Dealer worries over the growth of agency agreements have doubled in the last month, according to October’s Startline Used Car Tracker. The factor was named as a future challenge to their business by just 22% of used car retailers in September but has jumped to 42% this month. Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said, “For most of this year, around 20% of dealers have mentioned … [Read more...]
Lexus LBX to come in under £30K
Lexus has revealed launch pricing for its 'baby crossover', new LBX that will take the brand into new market territory. Order books are open now with on-the-road prices starting from £29,995 for the entry level Urban model. The all-hybrid electric line-up presents a wealth of choice with nine versions to choose from, reflecting the breadth of interior styling options to suit different … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Subaru Outback 2.5ES Touring
Subaru is a bit of a lone-wolf in the car world. Part of Fuji Heavy Industries and founded 70 years ago, it’s the brand’s golden anniversary in Britain next year after it launched with a compact and capable little estate car and pickup at prices which made hundreds of farmers and country-folk very happy. It also became a byword for British fans of the World Rally Championship in the 80s and 90s … [Read more...]
KIA is king but Stellantis is hopeless, say traders
Kia is the best and Stellantis the worst brands to be selling, say car dealers. The NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey was conducted last month and asked franchised dealers questions about the on-going business relationship with their respective manufacturers. It brought 2,531 responses from 32 franchised networks, equating to a joint record response rate of 68%. The 2023 Summer Survey showed a general … [Read more...]
Families turn backs on electric cars
The UK new car market grew 21.0% in September with 272,610 registrations in the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The 14th consecutive month of growth was also the second busiest of the year after March, with the new number plate delivering its traditional market surge despite a challenging economic backdrop. Growth continued to be driven by large fleets, which … [Read more...]
Weekend review: Old dogs & new tricks
More and more new names are appearing in the UK car market as it evolves into the electric age, but at the recent Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders annual southern test day for writers near Basingstoke it was two familiar names which caught my attention. The Nissan X-Trail has been a success in Britain for over 23 years while smart has been hanging around for even longer with a … [Read more...]
Newslines 6 October
Kia is bringing seamless Plug&Charge to its electric vehicles in Europe. Plug&Charge will be available with the EV9 upon launch and will gradually be rolled out to future Kia electrified models. This charging technology allows Kia customers to connect their EV with any Plug&Charge capable public charging station without additional identification or intermediate step needed to start … [Read more...]
UK Automotive faces serious risk from foreign evs
The transition to electric vehicles is posing a serious risk to the UK automotive sector as global competition intensifies, says the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. For the industry to survive, the Government needs to provide more incentives to consumers to buy electric cars as well as greater support to vehicle manufacturers. In its report “UK Automotive Sector: Surviving the Net Zero … [Read more...]
EV vans confusion needs clarification
Ongoing confusion over regulations surrounding 4.25 tonne electric vans mean that the Association of Fleet Professionals is urging fleets to “step up” lobbying of the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles and the Driver Vehicle Standards Authority. In 2019, a special concession was created by the Department of Transport (DFT) for electric vans. Normally, an individual with a standard B licence would … [Read more...]
Skoda update Scala and Kamiq
Škoda has announced UK specifications and pricing for the newly updated Scala and Kamiq, now on sale. Both have uprated equipment and refreshed exterior and interior design, including increased use of sustainable materials. There are new interior design selections: Loft, Lodge and Monte Carlo with the Scala priced from £22,095 and new Kamiq from £24,030. … [Read more...]