There are a few weeds to be taken care of as the motor industry, energy providers, related suppliers and authorities take us down the green road towards 2030 and onwards, writes Robin Roberts. The haste and race to have low emission cars and other vehicles on our roads is tripping over some serious issues, notably cost, and not just for vehicles and infrastructure but the expense of losing … [Read more...]
Retail News
Newcomers from Audi and Hyundai
PHEV versions of the Audi Q5 are now available from £53,435, as well as more sporting derivatives. A bigger battery raises electric range to 37 miles and the same system has been included on A6 and A7 models while the A6 Avant 50 TFSI now runs to 41 miles on battery. Twenty-one years since its launch introduction the newest Hyundai Santa Fe brings more room and refinement to buyers. It also … [Read more...]
Newslines 5 March
With staycations booming this year, an invaluable new publication is the Caravan and Motorhome Club Buyers Guide 2021, which is full of information about the latest and most innovative motorhomes and campervans new to market. An independent, expert and knowledgeable panel carried out full technical specification, design, use of space and usability reviews of 106 new-to-market leisure vehicles … [Read more...]
Budget does little for car sales
The Budget is first aid for the motor industry but will not fix underlying long term ailments, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “Today’s budget provides some encouragement to an automotive sector hit hard by the pandemic and additional trading costs but it falls short of the support needed to transform the industry and market to the net zero future to which both the … [Read more...]
Fleets changing with the tide of life
Future car fleet management could soon develop into three relatively equal pillars – conventional fleet, grey fleet and salary sacrifice schemes – FleetCheck is forecasting. The fleet software specialist says that its conversations with customers about the impact of EVs and the pandemic so far in 2021 are indicating a shift in emphasis of this kind. Peter Golding, managing director, said, … [Read more...]
Busting the myth of ev business motoring
A new electric vehicle “mythbusters” document designed to tackle common company car driver misconceptions has been released by the Association of Fleet Professionals. Paul Hollick, chair, said, “EVs are being introduced apace in many organisations and fleet managers are finding that potential drivers have a lot of questions about them, some of which they can easily answer and some of which … [Read more...]
Tradelines 3 March
Sinclair Van Centre Swansea and Anthony Motors Aberystwyth have won top awards from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the UK. The Swansea business was recognised for its sales performance while in Aberystwyth it was praised as the most improved operation in the network of 63 sales outlets and 33 repairers. The price of fuel on the UK’s forecourts rose by 3p a litre in February, making it £1.70 … [Read more...]
Vauxhall move to better on-line guarantee
Vauxhall has launched a new, ‘14 Day Return Guarantee’ for vehicles bought via its new Online Store – giving buyers up to two weeks to try their new car. The offer gives new car buyers up to 14 days to ensure the car is right for them. The offer runs through all Vauxhall models purchased via its new Online Store, including the all-new Mokka and Mokka-e. The Vauxhall Online Store brings the … [Read more...]
Beware of EV premiums’ quotes
‘Green’ cars outsold diesels for the first time in 2020 with 285,199 models registered compared to 261,772 diesel engine cars.Although new car sales in 2020 were around 29% lower than in 2019, electric vehicles have grown in popularity with a degree of electric propulsion (BEV, PHEV and HEV).Market share for all-electric BEV cars grew from 1.6% in 2019 to 6.6% in 2020, an … [Read more...]
Welsh keep their cars for longer
Welsh drivers are keeping their cars for longer than the UK average. Scrappage figures just released show 928 vehicles were crushed in Wales, just 1.7% of the total last year. That’s comparable with the South West but East England recorded only 272 cars destroyed, or a marginal 0.5% of the total. One in three cars scrapped was in the North West around Liverpool and Manchester and one-in-six was … [Read more...]
