Only 10 million of the 43 million highly-polluting diesel cars and vans that were caught in the "Dieselgate" emissions scandal have been recalled since 2015. And although these measures only require the cheapest, least effective form of fixes – software recalls – they will not be completed for another two years, analysis of new EU data indicates. Transport & Environment (T&E), which … [Read more...]
PCP users paying for poor repairs
PCP users are facing unexpected bills for sub-standard repair work to contracted cars, says the Vehicle Remarketing Association. The organisation, which represents companies that between them handle, sell, inspect, transport or manage more than 1.5 million used vehicles every year, says that more and more cars are being presented for sale online and at auction with what the industry terms … [Read more...]
Recognition for car services at Business Motoring Awards
In an increasingly complex business car marketplace, the Business Motoring Awards 2019 has recognised best practice in the sector from the likes of Northgate and Volkswagen Commercial Services. The winners’ list of the Business Motoring Awards, supported by Fleet Alliance, a leading lease car supplier to the SME business sector is: Best Car Fleet Management – DRIVE Software Best Company … [Read more...]
Tesla Model 3 tops EU EV charts in first month
The new Tesla Model 3 has shot to the top of European electric car registrations in its debut month. The European car market registered its sixth consecutive month of decline in February 2019, as 1.14 million vehicles were registered. This was largely because February marked a month of uncertainty for many of the bigger European markets, such as Spain, where registrations fell by 10% … [Read more...]
New blow for car makers in WLTP tests
The European Commission has tightened the WLTP test for new cars after indications automakers were 'gaming' their results. It may also demand manufacturers retest cars already signed off, leading to confusion in showrooms and where emissions figures are used by Governments to assess tax levels. The updated regulation, which came into force in February, requires automakers to switch on all … [Read more...]
New cars still offering poor theft security, say experts
Half of new cars so far launched this year have been rated as offering poor security and one was said to be "unacceptable" by insurance test body Thatcham Research. The new ratings assess whether measures to specifically address the keyless entry/start vulnerability, have been adopted. Six of the 11 vehicles launched this year have been given a ‘Poor’ rating as the keyless entry/start system … [Read more...]
New car tax changes and how they affect you
The Government’s Spring Statement 2019 has outlined how April 2019 changes to vehicle-related taxes will hit fleets and drivers. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond’s second Spring Statement was an update on the health of the UK economy and the state of the Government’s finances, rather than laying out any major new tax or spending announcements. The fleet industry had hoped that the … [Read more...]
Autonomous driving interest accelerates
Three in ten drivers (31%) now favour self-driving cars, up from one in ten (10%) a year ago, they told pollsters for the Britain Under the Bonnet report from Close Brothers Motor Finance. At a time when Government has recently announced plans for driverless cars to be on UK roads as early as 2021, the latest figures show how perceptions are changing and trends are beginning to … [Read more...]
European car prices face rise but Japanese go down
Some european cars will rise in price under the Government’s proposed post-Brexit tariffs structures. The new tariff regime would mark a shift in favour of products from non-EU countries. Even so, they mean 82% of imports from the EU would be tariff-free, down from 100% now, while 92% percent from the rest of the world would pay no border duty, up from 56%. Under the plan, the UK car … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS; Infiniti close Sunderlnd, pull out of Europe
Nissan’s luxury Infiniti brand is ending production in Sunderland and pulling out of Western Europe. Production of the Q30 and QX30 will cease within months at the plant which was told just last month that it will not get the next Nissan X Trail SUV. The decision is likely to wipe thousands of pounds off the value of any UK Infiniti models and leave hundreds of Infiniti users with … [Read more...]