UK car making slumped last year to the lowest since 1984, hit by Covid-19 interruptions and a collapse in demand for most of the year. The car makers' body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief Mike Hawes said it was a "dreadful year" but added that a comprehensive vaccination programme might restore buying and production.Output was 920,928 vehicles, a 29.3% fall on … [Read more...]
Finance
Company cars’ confusing charts
As another lockdown leaves company car activity stalled in suspended animation, a new BVRLA report analyses the market and the long-term trends that will drive its destiny. With all but essential journeys banned and new car registrations slumping to a thirty-year low, the company car sector has entered 2021 as it spent much of 2020, in an artificial position. The BVRLA Company Car Report puts … [Read more...]
Newslines 26 January
Our buying habits are changing with hybrids now up over 304% in ten years through insurance searches says comparethemarket, followed by city cars and then electric models, which are just ahead of seven-seaters and SUVs. Steepest decline in buyers have been sports cars, mpvs, coupes, convertibles and pure 4WD models. Burgeoning demand for the fully electric e-tron SUV has been instrumental in … [Read more...]
£100M new model and plan for Lotus
Road and racing marque Lotus is investing £100M in a new model and production facility. A new series of sports cars is confirmed with prototype production of the Lotus Type 131 to commence this year in Hethel, Norfolk. It is likely to be the last powered by a conventional petrol engine before an ev-powertrain is developed.The new manufacturing investment is part of … [Read more...]
Learners and commuters boosting car sales
In what has been a turbulent time for the industry, car dealerships across the UK have been desperately trying to claw back car sales. To paint a statistical picture of the downfall, figures for new private car registrations dropped by 98.7% in April, the worst downturn in 70 years. Only 871 cars were registered, compared to 67,873 at the same time in 2019. As the clock moved forward to July, … [Read more...]
Lockdown deals shaking out car sales
Drivers clambered to offload their small cars for cash during 2020 as the pandemic caused lockdowns across the UK. Sell My Car Direct, previously saw more than a quarter of the cars offered to the car buying service being made up of city cars and superminis (27%). Add hatchbacks and the percentage rises to 40% (2,400 of 5,964), as drivers flocked to sell off their superfluous second vehicles, … [Read more...]
Nissan decision puts pressure on Ellesmere Port investment
Britain is charging up for a battery cars’ future. Nissan said today that its Sunderland car plant is secure for the long term as a result of the trade deal reached between the UK and the EU. It already makes traction batteries next to its Sunderland assembly plant and now says additional battery production will be invested where it has 6,000 direct employees and supports nearly 70,000 jobs in … [Read more...]
Insurance shock looming for latest car owners
Thousands of drivers could see their car insurance rocket if new uncapped data is used by insurers. Since 2009, Thatcham's Group Insurance Rating has placed vehicles into a 1-50 system by using a capped algorithm to help insurers determine the cost of cover. While there are no plans to replace the current process, raw data shared as a result of taking the cap off has seen around 500 cars surge … [Read more...]
Ten steps to saving on premiums
Here are some eye-opening ways to scrutinize and save on your car insurance. Moneyshake car leasing has looked at 140 quotes and come up with some tips to tip the premiums in your favour, with a few surprising facts. Moneyshake’s Top Findings:Third-party, fire and theft is 60% more expensive than comprehensive cover Decreasing voluntary excess can actually make your premium 25% … [Read more...]
E-vans benefits not explained say fleets
The new zero per cent benefit-in-kind rate for electric vans that takes effect on 6 April has been “underpublicised” when it should be helping lead to faster, wider adoption, says the Association of Fleet Operators. Chair Paul Hollick said that a key element of success in boosting demand for electric cars over the last year has been the low level of taxation, and that something similar needs to … [Read more...]
