New car sales are recovering but more slowly than expected by car makers. The global shortage of micro-chips is affecting outputs from plants, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. June’s UK registrations of 186,128 new cars is 16.4% below the last decade’s average for the month and the second quarter’s total is still 9,000 units short of their expectations due to the chip … [Read more...]
Retail News
Weekend roadtest: Skoda Octavia Estate vRS 245ps
There’s something attractive about being able to cover ground quickly but discretely. Which probably explains why specialist police units like the Skoda Octavia Estate vRS. It’s quick, very quick in the right hands, and is roomy and comfortable for long stints in service. The technology under the bonnet and bodywork is straight out of the Volkswagen Group parts departments so its reliable as … [Read more...]
Petrol soars to 8 year high as traffic returns
Petrol is now at its highest price for nearly eight years after eight straight months of increases at the pumps, says RAC Fuel Watch. A litre of unleaded rose by 2.7p from 129.52p to 132.19p taking it to a price last seen in October 2013 while diesel went up 2.5p from 131.79p to 134.32p – its most expensive price in two years (134.34p on 10 June 2019). This means petrol has gone up 18p since 2 … [Read more...]
Stellantis UK seal deal with service families
Stellantis UK has signed the Armed Forces Covenant committing to support those and their families who have served the nation. In line with this commitment, the Group is already working with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to provide access to nationwide job vacancies, and providing training opportunities for service leavers, veterans and their families enabling them to forge rewarding … [Read more...]
First drive: Suzuki Jimny LCV
One of Britain’s most eagerly awaited new models hits showrooms on Monday and it’s almost certainly going to lead to a “brown market” price war. The Suzuki Jimny LCV will be limited to about 400 sales this year and they are expected to be snapped up even more quickly than the Jimny lightweight 4x4 SUV two years ago. Priced from about £16,700 before VAT as a commercial vehicle the Jimny LCV will … [Read more...]
Motorhomes sales are booming
Demand for motorhome cover surges as Brits prepare for UK’ations GoCompare has seen a 26% increase in quotes from motorhome insurance compared with last year, as restrictions on holidaying in self-catering accommodation ease across the UK. And it seems that the VW camper is still king when it comes to motorhomes in the UK, whether it’s a classic splitty, T2 or a modern T5. Hannah Isitt, … [Read more...]
£1 Billion Nissan investment boosts EVs
Thousands of jobs will be created or secured in Britain after Nissan announced this morning that it’s building its next electric car in Sunderland. About 900 new jobs will be added to the plant which currently builds the Leaf EV and a further 750 places will be created when Nissan Chinese partner Envision AESC constructs a new traction battery plant adjacent to the car lines. The £1 … [Read more...]
Motor Sport reprieved from new insurance law
Vehicles intended exclusively for motorsport will be excluded from new Motor Insurance rules, known by some as the VNUK law. For seven years a European Court of Justice ruling threatened the entire sport and business of motorsport in the UK and Europe but has now changed its mind and this positive result comes after years of pro-active lobbying by the FIA, the Motorsport Industry Association … [Read more...]
Long-Covid is hitting fleets
Lengthening replacement cycles prompted by the pandemic and new vehicle shortages is causing major component failures to rise sharply for some van operators, FleetCheck is reporting. The company says that these trends mean more light commercial vehicles owned by fleets are entering the fifth and even sixth years of their operational life, and that expensive mechanical breakdowns are becoming more … [Read more...]
Fleets must look behind headlines to whole life costs
Fleet management provider CBVC Vehicle Management is urging financial advisors and accountants to encourage businesses to ignore headline lease rental rates and to instead focus on whole life costs for company car acquisition for fleet cost savings. According to CBVC, understanding whole life costs is critical, especially as fleets start to accommodate electric vehicles. Focusing simply on … [Read more...]