The feathers are about to fly in Britain’s all-electric car market after the entry of a new Chinese brand this spring. The GWM ORA Funky Cat First Edition is being imported from £31,995 by a part of the IM Group, which is already well known through its Subaru and Isuzu distribution and its supply of assured parts for the Mitsubishi marque, which pulled out of direct UK sales three years … [Read more...]
Retail News
Take the chill off EV driving
If you have an electric vehicle it’s really important to make sure you keep your vehicle charged and allow more time for charging on the cold winter days, said the co-founder of Elmodrive.com, Olly Jones. Batteries work slower in colder weather and so when the temperature drops you need to make sure you’re keeping your vehicle as charged as possible, around 40-80% is ideal. If you have the … [Read more...]
UK is a safer haven for many drivers
When compared to other countries across the world such as Spain, Sweden and Germany, the UK is one of the safer places for motorists. The UK overall ranks 7th with 2.4 fatalities per 100,000 people, placing it in the top 10 safest European countries to drive in, according to a study by Hippo Leasing. The UK has the Highway Code in place in order to reduce road casualties. There are 307 … [Read more...]
UK Automotive crashes to 66 year low
UK car production last year fell to its lowest level since 1956, according to annual statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It said a total of 775,014 cars were built in 2022 – a 9.8 per cent slump on the 859,575 made during the previous year, when the recession and pandemic were still gripping businesses. The industry blamed the global shortage of semiconductors and … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 January: Ford to make big job cuts
A massive jobs cull in Germany and other European countries is expected by the union representing Ford workers. Some positions are expected to be axed in the UK as well while the US car maker transitions towards a fully electric range from 2025, initially slashing over 3,200 jobs in Ford of Europe, and realigning with R&D in America. Bentley Motors announced a recruitment drive creating 200 … [Read more...]
Toyota sweep all before them on Monte opener
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team started the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship with a one-two finish on Rallye Monte-Carlo as Sébastien Ogier claimed a record ninth victory on the event ahead of team-mate Kalle Rovanperä. Mostly dry weather made this year’s rally – the opening round of the 2023 World Rally Championship – more a test of outright performance than usual. Ogier (below) set the … [Read more...]
Toyota Gazoo Racing looks ahead
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s presentations at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon and the concurrent Tokyo Outdoor Show looked to a future where “no car lovers are left behind”. They showed new concept models, customised vehicles, new engineering ideas and a wider selection of heritage parts to help enthusiasts maintain their classic cars. AE86 Corolla hydrogen and battery electric concepts Toyota is … [Read more...]
Little vans in short supply
Throughout 2022 franchised dealers have reported strong demand for light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, but the continued restrictions to component supply have frustrated manufacturers in their ability to produce sufficient new vehicles to match orders, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. In 2022, total LCV registrations fell by … [Read more...]
The shock of ev prices falling after Tesla cut
Over priced electric cars are seeing values collapse. Electric car drivers need to protect themselves from volatility in the used car market, following Tesla’s dramatic decision last week to slash the prices of its two best selling cars, the Model 3 and Model Y, by up to £8,000. Steve Tigar, CEO and Founder of loveelectric, said cuts on this scale could undermine the value of secondhand cars, … [Read more...]
Tradelines 25 January: Make or break year for EVs
It could be a make or break year for smaller ev makers, reports Reuters UK. Tesla's 20% price cut worldwide last week has led to surge in demand from its German factory supplying Europe but at the same time put pressure on main rivals to reduce prices while some ev startups may be unable to match them and risk losing investments and sales, or worst still, seeing them go out of business. The … [Read more...]