Over half of UK dealers (53%) plan to stock alternative fuel vehicles in the next five years, according to research from Close Brothers Motor Finance’s Dealer Satisfaction Survey. Positively, almost three in ten (29%) car dealers already stock AFVs. And for those who already have stock, two thirds (64%) plan to increase it and a quarter (24%) plan to maintain their current level. Just 2% of … [Read more...]
Industry
Tradelines 15 April
Ford is preparing for a $600M loss in the first three months of 2020 due to sales slowdown in the shadow of the global coronavirus. It’s already secured credit facilities and has a $30B reserve to cover most eventualities. New service and maintenance procedures at Arval UK have been adapted in a matter of days to keep essential fleets available 24/7 during the coronavirus crisis. Corrine … [Read more...]
Lockdown legalities for fleets & users
The handing back of company car and van keys or fobs to employers in order to avoid benefit-in-kind taxation during the coronavirus lockdown needs careful management, the Association of Fleet Professionals has warned. There remained both pertinent questions for HMRC around the issue and a range of potential practical problems to resolve, explained co-chair Caroline Sandall. She said, “During … [Read more...]
Safety checks to laid up vehicles
Drivers will need guidance on returning laid-up company cars to the road when the coronavirus crisis ends, says Meridian Vehicle Solutions. Phil Jerome, managing director at the medium-term rental specialist, said that some vehicles may not turn a wheel for months, depending on the length of the lockdown, and would need to be quite carefully inspected in a risk management context. “Even if the … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 April
The Covid-19 lockdown has reduced traffic on the roads and the number of accidents but has also brought an increase in speeding, according to data from My Policy Group, the telematics and data analytics business. This is a cause for concern as increasingly erratic driving behaviour could contribute to a rise in road traffic accidents, at a time when emergency services need to focus on fighting … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 April
Nissan wants $4.6 billion from major lenders to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s been hit by falling demand, management shake ups and now the global effects of the coronavirus on production lines after years of expansion. Worried executives in the German car industry want the Government to lift the lockdown on dealerships now stuffed with back orders and models piled up … [Read more...]
North Wales Fire Service shows Musso power
SsangYong Motors UK has partnered with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service to supply three award-winning SsangYong Musso pick-up trucks. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service protect a population of 678,461 people over an area of 2,400 square miles as well as hundreds of thousands of tourists and visitors who come to North Wales every year. Nick Laird, managing director of SsangYong Motors UK, … [Read more...]
Kia XCeed Edition turns new page for spring
Kia is turning up the brightness with its latest addition to the XCeed range. The new XCeed Edition is available in three bold, premium metallic paint finishes, including ‘Blue Flame’, ‘Quantum Yellow’ and ‘Lunar Silver’, all at no extra cost. The XCeed Edition is a new addition to the sporty CUV line-up, and features 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, electrically folding, adjustable … [Read more...]
Coronavirus hits over 1.4M vehicles
Over 1.4M new vehicles have been lost to production shutdowns across Europe as the Coronavirus develops. Factory shutdowns as a result of the COVID-19 crisis have resulted in lost production amounting to 1,465,415 said the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. This figure – covering passenger cars, trucks, vans, buses and coaches – is up from 1.2 million units compared to one week … [Read more...]
Warnings to drivers of furloughed EVs
Electric vehicle drivers may need to unplug their cars and vans during the coronavirus lockdown in order to reduce the risk of battery damage, Arval UK has suggested. David Watts, consultant at the fleet management and leasing company, explained that leaving an EV permanently on charge while the vehicle was hardly being used could cause issues. He explained: “General manufacturer advice is that … [Read more...]