If planning a holiday this summer, beware of rising car hire costs. A 12-country study of car hire costs worldwide reveals that the average weekly price to hire a compact family car (e.g., a VW Golf) this summer has rocketed to £520 a week, compared to just £310 in 2019, an increase of £210 – a 68% rise. However, this is around £100 cheaper than last year’s highs when the average weekly hire … [Read more...]
Finance News
Supercars Shuttle to Sporting Spectacular
Le Mans is home to the most famous 24-hour endurance race in the world and the centenary event took place last weekend, with thousands of motoring enthusiasts making the pilgrimage via LeShuttle to partake. The LeShuttle terminals were alive with the roar of powerful engines, with over 1,000 supercar and elite sports car journeys booked around the weekend of the race. These special vehicles … [Read more...]
Logistics UK backs private CV testing
Britain's transport professionals are backing a move to privatise CV testing and licensing to speed up a historical struggling Government-run system. Logistics UK has supported the move to allow Earned Recognition (ER) operators to either carry out their own MOT testing on vehicles and trailers or delegate the responsibility to their third-party maintenance provider, subject to them meeting … [Read more...]
Tradelines 14 June
Used car sales for the UK’s Top 200 dealers showed signs of recovery in May after a dramatic slide in the previous month. Data from our used car partner CarCondor.co.uk showed sales of second-hand cars jumped by 2.9 per cent to 164,138 in the fifth month of the year and follows a poor performance in April which saw sales plummet 10.54 per cent to 159,478, reports Car Dealer Magazine. New … [Read more...]
Weighty problem for electric vans & drivers
Operational restrictions and uncertainties are creating issues for fleets adopting new 4.25 tonne electric vans, says the Association of Fleet Professionals. A special concession was created by the Department of Transport for electric light commercial vehicles in 2019. Normally, the holder of a standard B licence would only be able to drive a van up to 3.5 tonnes but recognising the extra weight … [Read more...]
Trade Centre profits fall despite soaring sales
Trade Centre Group profits more than halved last year. Figures filed at Companies House, Cardiff for 2022 show the used car supermarket group with showrooms at Neath and Cardiff saw profit before tax collapse 62.9 per cent from £18.6m in 2021 to £6.9m in 2022. The group has other outlets in Coventry, Rochdale, Rotherham, Wednesbury and Birmingham and sold more used cars – 35k in 2021 to more … [Read more...]
Green-taxi trials to boost business
Cardiff Capital Region launched a Green Taxi ‘Try before you buy’ scheme in partnership with Welsh Government and Day’s Rentals, of Swansea. The scheme gives licensed taxi drivers within ten local authorities in the Cardiff Capital Region the opportunity to trial a fully electric, wheelchair accessible taxi for free for 30 days. This also includes free insurance, charging and breakdown … [Read more...]
Toyota GR86 order books reopen
Just one year ago, the Toyota GR86 was an instant sales sensation, accelerating from nought to sell-out success in less than two hours. Since then, a packed waiting list of potential customers has been eager for news of more cars coming to the UK. Now the wait is over. Now, Toyota said additional coupes are on their way, giving more people the chance to enjoy the special qualities of a model … [Read more...]
Fleets will drive European sales this decade
Europe’s vehicle components industry says fleet purchases will dominate future sales. Boston Consulting Group and parts makers CLEPA looked at the anticipated after market business by the end of the decade. Results show that fleet vehicles are capturing a significant and rising share of the European aftermarket. Five countries alone (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Poland) will … [Read more...]
Legend car makers facing end of the road
Around 51% of car dealers think that the arrival of new Chinese electric vehicle companies in the UK market will force some established manufacturers out of business. Startline’s June Used Car Tracker also shows that 31% believe some existing brands are already falling behind and 36% say that the next few years will see them fold thanks to tougher competition. In terms of who will be affected, … [Read more...]