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count. The monthly report is the most up-to-date and comprehensive electric vehicle sales data in the UK, and reveals that 15 out of 20 manufacturers are selling more EVs than they did a year ago. Despite Toyota’s CEO … [Read more...]
EV regs hit a million but petrol sales climbing too
Discounted business registrations meant Britain’s millionth battery electric car reached the road in January 2024, while the new car market grew 8.2% for the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The first month of the year saw 142,876 new cars registered led by the Kia Sportage (above), which repeated its success of January 2022, and an UK uplift of 10,882 units on … [Read more...]
Best and worst cars to buy and own
When buying a new car, it’s always worth thinking about the potential resale value and how much it will depreciate over time. Some cars can prove to be very worthy investments, with their value increasing over time, while others may drop quickly in value as soon as they leave the forecourt. Elements such as age, condition, mileage and number of owners are all influencing factors, and there are … [Read more...]
Car makers want more EV incentives for private buyers
The UK new car market has recorded its best year since the pandemic as a strong December up 9.8%, wrapped up the 17th month of consecutive growth. Some 1.903 million new cars reached the road during 2023 – an increase of 17.9%, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. In Wales last year, registrations reached 66,761, a rise of nearly 16% over 2022 and … [Read more...]
BEV charge is running down
The UK new car market grew by 9.5% in November to reach 156,525 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, but there's a slowdown in EV interest among private buyers. In the market’s best November for four years, registrations almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, down just 96 units (-0.1%) on 2019. Registrations in Wales rose 13.7% to 5,467 … [Read more...]
Buying into greener habits, maybe a model attraction
Britain's best eco-warriors on the roads have been revealed in a survey for Auto Trader, and there are a few surprises. Their survey has also shown up the least green owners. Top 5 Drivers With The Best Eco-habits Lexus Drivers: Lexus drivers are crowned the drivers with the best eco-habits, thanks to their pioneering behavior in reducing road congestion and emissions, with an impressive 63% … [Read more...]
KIA is king but Stellantis is hopeless, say traders
Kia is the best and Stellantis the worst brands to be selling, say car dealers. The NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey was conducted last month and asked franchised dealers questions about the on-going business relationship with their respective manufacturers. It brought 2,531 responses from 32 franchised networks, equating to a joint record response rate of 68%. The 2023 Summer Survey showed a general … [Read more...]
Families turn backs on electric cars
The UK new car market grew 21.0% in September with 272,610 registrations in the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The 14th consecutive month of growth was also the second busiest of the year after March, with the new number plate delivering its traditional market surge despite a challenging economic backdrop. Growth continued to be driven by large fleets, which … [Read more...]