The Motor Ombudsman has seen the highest volume of service and repair cases brought by consumers in a single quarter so far this year. Between 01st July and 30 September, the Ombudsman for the automotive sector accepted a total of 1,348 new submissions from motorists, up 10% from 1,226 in the second quarter, and equating to a 13% increase versus the volume seen during the opening three months of … [Read more...]
KIA is king but Stellantis is hopeless, say traders
Kia is the best and Stellantis the worst brands to be selling, say car dealers. The NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey was conducted last month and asked franchised dealers questions about the on-going business relationship with their respective manufacturers. It brought 2,531 responses from 32 franchised networks, equating to a joint record response rate of 68%. The 2023 Summer Survey showed a general … [Read more...]
Real time web-app for fleets
ATS Euromaster has launched a web app for drivers to book mobile tyre work on their fleet vehicles in real time. According to ATS Euromaster it is the first publicly available app that provides this service and follows nine months of research and live trialling. The tyre and maintenance provider already offers mobile tyre fitting to its customers but says the new app will enhance the customer … [Read more...]
75% Cardiff drivers never check tyres
Bridgestone is embarking on a tyre safety drive with Cardiff motorists, after 75% admitted to never checking their tyres and only 11% described them as the most important safety feature on their cars. A survey amongst 200 drivers across the capital revealed that despite tyres being the only contact points between a vehicle and the road – and responsible for 159 deaths or serious injuries from … [Read more...]
Motorists ill-prepared for emergencies, says Go.Compare
Less than a fifth of drivers feel prepared for dealing with a vehicle emergency, a new survey from Go.Compare Car Insurance has revealed. The insurance comparison site asked UK motorists whether they feel equipped for a car maintenance emergency, but shockingly, the majority of motorists did not think they were, with 82% stating as such. Men claim to feel better prepared for a car emergency, as … [Read more...]
EVs tyres are wearing sooner
Tyres on electric cars are wearing out sooner than on other models, say service analysts. Tyres fitted to electric vehicles are lasting, on average, 6,350 fewer miles than those fitted to petrol or diesel cars, new fleet data from epyx suggests. The first tyre change for electric cars is taking place at an average of 17,985 miles and 551 days old, compared to 24,641 miles and 585 days for … [Read more...]
Warranties out of step with reality, says software specialist
Car and van lease contracts and warranties should be extended to align with the new real world fleet replacement cycles that have emerged following the pandemic, reports FleetCheck. The fleet management software specialist says that cars across its user base are now generally being operated for close to five years compared to 3-4 previously, while vans have moved from around 5-6 to up to … [Read more...]
Running costs drive motorists’ buying decisions, says Startline
The effect of rising living costs on which used cars are chosen by consumers has grown strongly in the last six months, according to September’s Startline Used Car Tracker. Running costs are the most important factor now named by 74% of motorists compared to 62% in April, followed by the cost of living, which is now at 65% against 61% over the same period. Similarly, inflation has risen from 26% … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 September
Parallel parking is the trickiest driving manoeuvre for British motorists, according to new research. Automotive retailer Bristol Street Motors analysed Google search data to reveal which driving manoeuvres are giving UK drivers the most trouble. ‘How to parallel park’ topped that list, with 3,600 searches per month. Transport & Environment welcomed the vote to advance the Critical Raw … [Read more...]
Halfords extend ev-servicing centres
Halfords announces a groundbreaking achievement in electric vehicle servicing accessibility to mark World EV Day tomorrow. An extensive footprint representing 80% of the UK population can now conveniently access top-tier EV servicing in under 20 minutes from their home, reiterating Halfords' commitment to ensuring servicing is accessible in both cost and speed for the entire motoring community … [Read more...]