Vauxhall in partnership with British Gas has expanded its offer of 30,000 miles of free electricity and a free Home Charging Unit for new Corsa-e customers, to include vehicles purchased on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Conditional Sale (CS). The offer gives buyers access to an exclusive British Gas Dual Fuel Tariff, with Vauxhall crediting each customer’s account to cover the cost of … [Read more...]
Retail
Newslines 26 January
Our buying habits are changing with hybrids now up over 304% in ten years through insurance searches says comparethemarket, followed by city cars and then electric models, which are just ahead of seven-seaters and SUVs. Steepest decline in buyers have been sports cars, mpvs, coupes, convertibles and pure 4WD models. Burgeoning demand for the fully electric e-tron SUV has been instrumental in … [Read more...]
£100M new model and plan for Lotus
Road and racing marque Lotus is investing £100M in a new model and production facility. A new series of sports cars is confirmed with prototype production of the Lotus Type 131 to commence this year in Hethel, Norfolk. It is likely to be the last powered by a conventional petrol engine before an ev-powertrain is developed. The new manufacturing investment is part of … [Read more...]
Learners and commuters boosting car sales
In what has been a turbulent time for the industry, car dealerships across the UK have been desperately trying to claw back car sales. To paint a statistical picture of the downfall, figures for new private car registrations dropped by 98.7% in April, the worst downturn in 70 years. Only 871 cars were registered, compared to 67,873 at the same time in 2019. As the clock moved forward to July, … [Read more...]
Suppliers optimism and caution for 2021
Parts suppliers have started 2021 with mixed feelings of optimism and caution. Optimism, because demand for vehicles and components is picking up more rapidly than expected and the appetite for new, innovative technologies is accelerating. Caution, because the scars from 2020 are deep and the level of uncertainty remains high. Thorsten Muschal (above), member of the management of … [Read more...]
Lockdown deals shaking out car sales
Drivers clambered to offload their small cars for cash during 2020 as the pandemic caused lockdowns across the UK. Sell My Car Direct, previously saw more than a quarter of the cars offered to the car buying service being made up of city cars and superminis (27%). Add hatchbacks and the percentage rises to 40% (2,400 of 5,964), as drivers flocked to sell off their superfluous second vehicles, … [Read more...]
Nissan decision puts pressure on Ellesmere Port investment
Britain is charging up for a battery cars’ future. Nissan said today that its Sunderland car plant is secure for the long term as a result of the trade deal reached between the UK and the EU. It already makes traction batteries next to its Sunderland assembly plant and now says additional battery production will be invested where it has 6,000 direct employees and supports nearly 70,000 jobs in … [Read more...]
Insurance shock looming for latest car owners
Thousands of drivers could see their car insurance rocket if new uncapped data is used by insurers. Since 2009, Thatcham's Group Insurance Rating has placed vehicles into a 1-50 system by using a capped algorithm to help insurers determine the cost of cover. While there are no plans to replace the current process, raw data shared as a result of taking the cap off has seen around 500 cars surge … [Read more...]
Majority drivers now considering ev as next car – survey
Some 63% of drivers are considering an EV for their next car, citing environmental benefits, being able to charge at home and being taxed less on their salary as the top three main reasons. Tusker runs a fleet of almost 20,000 cars, which is being transformed by the green revolution with EVs accounting for 50% of orders in 2020. In turn, its fleet has gone from 3% EV to 20% in just 12 months, … [Read more...]
Garages drive to help those at risk
A survey carried out by the Independent Garage Association revealed that 88% are offering an MOT collection and delivery service for clinically extremely vulnerable and self-isolating people. The survey on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency also found 12% of garages who do not currently offer this service, two-thirds would be prepared to if the customer was vulnerable. Stuart … [Read more...]