Government plans for a new mileage-based Electric Vehicle Excise Duty greatly increases the temptation for car clocking, FleetCheck is warning. The proposal replaces lost fuel duty revenue with rates of 3.0 pence per mile for electric vehicles (EVs) and 1.5 for plug-in-hybrids, with mileage checked annually at an MOT station. Peter Golding, CEO at the … [Read more...]
Fewer vehicle thefts recorded
The UK’s largest owner-managed loss adjusting and claims solutions group, QuestGates, has completed its initial analysis of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Lost or Stolen data for 2025, revealing encouraging trends for the motor insurance market. For the motor insurance industry and motorists in general, the data points to a clear shift in the right … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Xpeng G6
Exactly what driving and mobility will be like in future is still uncertain, but for sure, Chinese brand Xpeng aims to be part of it. Like US rival Tesla, Xpeng has roots in technology, software and brainpower rather than horsepower, and it also set its sights on the sky and has produced not a spaceship but a flying car complete with its own land aircraft … [Read more...]
Solberg & Evans relish next Rally Sweden
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team take on the high-speed snow of Rally Sweden this week with their home hero Oliver Solberg leading the FIA World Rally Championship. Solberg led a superb 1-2-3 for the team on the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo to launch his debut TGR-WRT campaign in style. After experiencing some of the most demanding winter … [Read more...]
EV claims doubled under RAC Warranties last year
A £22,954 claim approved by RAC Warranty for a replacement engine and gearbox on a 2020 Audi was the largest claim paid out by the organisation last year. Claims paid out on electrical vehicles doubled in the same time. Lee Coomber, RAC client director at Assurant, which partners with the RAC in the aftersales sector, said that higher value claims of this … [Read more...]
MB EQC most likely to fail MoT
New car first-time MoT test failures have thrown up a few surprises. Top of the list was the Mercedes-Benz EQC, an electric SUV, with a first-time MOT fail rate of 17.2%. Just over 4,000 checked in for an MoT last year, and of those 717 failed. Both electric and internal combustion engine cars feature in the top 20, with the Ford Tourneo Custom just … [Read more...]
Tesla changing plans and model drive
Tesla is turning away from cars to concentrate its autonomous Cybercab and robotics business. It has confirmed no current plans to expand its vehicle range, other than build a niche roadster, reports Fleet News. The financial results for Q4 saw a 3% drop in revenues to $24.9 billion (£18.2bn), while the business also saw a 61% year-over-year decline in net … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Skywell BE11 LR
Competition in the UK car market is tough, very tough, and Chinese brand Skywell is ramping up the challenge. Introduced early 2025, it quickly realised it had to raise its game and this year intensified its sales drive with better driver technology, improved comfort and lower prices helped by ev-grants and importer discounts. There are under 20 UK … [Read more...]
Toyota top again for customer service
Toyota’s commitment to putting the customer at the heart of its business is reflected in the company retaining its position as the highest ranked automotive manufacturer in the latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index – a twice-yearly independent report published by The Institute of Customer Service. It is the third time consecutively that Toyota has … [Read more...]
Car registrations rise but brakes go on EVs
There has been an encouraging start to this year’s new car registrations, but pure battery cars have slowed while Chinese makes have gained ground. Car makers now want a rethink on the support for electric cars and proposed pence-per-mile road tolls for them. It also saw a Chinese brand (above) take second place in the UK top ten and three occupied the top … [Read more...]
