Stuttgart-based Borgward Group AG has entered into a strategic partnership with the automotive sales specialist International Motors and IM Group Ltd for the British and Irish markets. Contracts are close to being finalised with IM Group’s Nordic and Baltic businesses and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Wednesday to confirm their intention to import Borgward in the UK and … [Read more...]
News
Newslines 27 November
Commuters face three weeks of travel chaos on Wales' rail network just weeks after it was taken over by Welsh Government's Transport for Wales. The effect of storms on ageing trains means an "unprecedented" third of the fleet of 127 are damaged, so many will not run or be replaced by buses and Transport for Wales said they are trying to "share the pain" by diverting trains from quieter to more … [Read more...]
The rise of the clones, national warning
Cases of car cloning in London have risen by 50 per cent in just one year, with concerns that similar levels of cloning may be rife across the rest of the UK, according to figures obtained by HonestJohn.co.uk. It analysed previously unseen Transport for London data for the Congestion Charge zone and found that the number of Penalty Charge Notices being cancelled due to car number being cloned … [Read more...]
Long term ownership of cars is decreasing, says AA
The increasing popularity of car finance deals is contributing to the decline of long-term car ownership, according to AA Cars . The number of drivers who plan to hang onto their current car for more than five years has dropped considerably - by 11% - since owning their last car. This means there are around 3.4 million fewer drivers who have long term intentions for their current … [Read more...]
Drivers in survey favour compulsory dash-cams
GoCompare Car Insurance says a quarter of UK drivers it polled would be happy to see dash cams in cars made compulsory. Dash cams – a small video camera attached to a car’s dashboard or windscreen, recording the road ahead - are now commonplace on UK roads. The footage they record can be used as evidence following an accident to help prove which party was at fault. Last year it was … [Read more...]
First drive: New Suzuki Jimny
You’ll be lucky, very lucky, to get behind the wheel of the new generation Suzuki Jimny, says David Miles. Dale Wyatt, Director of Suzuki Automobiles in the UK said this week at the press launch for the new Jimny small SUV, “The new Jimny is the most irritating car I’ve launched. Why? Because demand is outstripping supply. “We received over 10,000 enquiries from potential UK … [Read more...]
Yellow box peril of drivers facing fines
With councils outside London and Cardiff wanting additional powers to use cameras to catch drivers who stop in yellow box junctions, RAC research reveals eight in 10 motorists struggle to get through them without stopping. What’s more, almost half (46%) admit they sometimes get stuck in them accidentally. Two-thirds of drivers (67%) say they find it difficult to get through some yellow … [Read more...]
Tougher MoT gas-tests see failures soar
Tough new emission tests this year have doubled the failure rate for older cars, and vans have gone up over four times as much. The DVSA reports that since May when the lower limits were set there have been 744,592 failed cars which have been fixed or scrapped compared to 350,472 in the same time last year. This year, 238,971 diesel and 505,721 petrol models were recorded with this major … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 November
Following a relatively mild November so far, forecasters have warned that the cold weather coming in from the east might bring sleet and snow to parts of the UK. With temperatures likely to drop below freezing, reaching as low as -2, in parts of country, Green Flag is predicting a staggering 44,800 breakdowns to occur in the run up to the weekend. Indian ride-hailing business Ola has … [Read more...]
Motor sport faces EU insurance fight
There are just days to go if you want to support a UK campaign to amend EU-proposed new motor-sport insurance legislation. The Motorsport Industry Association is concerned that the new legislation would endanger all forms of motorsport. It would make it compulsory for all drivers, including those competing in motorsport, to have unlimited third-party insurance. This would mean that all … [Read more...]