Owning, restoring and driving a classic car is a common dream, but it requires significant investment at every stage – in both time and money. Such desirable, high-value vehicles are inevitably also a common target for professional thieves meeting demand for vintage cars and their parts in the UK and across Europe. Stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, Tracker, is sharing tips to help first-time … [Read more...]
Features
Welsh Government increases paper trips despite clampdown
There has been a sharp rise by Welsh Government moving documents in official cars. Despite moves to cut traffic generated pollution including a 50mph limit on parts of the M4 and other trunk roads in Wales, hundreds of trips have been made over three years, including a very sharp rise this year, by Welsh Labour-led Government-owned vehicles to just transport documents without a minister … [Read more...]
Petrol peak passes as ev points rise
The rise in electric charging points is steadily rising and possibly indicates that petrol and diesel sales have peaked. Government figures this week showed that at 1 July 2020, there were 18,265 public electric vehicle charging devices available in the UK. Of these, 3,206 were rapid devices. Since 2015, the number of public charging devices has grown by nearly five times to July 2020, with … [Read more...]
Plug pulled on sales of new Ford Kuga PHEV
By David Miles Ford has pulled the plug on sales of the its new Kuga PHEV. Four car fires have been associated with the battery pack during charging and it’s believed some 27.000 models around the world could be affected. The plug-in hybrid SUV arrived in showrooms only recently and proved popular, accounting for 50% of Kuga’s European sales for the second quarter of the year. Around 7,000 … [Read more...]
Auction action accelerates
Auction houses are experiencing strong vehicle values and a strong demand for stock, according to the National Association of Motor Auctions. While the majority of auction houses are not yet opening their auction halls to buyers, they continue to be very busy with on-line sales. Used vehicles are in keen demand from consumers post-lockdown as many look for an alternative to public transport … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 August
Tough labour laws in France mean that Ineos stands to pick up an idling Daimler plant in Hamach in a distressed sale for €500 Million to build its forthcoming Grenadier 4x4 after suspending plans for a new factory outside Bridgend. If the sale falls through, Ineos may return to South Wales but there is another option on a struggling Nissan site in Spain as well. The Proton brand could resurface … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 August
Drivers are planning on making an estimated 45m daytrips* in August, according to a survey conducted by RAC Breakdown, with more than a quarter (28%) saying they will be taking more outings than last year – perhaps indicating the extent of the COVID-19 staycation. While these figures do not include overnight stays which are likely to increase traffic volumes still further, they show half of all … [Read more...]
Behind the Wheel: Driving towards a cliff
Tens of thousands of more jobs are likely to disappear from the UK automotive sector before the end of the year, writes Robin Roberts. Some 11,349 jobs so far axed following lockdown will grow and despite this week’s 11% rise in new car registrations the outlook is bleak. That’s because the first upturn in showroom sales came at the end of three months when all showrooms were in … [Read more...]
Beware of holiday ‘hang ons’ with car hire
Holidaymakers planning to hire a car in the UK this summer should check the price of the car hire ‘extras’ they need, as the cost at the rental desk can differ by hundreds of pounds. That’s according to a study of Sixt, Europcar, Enterprise and Hertz in eight UK cities includding Swansea by iCarhireinsurance.com, provider of stand-alone car hire excess insurance. The cheapest place to hire a … [Read more...]
Wales leads UK car sales recovery with Vauxhall Corsa
New car sales in Wales have recovered better than the rest of the UK. Welsh figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show a 39.22 % rise in July compared to the same month last year and brings the running total for this year to just 34.55% below the first seven months of 2019, also better than other regions. Dealers in Wales recorded 7,728 new car sales in July … [Read more...]