New car registrations in Wales plunged over 30% last month after a boom in March due to new taxes and charges beginning in April, writes Robin Roberts. It was the steepest fall in the UK, with Northern Ireland just a little behind while England and Scotland did not suffer anywhere like the same downturn. The fall was expected but the percentage was higher than many … [Read more...]
Finance
Clocking comes around again
Fraudsters have returned to “clocking” vehicles odometers to boost part exchange prices and escape mileage penalties under growing leasing schemes, says hpi. The number of cars on UK roads showing mileage discrepancies has risen to one in 16, a jump of 25 per cent according to new figures from hpi. The figure has leapt from one in 20 cars in 2014. The figures emerge as what is believed to … [Read more...]
Scheme to trial risk assessment
Fleet software specialist FleetCheck has been asked to take part in a DVSA pilot scheme that could transform how businesses approach fleet compliance. Called “Earned Recognition”, it provides commercial vehicle fleets who can prove good compliance track records with the possibility of reducing the number of inspections they undergo plus a range of other benefits. The DVSA is currently … [Read more...]
British brands better at beating book-prices
OSV’s research has revealed that British-made cars, such as Vauxhall, Roll Royce, Jaguar and Landrover, retain the most value in the first 12 months after purchase, an impressive 65.5% of their original value. Compared to vehicles produced by the likes of France and Italy, which on average retain only 46.2% and 46.7% respectively, it shows that the British lion still has a significant … [Read more...]
£6.5 Billion bill for new car buyers after Brexit
Brexit uncertainty and the prospect of increasing car prices could cost the new car market an estimated £6.5 billion. An estimated 377,000 motorists ‘strongly agree’ that Brexit is making them think twice about buying a new car, according to research by AA Cars, the used car website. Around a quarter of motorists predict leaving the EU will push up the price of everyday driving costs, with … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 April
An estimated 15 Million cars will hit UK roads tomorrow for an Easter trip. Confused.com polled drivers on their plans and it seems most are planning an average 78miles trip at some time over the holidays. An investigation by Auto Express revealed that over a million owners are ignoring official recall notices issued by car manufacturers to fix safety problems such as faulty airbags, fire … [Read more...]
£110 Million EV investment sparked by UK
Britain awarded £110 million to help boost manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries, including a project to build the country's second purpose-built electric battery plant and another to make the technology more powerful. The funding for 38 projects, including £62 million for low-emission cars and £31 million for self-driving vehicles, will help protect almost 2,400 jobs, the Department for … [Read more...]
Tradelines 12 April
McLaren Automotive is celebrating the beginning of full production of the new 720S supercar, with the completion of the ‘Job#1’ car. The move to full production marks the beginning of a new chapter in the McLaren Automotive story, as the second generation of the Super Series – codenamed ‘P14’ – replaces the first generation, ‘P11’ model family that encompassed the original McLaren 12C … [Read more...]
Majority business motorists thinking of EVs
Venson Automotive Solutions says 85% of motorists would now consider buying an electric vehicle or choosing one as their company car. However, concern over a lack of charging points is a significant ownership hurdle for those surveyed (69%). People living in the South East of England (88%) were more concerned about the availability of charging points than those living elsewhere in the … [Read more...]
Olden is not golden
Too many fleets keep “an old van in the yard” that represents a massive Health and Safety risk, says FleetCheck. The fleet software specialist says that it regularly encounters businesses – especially larger SMEs – that have a dilapidated vehicle they use as a back-up to their main fleet. Peter Golding, managing director at FleetCheck, explained: “We see vehicles like this often … [Read more...]