Dealer margins are being squeezed as despite strong demand it is proving difficult to push retail prices up, according tp CAP HPI. This is due to consumers cost-of-living concerns and high used car prices from increases since the start of COVID, and especially in 2021 when values increased by c.30% on average. Plus there is strong competition from other physical and online retailers. When you … [Read more...]
Features
Government is failing drive towards EVs
More than seven out of 10 car dealers (71%) say that not enough is being done to support the UK motor industry’s transition to electric vehicle manufacturing. March’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows that 50% believe that the blame lies with the government and 7% with motor manufacturers. Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said, “Electrification is the single biggest change to motor … [Read more...]
Wales’ green drive is stalling
Wales continues to lag behind rest of Britain for EV charging points Commenting on the latest Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said, “Despite their insistence on being a green government, this report highlights Labour’s continued abysmal record on electric vehicle charging provision. “Wales still has … [Read more...]
Over 212,000 vehicles seized by police
Motorists in North Wales are most likely to get back a seized set of wheels but less likely to see their car again in the West Midlands. With 212,000 vehicles being impounded across the UK, just how many of these seized vehicles are actually returned to their owners? It is a quested posed by Confused.com which analysed Freedom of Information data from police forces across the UK to reveal how … [Read more...]
Surcharges of £120 for 5.0 litres of fuel
Supermarket giant Tesco faced scrutiny when a customer discovered they’d been charged £120 after filling up at a petrol station in Manchester. The customer reportedly spent just £15 on petrol using a pay-at-pump machine but was shocked to find the extra charge on his account, which he claimed didn't get refunded back into his account for over 12 hours. And it seems many other motorists are … [Read more...]
Beware of new insurance ‘admin fees’
Go.Compare car insurance says the number of policies that now charge admin fees has risen since this time last year. The comparison site has reviewed the 332 comprehensive car insurance products in the market in 2023 and compared the admin fees charged today, compared with the same fees charged in the same period in 2022. It found that the number of car insurance products that now charge … [Read more...]
Britain risks running out of EV innovation – car makers
Britain’s ability to compete as an electric vehicle production leader is at risk unless government responds urgently to increasingly fierce international competition, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders warns in a new blueprint. The call comes as other countries significantly power up political and economic backing for their own automotive sectors, positioning themselves at the front … [Read more...]
Used fleet-evs are slowly shifting
Ex-fleet electric vehicles are taking more than twice as long to sell as internal combustion engine models, according to new data from epyx, but the situation could change relatively quickly, the company added. Figures drawn from its 1link Disposal Network platform show that petrol cars and vans are taking an average of 10 days to sell, and diesel 11 but EVs 25. The trend remains the same when … [Read more...]
Hertz backs Greenfleet EV event from Wales
Hertz has joined forces with Greenfleet, as the Official Vehicle Partner for its 2023 EV Rally 3-7 July. Hertz will provide electric vehicles for the five-day event that goes across the five capital cities in the UK and Ireland to highlight the real-world capabilities of electric vehicles and track the progress being made with charging infrastructure in the UK. Hertz, which is investing … [Read more...]
Wales’s busiest roads facing tolls
The Labour-led Welsh Government wants to further clamp down on drivers. It has published a long awaited anti-air pollution proposal which would see heavily polluting vehicles paying to use some of Wales' busiest roads under a new law. The Welsh government said it would only happen if 50mph zones fail to reduce emissions. Sections of the M4 near Newport and the A470 at Pontypridd have been … [Read more...]