The Government must do more to get people to adopt EVs, says a Lords Committee. "If it fails to heed our recommendations the UK won’t reap the significant benefits of better air quality and will lag in the slow lane for tackling climate change,” said Baroness Kate Parminter, Chair of the inquiry (below). The inquiry was launched in August 2023 to identify the main obstacles and barriers to a … [Read more...]
Features
Eye tests can save life and your licence
Experts are urging drivers to add an eye test to their to do list or risk a £1,000 and three points on their licence as well as a potentially serious or fatal accident. Every year, approximately 3,000 people are either killed or injured in incidents caused by poor eyesight. As such, the police have the power to stop any driver and conduct an on-the-spot vision test to determine whether their … [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...]
British drivers love e-bay!
As one of the UK’s biggest online automotive marketplaces, eBay has revealed the most expensive parts and accessories of 2023, with performance engines, carbon fibre monocoques for high-end performance cars and exclusive number plates dominating the top 10. First and second places on the rundown of biggest buys for 2023 belonged to the performance car sector. Coming in first place was a BMW M5 … [Read more...]
Fleets looking at hydrogen after ev issues arise
Some fleet operators are starting to “take hydrogen seriously” as a fuel option because of issues they have encountered in operating electric vans, says the Association of Fleet Professionals. Paul Hollick, chair at the organisation, said that the forthcoming arrival of the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen – really the first practical hydrogen-powered panel van available in quantity in the UK – was … [Read more...]
The answers at your finger-tips
It's coming up to the new number plate change and thousands of second hand models will be flooding the market, so specialist insurance broker ChoiceQuate has been looking at what buyers research most on-line, and the results may surprise you. Specialist insurance broker ChoiceQuote, has analysed search data to uncover the most asked questions on Google related to buying cars and car … [Read more...]
Tradelines 31 January
Specialist motor insurance loss adjuster Claims Management & Adjusting says new Office for National Statistics figures showing an 8% annual increase in vehicle thefts are shockingly unsurprising. According to the ONS’s latest Crime Survey for England and Wales instances of “theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle” increased from 122,423 in the year October 2021 to September 2022, to … [Read more...]
Challenging future for suppliers, says CLEPA president
The automotive supply industry is the top private investor in research and development in Europe with €30 billion invested annually and accounts for 1.7 million direct jobs with 39,000 patents each year, said Matthias Zink, CLEPA president, but added that it will face a challenging future. He (right) told memberts of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers that 75% of the value … [Read more...]
UK Auto surges over a million models made
UK vehicle production hit 1,025,474 units in 2023, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. With 905,117 cars and 120,357 commercial vehicles (CVs) produced, output was up 17.0% on the previous year with the easing of pandemic-related challenges from chip shortages to lockdowns and increasing electrified model production, combined to drive annual output above one million for … [Read more...]
EV production lines will slow, say manufacturers
Europe's producers now anticipate making 500,000 fewer electric vehicles than expected two years ago. In the face of ongoing economic and industrial uncertainty, the automotive supply industry braces for a year of moderate growth although the electric vehicle segment continues to take a larger share however, according to CLEP Nevertheless, overall production volumes remain significantly below … [Read more...]