Volkswagen will receive €288 million (£248m) in compensation payments after reaching a settlement with four former executives, including ex-CEO Martin Winterkorn and former Audi boss Rupert Stadler, over the diesel emissions scandal, reports Autocar. The settlement is a major step in the German firm’s attempt to move on from the Dieselgate scandal, in which it admitted using illegal software to … [Read more...]
Wales’s car sales sky-rocket after lockdown
Car sales in Wales last month rocketed over 6,750%, the biggest jump in mainland Britain, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Only Northern Ireland exceeded this leap in 12 months when showrooms recorded 13,629% rise. Scotland saw a 5,686 jump but English dealers trailed with just under 3,000%. Last month, total UK new registrations reached 141,109 cars compared to 4,205 some 12 … [Read more...]
Volkswagen sales of EVs soar & Porsche power on
Figures being released today will show the steady advance of electric car sales. April saw further evidence that more manufacturers are racing to secure a share of the market for new EVs. New AutoMotive’s monthly data release tracks new car registrations in Great Britain and shows that the market for new EVs is distributed between an increasing number of manufacturers. Volkswagen took the … [Read more...]
Genesis brand launches in UK
Hyundai’s premium Genesis brand goes on UK sale this summer. There will not be a dealer network but the manufacturer will have a Genesis Studio in Westfield shopping centre, London and also provide sales on-line. Prices are likely to begin about £35,000 for the saloon and £50,000 for the suv, and will be fixed and non-negotiable. It was established in 2015 and has been selling … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 April
It’s the 20th anniversary of MINI being assembled in Plant Oxford by BMW Group. In early 2001, production began for MINI body parts in Swindon and on the 26 April the first new MINI rolled off the line in Oxford which has since built over 5 million cars and currently makes MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI 5-Door Hatch, MINI Clubman and the MINI Electric, all on the same production line. A post mortem has … [Read more...]
Obituary: Hannu Mikkola 1942 – 2021
Finland's Hannu Mikkola, who died on 26 February aged 78, was one of the most successful and versatile international rally drivers during a 31-year career in a variety of cars from Volvo PV544 to state-of-the-art Group B Audi S1 and a few others in between, writes Ken Davies. Born 24 May 1942 at Joensuu, Finland, like many Scandinavian drivers of his period, Hannu started competing in a Volvo … [Read more...]
Brits’ dreams take long time to realise, if at all
Brits won't own their dream car until they are 47 but it must be a black sports car - preferably an Audi or Aston Martin.A study of 2,000 drivers found many know what they want, but most will have to wait before making the dream a reality, owning more practical or affordable alternatives in the meantime.In their twenties, Brits are most likely to own a supermini or saloon car, … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta is again Wales best seller
Welsh car buyers have restored the Ford Fiesta to top spot in the sales chart in January as UK registrations hit a 50 years low. Ford dealers registered 122 Fiestas last month, comfortably ahead of the 104 Kia Sportage, which was the top SUV among Welsh families and they were the only two models to exceed 100 sales in the month. Ford suffered badly in Wales last year but it has come back … [Read more...]
Newslines 26 January
Our buying habits are changing with hybrids now up over 304% in ten years through insurance searches says comparethemarket, followed by city cars and then electric models, which are just ahead of seven-seaters and SUVs. Steepest decline in buyers have been sports cars, mpvs, coupes, convertibles and pure 4WD models. Burgeoning demand for the fully electric e-tron SUV has been instrumental in … [Read more...]
Majority drivers now considering ev as next car – survey
Some 63% of drivers are considering an EV for their next car, citing environmental benefits, being able to charge at home and being taxed less on their salary as the top three main reasons. Tusker runs a fleet of almost 20,000 cars, which is being transformed by the green revolution with EVs accounting for 50% of orders in 2020. In turn, its fleet has gone from 3% EV to 20% in just 12 months, … [Read more...]
