Company car and van fleets are markedly more optimistic about growth than before the pandemic, according to new research in the 2021 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer. When asked whether they expected the number of vehicles they operate to increase or decrease in the next three years, the response was eight percentage points higher than 2020’s survey. However, larger fleets appear to be … [Read more...]
Retail
Volkswagen sales of EVs soar & Porsche power on
Figures being released today will show the steady advance of electric car sales. April saw further evidence that more manufacturers are racing to secure a share of the market for new EVs. New AutoMotive’s monthly data release tracks new car registrations in Great Britain and shows that the market for new EVs is distributed between an increasing number of manufacturers. Volkswagen took the … [Read more...]
Genesis brand launches in UK
Hyundai’s premium Genesis brand goes on UK sale this summer. There will not be a dealer network but the manufacturer will have a Genesis Studio in Westfield shopping centre, London and also provide sales on-line. Prices are likely to begin about £35,000 for the saloon and £50,000 for the suv, and will be fixed and non-negotiable. It was established in 2015 and has been selling … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Citroen New C4 1.2 PureTech 130 manual
Combine mid-sized hatchback dimensions with 5-doors in a Coupe styled bodyshell then add in must-have SUV styling cues and that mix should make the new Citroen C4 highly desirable. For good measure Citroen has thrown in attractive pricing and high specification. The C4 and its predecessors have been around in various forms in their mid-sized segment over 93 years with 12,500,000 sold. The … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Vauxhall New Insignia Sri VX-Line Nav
The Vauxhall Insignia is a lesson to rivals. While many challengers have or are about to move out of saloons/ hatchbacks and into crossover models in the modestly priced family sector, or executive brands keep pushing up prices but offering less in return, the Vauxhall hatchback stands out as extremely good value and packaging. The Insignia range today spreads over 17-models in a single … [Read more...]
Toyota Yaris tops for reliability, German marques low
THE Toyota Yaris is the most reliable of the UK’s best-selling cars. From nippy city runarounds to larger family motors, British drivers have always had their favourites when it comes to getting from A to B with as little fuss as possible. Now warranty specialists MotorEasy have run the numbers on the top 10 models to see which of them really delivers in terms of swerving hefty repairs … [Read more...]
Buyers looking for more used evs, says AA Cars
Interest in used electric vehicles rose by almost 20% in 2020, despite the pandemic and the closure of car dealerships during lockdown periods, new analysis by AA Cars, the AA’s used car website, has revealed. Searches for EVs on the AA Cars platform have been growing steadily year after year, increasing 47 times (4,623%) since 2015. Interest in electric cars grew by 18.85% year-on-year in … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 April
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45 limited edition opens to UK marking 45 years of one of the world’s most iconic and best-loved badges. This sixth generation of the famous model costs from £39,980 with unrestricted performance, sports exhaust, uprated handling, special paint and emblems. Suzuki has introduced an optional six speed automatic transmission for the Vitara 48V and … [Read more...]
Salary sacrifice is saving emissions, reports Arval
Around 89% of cars leased via Arval on salary sacrifice are now an electric vehicle, an increase from just 39% two years ago. Over the same time period, the total number of cars provided using the sustainable mobility specialist’s salary sacrifice scheme, Arval Ignition, has risen by 252%. A figure that includes growth in terms of both existing clients and the creation of new schemes. Richard … [Read more...]
Demand for Welsh mobile mechanics surges during pandemic
New data from one of the country’s leading insurance comparison websites revealed a 158% year-on-year rise in Welsh mobile mechanics taking out insurance for their sole traderships. Quotezone.co.uk figures also reveal a 71% year-on-year spike in new policies for full time motor trade businesses, and a 49% jump in cover for part time firms, in Wales. The data, taken from a sample of 4,500 … [Read more...]