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...]
Car making declines in UK, not good for EVs either
UK car production fell -9.7% in August, following six consecutive months of growth, as 45,052 models rolled off factory lines, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Typically the smallest volume month of the year with often variable summer shutdowns which can lead to large percentage variations, August’s output was in part affected by … [Read more...]
Newslines 3 October
In the week prior to Rishi Sunak’s announcement that the ban would be pushed back from 2030 to 2035, 42% of drivers planning to buy a new car said they expected it to be a low emissions either fully electric or hybrid. Following the announcement, Kwik Fit’s researchers asked the nation’s drivers the same question and found that the proportion planning to opt for a low emissions vehicle has now … [Read more...]
Newcomers: Genesis enter Coupe sector
Genesis has unveiled the GV80 Coupe and the re-designed GV80 marking its debut in the coupe SUV segment. Genesis’ inaugural SUV - GV80 - blends luxury aesthetics with cutting-edge technology and has achieved impressive sales figures of over 170,000 units in the global luxury SUV market since its global debut in January 2020. The enhanced GV80 brings the first model change in over three years, … [Read more...]
Tradelines 27 September
A new study by Auto Trader has found that the number of people claiming they’ll never buy an EV has nearly doubled, on the back of the government’s U-turn last week. Of the 1,700 in-market car buyers who responded to questioning, 37 per cent said they were unlikely to ever buy an EV and the figure is close to double the 21 per cent of people who said they would never go electric when the 2030 ban … [Read more...]
Green motoring u-turn is sickening says industry
Applying the brakes to the 2030 electrification deadline by the Government is a poor and insincere reflection on the needs of business and the environment, according to the head of Britain’s fleet professionals. Paul Hollick, chair of the AFP, said, “This is a crucial subject where massive investments have been made and is not just something that should be politicked in the expectation of … [Read more...]