Specialist motor insurance loss adjuster Claims Management & Adjusting says new Office for National Statistics figures showing an 8% annual increase in vehicle thefts are shockingly unsurprising. According to the ONS’s latest Crime Survey for England and Wales instances of “theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle” increased from 122,423 in the year October 2021 to September 2022, to … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 January
Bentley Motors achieved its third best ever year in 2023 with global sales of 13,560 luxury cars. Around three-quarters of customers went beyond the 46 billion different configurations available from the standard options range to add bespoke content from Bentley’s Mulliner division, representing a 43 per cent rise over 2022, an indication of the desire for truly unique exclusivity in the luxury … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: VW ID.3 Pro S
Of the legacy car-makers, Volkswagen has developed a very wide and strong range of new generation electric models. It has been working on electric cars for many years so it was probably only natural that modernising its best selling Golf family car would feature in its approach to the future, and the ID.3 fills the sector in which its petrol and diesel hatchback did so well before it led to the … [Read more...]
Car makers want more EV incentives for private buyers
The UK new car market has recorded its best year since the pandemic as a strong December up 9.8%, wrapped up the 17th month of consecutive growth. Some 1.903 million new cars reached the road during 2023 – an increase of 17.9%, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. In Wales last year, registrations reached 66,761, a rise of nearly 16% over 2022 and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: BYD Seal Design RWD
Now here’s my prediction for 2024: the BYD Seal is going to make a splash in the sporting saloon sector. Up to now, Europe has been the leading provider and market for four-doors with something a little special in the family sector, but that is likely to change over the coming 12 months. China’s BYD (it stands for Build Your Dreams) launched its Atto 3 SUV and Dolphin hatchback in Britain in … [Read more...]
BEV charge is running down
The UK new car market grew by 9.5% in November to reach 156,525 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, but there's a slowdown in EV interest among private buyers. In the market’s best November for four years, registrations almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, down just 96 units (-0.1%) on 2019. Registrations in Wales rose 13.7% to 5,467 … [Read more...]
EV deadline move will bolster buyers ICEs
More than four out of 10 dealers think used car buyers will stick with petrol and diesel cars for longer following the government’s decision to delay the new car electrifcation deadline to 2035. Startline’s November Used Car Tracker also shows that 29% believe the move will mean the used electric vehicle (EV) market will take longer to develop while 19% forecast that consumer demand for EVs will … [Read more...]
Newslines 28 November
Plans to rename SsangYong as KG Mobility have been dented by international law. KG Group, a local steel and chemicals company, completed the acquisition of the bankrupt SUV maker just over a year ago and renamed the company KG Mobility Corporation earlier this year but when it applied to register the English language name of KG Mobility as a trademark in April found the name had already been … [Read more...]
Groundbreaking Callum Skye 4×4 ev breaks cover
CALLUM today reveals CALLUM SKYE, the brand’s high-performance multi-terrain electric vehicle, created for discerning owners seeking extraordinary on- and off-road adventures. CALLUM SKYE is the company’s first own brand vehicle fully conceived, designed and engineered in-house. Breaking new ground for CALLUM and the industry, SKYE occupies a distinctive space in the automotive landscape. … [Read more...]
Tyre wear training courses for hard drivers
Fleets should consider driver training to counter the high level of tyre wear being reported on electric vehicles, suggest analysts at FleetCheck. The fleet software specialist says the additional weight and performance of EVs means that employees who drive company cars more aggressively are getting through sets of tyres much more quickly than would be expected. Peter Golding, managing director, … [Read more...]