If leasing companies electrify their fleets earlier, 18 million more households in the EU will have access to cheaper EVs and save on their car spending. At current rates of electrification, 33 million households in the EU will have access to second hand electric cars from today until 2035. But if the leasing sector accelerates its uptake of EVs, this would go up by 56% - up to 51 million, says … [Read more...]
Hiring
Toyota tops Professional range with Proace Max
The Toyota Professional range of light commercial vehicles offers greater choice than ever before, complemented by a commitment to customer care that will support Toyota’s continued growth in the sector. The new line-up stands out from the crowd with robust new styling across an extensive range that boasts class-leading load-carrying capabilities. Taking centre stage is the all-new Proace Max … [Read more...]
Motorists expect higher costs in 2024
Motorists expect the cost of running their car to continue to rise across all major areas of spending in 2024, new research shows. October’s new Startline Used Car Tracker shows that 70% think congestion zone charges will rise and the same percentage expect service and maintenance to increase. Other costs expected to go up include motor insurance (67%), tyres (65%) and petrol (55%). Paul … [Read more...]
Appointments
The National Motor Museum has appointed a new chair of its board of trustees to help drive ambitious plans for the future after celebrating its landmark half century. International lawyer Robert MacGregor, Senior Partner EMEA at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), will begin his new voluntary role at Beaulieu on October 15. His passion for cars was fuelled by his father Ian MacGregor, a … [Read more...]
Holiday risks in driving abroad
Around eight million Brits drive abroad each year and 63% don’t checking the local driving laws. And now, motoring experts are warning drivers to be vigilant, or they could face hefty fines this summer. Research from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office found over two-thirds of Brits who have driven abroad have faced problems. And with over two in five (42%) Brits travelling overseas this … [Read more...]
Beware holiday hire car insurance rip-offs
Avoid getting burned on a foreign holiday with a hire car, says Chris Adams, Operations Director at the Brindley Group. “Feeling burned – and not because of the sun – isn’t exactly the ideal start to your summer holiday. On the road to hiring a holiday car, there can be rip offs aplenty, so you should know what to watch out for," he said. Going with a name brand like Hertz or Europcar can seem … [Read more...]
Rental-car hire costs up this summer
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...]
EV discounts arriving to lift sales
Discounts are starting to appear on new electric vehicles for really the first time since they entered the mass market, delegates were told at the Association of Fleet Professionals 2023 Conference. Recent price cutting by Tesla and the arrival of new manufacturers from China were both helping to create a more competitive environment, alongside a gradual ramping up of production volumes … [Read more...]
Car sales slowly rising again
The momentum in new vehicle sales has continued with strong growth across electric vehicles, hybrids and petrol vehicles and is expected to continue through the summer months, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. In May, a total of 145,204 new cars were registered, an increase of 16.7% from the same period last year, according to the Society of Motor … [Read more...]
Banks must finance more EV deals
Almost six out of 10 dealers (58%) believe that more support is needed from their motor finance providers to retail electric vehicles, shows new research. May’s Startline Used Car Tracker reports that 41% say their lenders are less keen to finance EVs, 10% want higher deposits from buyers and 5% charge higher interest rates. A further 5% say their lenders simply won’t touch EVs at all. Just … [Read more...]
