Nearly 11,000 new 24-plate cars were registered in Wales last month. That's more than the combined sales for January and February months through dealerships, according to SMMT data. They were nearly 9% up on March 2023, and the same in the first quarter of the sales' year. Nationally, sales were up 10% across the country with 317,443 registrations and took the Q1 total to 544,777. The Ford … [Read more...]
Plate change boosted by fleet registrations
The 24-plate change boosted new-car registrations in March, according to SMMT figures. But private buyers have put the brakes on pure electric purchases and the car makers want Government incentives to be increased to meet emissions targets.. March signals a twentieth month of consecutive growth for the automotive sector, a remarkable milestone for the industry, said Sue Robinson, Chief … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 February
Car dealers face becoming the focus of a new customers financial scandal similar to PPI claims of the last two decades. The Financial Conduct Authority is investigating cases of finance houses not paying out compensation to customers over now-banned ‘discretionary commission arrangements’ and the watchdog is using its powers under S166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to identify … [Read more...]
EV sales are trickling ahead of last year
Five of the largest EV manufacturers in UK market increased their sales last month compared to 12 months ago, according to the latest data from New AutoMotive’s Electric Car Count. The monthly report is the most up-to-date and comprehensive electric vehicle sales data in the UK, and reveals that 15 out of 20 manufacturers are selling more EVs than they did a year ago. Despite Toyota’s CEO … [Read more...]
EV regs hit a million but petrol sales climbing too
Discounted business registrations meant Britain’s millionth battery electric car reached the road in January 2024, while the new car market grew 8.2% for the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The first month of the year saw 142,876 new cars registered led by the Kia Sportage (above), which repeated its success of January 2022, and an UK uplift of 10,882 units on … [Read more...]
Tradelines 10 January
KGM Motors UK says all 80 dealerships will showcase the brand’s new corporate identity by mid-2024. KGM Motors UK confirmed its name change from SsangYong Motors UK to KGM Motors on 19 December supporting KGM Global with its brand purpose and future strategy following its own transition from SsangYong Motor Company. Honda today unveiled the “Honda 0 Series,” a new EV series it will launch … [Read more...]
Car makers want more EV incentives for private buyers
The UK new car market has recorded its best year since the pandemic as a strong December up 9.8%, wrapped up the 17th month of consecutive growth. Some 1.903 million new cars reached the road during 2023 – an increase of 17.9%, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. In Wales last year, registrations reached 66,761, a rise of nearly 16% over 2022 and … [Read more...]
BEV charge is running down
The UK new car market grew by 9.5% in November to reach 156,525 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, but there's a slowdown in EV interest among private buyers. In the market’s best November for four years, registrations almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, down just 96 units (-0.1%) on 2019. Registrations in Wales rose 13.7% to 5,467 … [Read more...]
Families turn backs on electric cars
The UK new car market grew 21.0% in September with 272,610 registrations in the month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The 14th consecutive month of growth was also the second busiest of the year after March, with the new number plate delivering its traditional market surge despite a challenging economic backdrop. Growth continued to be driven by large fleets, which … [Read more...]
Running costs drive motorists’ buying decisions, says Startline
The effect of rising living costs on which used cars are chosen by consumers has grown strongly in the last six months, according to September’s Startline Used Car Tracker. Running costs are the most important factor now named by 74% of motorists compared to 62% in April, followed by the cost of living, which is now at 65% against 61% over the same period. Similarly, inflation has risen from 26% … [Read more...]