Almost two-thirds of motorists (64%) say they are worried about sharing roads with autonomous, self-driving vehicles when trials start in the UK next year, shows new research. November’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 64% would also be more cautious around these vehicles, 28% don’t think the technology should be tested on public highways, 27% believe … [Read more...]
New car sales vital for economy, says SMMT
Growth in the used car market is good news given it is where most drivers buy their next vehicle – but their choice ultimately depends on thriving new car demand. SMMT’s latest data is positive all round, therefore, showing more than two million used cars changed hands between July and September – representing the highest Q3 volume since 2021 with BEV … [Read more...]
Young drivers confused over motor recall notices
Passing a driving test and owning a car for the first time is often an exciting milestone for young drivers, signalling a newfound independence. However, a study by a motoring expert has revealed that confusion is likely to set in if they were to be informed by the manufacturer of their car that there was a recall for a safety issue, and were advised to … [Read more...]
Pothole issues getting smoothed out
Vital surface dressing work on Britain’s local roads that is proven to prevent potholes forming increased by 15% this year, reveals new data shared with the RAC. Figures from the Road Emulsion Association show around 44.4m square metres of surface dressing – enough to treat the equivalent of around 4,340 miles of road – was applied over the … [Read more...]
Used EV values poor with gaps in charging and reporting
Action is needed to improve electric vehicle residual values, as the financial exposure of fleets continues to grow, FleetCheck is warning. Peter Golding, CEO at the fleet software specialist, said that while there was strong evidence that used EVs were now selling faster, prices remained stubbornly low. “The used market has reached a position … [Read more...]
UK cars now average 10 years old on roads
The average car on Britain’s roads is now close to 10 years old – the oldest figure recorded, according to a new analysis of the national car parc. In response, Warrantywise has used its market-leading Reliability Index – one of the UK’s most comprehensive measures of real-world vehicle dependability – to reveal the top ten most reliable used cars aged … [Read more...]
Modern lights dazzle many drivers
Four-in-five drivers are concerned about getting dazzled by vehicle headlights with the arrival of darker evenings, new RAC research has found. With the clocks having just gone back and the imminent publication of a government-commissioned report into headlight glare, the findings also show the brightness of some headlights is the top reason for feeling … [Read more...]
Toyota research lightweight quadricycle in UK
Toyota Manufacturing UK is leading a consortium of partners to evaluate the feasibility of a lightweight battery electric vehicle prototype, conforming to the L6e (light quadricycle) category. The consortium has secured funding from the UK government’s DRIVE35 programme via the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), which is a non-profit organisation … [Read more...]
Unexpected repairs hitting older cars
With the average age of UK cars now at an all-time high of nearly 10 years old, new research from the RAC has found four-in-10 drivers (39%) have had their main vehicle off the road for a day or more due to unplanned repairs in the last 12 months. While a third of these drivers (32%) were without their cars for no more than a day, this meant most (68%) had … [Read more...]
Government recognise importance of auto sector
Government has recognised the importance of the automotive sector, said SMMT ceo Mike Hawes. It is now at the centre of its long-term Industrial Strategy – and has published its first quarterly progress update, including more than 50 cutting-edge auto projects securing £70 million in innovation funding. Such commitments will drive greater returns for the … [Read more...]
