The Government has failed to provide the UK logistics industry with information it needs to meet obligations and ensure a smooth Brexit transition, said Elizabeth de Jong, policy director at Logistics UK, the business group which represents the sector. “Logistics UK has been working closely with government for some time to highlight the issues which could affect the smooth passage of goods … [Read more...]
Retail News
Newslines 13 November
A Honda Legend brimming with sensors will be able to use busy motorways without driver assistance from April 2021, the company has told Reuters. The Level 3 autonomous car will be the world’s first with this new technology approved by Japan’s safety regulatory body. Renault is considering using the Alpine name to promote its high performance versions of mainstream cars. There has been … [Read more...]
Operating guides for dealers
NFDA is creating a new series of ‘hands-on’ guides to provide franchised dealer members with straightforward, operational guidance on the main issues affecting them, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. After analysing our daily legal enquiry reports, NFDA has launched a new series of operational guides covering some of the key areas which have been … [Read more...]
Brake wear highlighted as common company car issue
Brake pads and discs are the most common reason UK fleet vehicles enter workshops according to an “authoritative” new UK service, maintenance and repair (SMR) Top 20 released by epyx. The table is based on information from the company’s 1link Service Network platform, used by fleets totalling four million cars, vans and trucks to buy and manage SMR from nearly 9,000 franchise dealers, independent … [Read more...]
Used electric cars now growing sales
Second-hand battery and electric cars are being sought by drivers, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in their latest report on the used car market. The UK’s used car market increased by 4.4% in Q3 after two consecutive quarters of decline, according to the latest figures published today by the SMMT. During the busiest quarter since the end of 2016, some 2,168,599 transactions … [Read more...]
Dearer electricity is powering garage price rises
The average independent garage charges £47.47 per hour and it’s risen less than the rate of inflation over the last eight years. A survey of 3,338 repair shops which are members of the Independent Garage Association found that this year the typical labour cost in England was £47.90, in Scotland it was £45.52, Wales worked out at £40.61 and Northern Ireland was £40.55. Inside the M25 … [Read more...]
Time for a new approach to selling EVs, says report
A new approach to the likely success of electric vehicles is needed say analysts, who question the claims of the car makers' body in Britain. Tesla became the most valuable car manufacturer for many reasons, from glamour to having the longest-range vehicles. The IDTechEx report, "Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea and Air 2021-2041" gives the big picture. A … [Read more...]
Parents paying more to keep youngsters on the road
Nearly two thirds of (63%) drivers between the ages of 17-24 say they have relied on financial support from their parents to cover the cost of running a car in the last 12 months – receiving up to £750 a year – according to comparethemarket.com. The Tank of Mum and Dad Report highlights just how reliant young drivers are on their parents to help them pay for insurance, petrol, repairs and … [Read more...]
Welsh lockdown badly hits car dealers
The firebreak lockdown has wiped 25% off new car sales in Wales, revealed figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It is a warning to England which has just gone into a month's lockdown as opposed to the fortnight shutdown in Wales which ends on monday after 3,677 new cars were sold by Welsh dealers in the three weeks they could open last month. October new car … [Read more...]
Transit Connect now better than before
Ford’s enhanced the Transit Connect, offering customers best-in-class fuel efficiency and introducing a 1.0-tonne payload for the first time. Class-leading fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions will help minimise fuel costs for operators and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Transit Connect light commercial vehicle now offers up to 2,501kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) on selected variants, … [Read more...]