A price war is looming in the ev sector which will benefit buyers but hit dealers and fleets, an analyst said this week. This week, as Tesla cut prices again and the number of cheaper Chinese-made models are coming into Britain, the European motor industry and trade is seriously worried about how they will make money as spending tightens. Early this year, the UK Government introduced the Zero … [Read more...]
Parts suppliers struggling and issue warnings
The European automotive supply industry, a vital pillar of the EU economy, is confronted with volatility and uncertainty from both their customers and upstream suppliers. Despite facing substantial headwinds, industry players maintain a cautious optimism, navigating through challenges and strategising for transformation. High levels of uncertainty surrounding new projects and EV demand in … [Read more...]
RAC report over 50% jump in potholes damage
The RAC attended 7,904 breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 due to bad road surfaces, up 53% on the last three months of 2023, a clear sign that the UK is suffering a pothole epidemic as roads continue to crumble. Analysis from the driving services company shows it’s been far from a smooth start to the year for the nation’s drivers, with pothole-related breakdown numbers up by 10% in the last … [Read more...]
Used cars with hidden hit histories
UK drivers are at risk of making a huge mistake when buying used cars, as seven in 10 admit to not knowing what it means when a car has a category S or N insurance classification against it. This means the vehicle was ‘written off’ after being involved in an incident that resulted in an insurance claim. Being unable to identify these categories could mean many used car buyers are purchasing … [Read more...]
Newslines 19 April
The RAC predicts petrol could hit 150pp litre and diesel 160pp litre as tensions rise in the Middle East over coming weeks. The motoring body said retailers had pushed up profits since January and this added £5.00 to fill up a typical car. Labour and Plaid Cymru have voted against a Welsh Conservatives' motion in the Senedd to roll back the controversial 20mph default speed limit and end the ban … [Read more...]
Zero Servicing suggestion is non-starter, says FleetCheck
Working towards towards “zero servicing” – with vehicles never having to visit workshops unless a fault was detected – presents huge dangers for vehicle operators, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding, managing director, was responding to recent news that Tesla is recruiting staff for a project called “Zero Service” under the banner, “At Tesla, we believe that the best service is no service.” He went … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 April
The first electric Metro train ran north of Cardiff to Pontypridd during daylight hours on a test of the latest Stadler 756 model combination, which will be the backbone of the new Valleys services. Following the test run, further routes on the Core Valleys Network will see testing take place in the coming weeks before the start of an intensive train crew training programme and before entering … [Read more...]
Golden anniversary of Mitsubishi in Britain
Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is celebrating its 50th year of trading in 2024 and is marking the anniversary with a calendar of events to honour the brand and its heritage. The 50th anniversary year kicked off in February at the annual Mitsubishi Motors in the UK Aftersales Conference. The event brought together all 110 Mitsubishi aftersales dealers across the UK, with special recognition going to … [Read more...]
Service to avoid costly unexpected bills
Over half of UK drivers are unaware of when their next car service is due, meaning they could be driving around with minor defects which could become major problems in the future. To help prevent this, Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, has outlined the importance of regular services and when they’re required. Costly Repairs “Skipping your car’s servicing can lead to costly … [Read more...]
Company car drivers need convincing of EV benefits
It's becoming a grind convincing company car drivers to switch to electric models, admits Paul Hollick, chairman of the Association of Fleet Professionals. Pushing back against “scare stories” about electric vehicles (EVs) is becoming a key task for fleet managers, he said and pointed to a flood of misinformation appearing in both traditional and social media. “Sadly, it seems to have become … [Read more...]