With the brand marking its fifth anniversary this year, it showcased the world premiere of its first all-electric SUV coupé, the CUPRA Tavascan, to be launched in 2024. CUPRA has also revealed the CUPRA DarkRebel, a virtual sports car designed for a future city that is no longer contained by physical limits, which can be configured by the CUPRA Tribe. VEV, the e-fleet company backed by … [Read more...]
EU car sales soar nearly 30%
The EU car market recorded a significant 28.8% increase in passenger car registrations in March, surpassing more than a million units (1,087,939). All the bloc’s largest markets saw double-digit growth last month, with Spain (66.1%) and Italy (40.7%) in the lead. In the first quarter of 2023, the EU car market saw a substantial increase in new car registrations, with almost 2.7 million units … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 April
Major investment by Caterham owner VT Holdings will increase production capacity by 50% to approximately 750 units per annum. New headquarters will house the production, engineering, motorsport and commercial teams and is due for completion by the end of this year. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is celebrating the launch of the new California Surf with a variety of finance offers until Sunday … [Read more...]
Ferrari still strongest car brand by reputation
Tesla accelerated to the front of the pack, taking pole position as the world’s most valuable automotive brand, with its value surging by 44% to USD66.2 billion, according to a new report from leading brand valuation consultancy, Brand Finance, but Ferrari remains the strongest brand. This makes it the world’s most valuable Automobiles brand for the first time, and the first time that a … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: GWM Funky Cat 1st Edition
The UK’s electric car revolution is becoming a bloody affair. From initially resisting the new technology on cost grounds including writing off established investments in petrol and diesel engine technology and having to develop hybrid or pure electric powertrains, along with making tens of thousands of workers redundant, manufacturers have struggled to convince buyers into showrooms or on-line … [Read more...]
New car sales slowly rising
The first quarter of 2023 has been positive for UK new vehicle sales, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. “It is extremely encouraging to see sales figures starting to emulate pre-pandemic trends, particularly for the plate change month of march and consecutive months of optimism and growth,” she said, commenting on the latest SMMT’s new passenger … [Read more...]
Government is failing drive towards EVs
More than seven out of 10 car dealers (71%) say that not enough is being done to support the UK motor industry’s transition to electric vehicle manufacturing. March’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows that 50% believe that the blame lies with the government and 7% with motor manufacturers. Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said, “Electrification is the single biggest change to motor … [Read more...]
Beware of new insurance ‘admin fees’
Go.Compare car insurance says the number of policies that now charge admin fees has risen since this time last year. The comparison site has reviewed the 332 comprehensive car insurance products in the market in 2023 and compared the admin fees charged today, compared with the same fees charged in the same period in 2022. It found that the number of car insurance products that now charge … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 March
Bentley Motors revealed record financial results for 2022, with operating profits up nearly €1 billion compared to 2018. The latest annual figures show a profit of €708 million, representing an 82 per cent growth in profit from a four per cent growth in volume while turnover reached €3.38 billion, up 19 per cent over the same period and the announcement follows record sales in 2022, when Bentley … [Read more...]
Addressing the gender divide in automotive industry
International Women’s Day presents the perfect opportunity to address one of the key imperfections of the automotive industry, the gender divide, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association on International Women’s Day 8 March. "Whilst there is a stark difference in numbers between male and female employees in the automotive industry, NFDA strives to connect … [Read more...]