Europe will dramatically drop behind America and China in the “green revolution”, said environmental group Transport & Environment. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said last year that she would create a new European Sovereignty Fund to help EU companies compete with president Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). But whereas the US is pumping $369bn (€340 bn) into key … [Read more...]
Retail News
Weekend roadtest: KIA Ceed 2 1.5T-GDi
To some motoring journalists the Holy Grail of a range is the entry-level model of any series. Mentioned in price lists but rarely seen in showrooms or on the road, these starter models are often just a price point to get into a sector and destined to become the model of choice in daily rental fleets. Now, I had a former colleague who always bought the entry level model in a range he paid for … [Read more...]
Tips on selling cars, from Bristol Street Motors
Drivers across the nation appear to be gearing up to swap their motors, as searches for ‘how to sell your car' are up 50% over the last three months. However, selling on the used car market can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience, with people often left disappointed with the final negotiated price. To help those looking for advice, the experts at Bristol Street Motors have shared … [Read more...]
Citroen, Land Rover and Tesla “least reliable” – survey
Land Rover Discovery is the most unreliable used car, motorists have told What Car? Magazine. The 2004-2017 model scored just 47.8 per cent in the 2023 What Car? Used Car Reliability Survey, of 25,000 vehicle owners. Worst brand was Citroen and its Stellantis Group stablemates Peugeot and Fiat did little better. The most reliable used car in the survey was the Honda Jazz (2015-2020) which … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 June
All the EU’s four largest car markets grew, with the strongest gains in Italy (+23.1%), Germany (+19.2%), and France (+14.8%). From January to May 2023, the EU car market grew by 18%, to 4.4 million registered cars and BEVs jumped to 13.8% to 129,847 models. About 210,000 people will attend Glastonbury Festival this week, with nearly all arriving by road. Motoring organisations are advising … [Read more...]
Classics searches throw up surprises
You simply can’t beat a classic car, can you? Today’s models might be jam-packed with some of the most exciting new tech around, but the charm of a classic motor will really set you apart. From retro design influences to vintage engines and interiors, a retro car simply oozes class. But which is the nation’s favourite? Is it the Aston Martin DB5, James Bond’s wheels of choice? Is it the … [Read more...]
WRC goes on Safari this week
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team return to the Safari Rally Kenya 22-25 June aiming to maintain their proud record of success on the epic African event, the seventh round of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship. The Safari, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, is recognised as one of rallying’s toughest challenges. TGR-WRT has won both editions held since the event made a welcome … [Read more...]
Engineers support Green Prosperity Plan
Leading electrotechnical and engineering services trade body ECA has welcomed the Green Prosperity Plan set out by Labour Party leader Keir Starmer in Scotland this week. ECA, which represents over 60,000 electrotechnical professionals in the UK, has long called for viable solutions to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of renewable sources of energy, with its members at the vanguard of … [Read more...]
Electric van sales in slow lane
Following the release of SMMT’s commercial vehicle statistics for May, NFDA has identified that Battery Electric Vehicle LCVs are not performing to expected volumes within the market. BEV light commercial vehicle sales only made up 5.2% of the market in the latest monthly figures. In order to spur actions from DfT, NFDA Commercial Vehicles division have sent a letter to government, outlining … [Read more...]
Fleets facing quagmire of charging costs
Electric vehicle charging is replacing maintenance as the most onerous day-to-day managerial task facing many fleet managers, says the Association of Fleet Professionals. Chair Paul Hollick explained that in terms of working to maximise operational efficiency and minimise costs, feedback from members showed that charging was taking up huge amounts of time. “In the last few years, maintenance has … [Read more...]