Continuing confusion over Net Zero targets is slowing the recovery of motor sales. Seán Kemple, Managing Director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, said, “March marks a year since the first UK national lockdown, and the industry has evolved remarkably during this time. “New car sales are going ahead through click and collect, or click and deliver, services, and dealers continue to adopt new ways … [Read more...]
Finance
EV sales soar and so do drivers’ travel plans
Sales of new electric vehicles hit new records in March as Tesla tops with 31% market share and Kia, Nissan and Hyundai battle it out for second place, revealed New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count tracker. The independent research organisation will publish the tracker each month and it looks at the top ten EV manufacturers and their market share as well as new EV sales. If there’s anything extra … [Read more...]
Tradelines 7 April
While the pandemic has taken a toll on many people’s finances, others are emerging with a nest egg after months of lockdown living and this could ensure the car industry, along with the wider economy, bounces back quicker than originally anticipated, said James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars. He was speaking after the SMMT released March car sales figures showing a dramatic rise compared to the last … [Read more...]
Electric car sales surge, but Wales sees big loss
Electric car sales are charging ahead on British roads. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show ev registrations hit a record and hybrid sales last month were higher than September 2020, the previous best for the dual fuel vehicles. It's also the first month that the Tesla Model 3 EV, pictured above, has been officially recognised in the figures after Tesla withdrew … [Read more...]
A quarter of new cars will be hybrids, say buyers
One in four UK drivers plan to opt for a hybrid car as their next vehicle purchase, according to research conducted for Close Brothers Motor Finance’s upcoming Britain Under the Bonnet Report. The fifth iteration of the report reveals that the desire to purchase a hybrid vehicle has accelerated to 26% from 21% in 2020. And this is largely stable across age groups, but highest at 28% for those … [Read more...]
Newslines 2 April
Nine out of ten Cardiff drivers don't know when they must put on headlights and are risking accidents, prosecution and penalty points as well as invalidating insurance. A survey for Uswitch found only 9.62% of Welsh drivers knew they had to turn on headlights when visibility was under 100 metres as defined in the Highway Code. The average annual car insurance premium has fallen by £55 from the … [Read more...]
Tax change is major opportunity for fleets
The 130% capital allowances superdeduction that comes into effect on 1 April presents a “major renewal opportunity” for van fleets, FleetCheck is forecasting. The fleet software specialist says that businesses who have been considering buying Euro 6 compliant light commercial vehicles to meet the needs of Clean Air Zones or electric and hybrid vans as they begin EV operations for the first time … [Read more...]
Sharing chargers solution to shortfall
Independent research by Dodona Analytics reveals electric charger sharing is essential to support the UK's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. According to their research, if only 4% of motorists with a home charger share it with their neighbours living in flats and terraced houses where they can't have their own charger, then a successful transition to EVs can be achieved … [Read more...]
Good and bad cars’ survey
One of the biggest factors for drivers choosing a car will be whether the model they select can last the test of time. Fortunately for them, MotorEasy has revealed the cars that are most likely to have a breakdown. Using their own warranty data, MotorEasy analysed almost 10,000repair claims from 353 UK car models over three years, 2018-2020. Their research reveals the best and worst cars for … [Read more...]
How to keep the heart of your EV car in good health
The battery in your electric vehicle is by far its most valuable component part, but do you know how to keep it in good health? Manufacturers give surprisingly little information about how to keep an EV battery in good shape on a day-to-day basis, and drivers tend to be focussed on the battery range or charge. The Li-ion battery and electric motor combination in an EV do the work not just of the … [Read more...]
