The UK new car market has hit the million motors mark for the first time in five years, after new car registrations rose in June by a modest 1.1% to reach 179,263 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. As a result, so far in 2024, 1,006,763 new cars have been registered, up 6.0% on the previous year but still down -20.7% on … [Read more...]
Van sales soar but drive must be with EVs
Following the best February performance in 26 years experienced by the new light commercial van market, it is positive to see that the market has continued this trend with another month of growth, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association commenting on the latest SMMT’s new van registration figures. "March witnessed a … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 October
The 20mph speed limits introduced on roads in Bath have caused an increase in the number of deaths or serious injures since the change, according to a council report and local media. Bath and North East Somerset Council has reviewed the lower speed limits and found there has been an increase in incidents in most areas where the change was imposed as people … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 September
The balooning sales of electric cars could be about to burst. High costs of the models with the majority over £30,000 combined with escalating electricity costs make them far less attractive than the current petrol cars and more economical diesel models and British sales of evs has stalled in recent months. The stark reality of Britain’s cost of living … [Read more...]
Vehicle numbers fall in UK – but vans increase
Vehicle numbers on UK roads fell to 40,350,714 in 2020, according to Motorparc figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the first time the total number has fallen since the global financial crisis of 2009. As the pandemic stifled new vehicle uptake, the average age of cars on UK roads is now the highest on record at 8.4 years. Van … [Read more...]
Supply not demand the issue with van sales
Following a series of exceedingly strong months of used sales performance, April recorded a drop in the number of LCVs sold, said Rupert Pontin, Director of Insights at Cazana. It is of interest to note that the volume of new retail listings during the month has also dropped by -11.9% which suggests that the problem here is not demand but a lack of supply … [Read more...]
Van supply is harming attempts to meet CAZ limits
Poor availability of new vans is hampering some fleets in their efforts to become compliant with new Clean Air Zones, reports FleetCheck. With the Bath CAZ already in place and Birmingham and Bristol to follow, as well as the upgraded London Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) now in effect, the fleet software specialist says that some businesses are only now starting … [Read more...]
Tradelines 7 April
While the pandemic has taken a toll on many people’s finances, others are emerging with a nest egg after months of lockdown living and this could ensure the car industry, along with the wider economy, bounces back quicker than originally anticipated, said James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars. He was speaking after the SMMT released March car sales figures … [Read more...]
Newslines 5 February
Ford has pulled the plug on a planned joint venture to build electric vehicles with China’s Zotye Automobile, the U.S. car maker said yesterday. Explaining the U-turn after four years of talks, Ford said China’s electric vehicle industry and policies had undergone major changes since the agreements were signed prompting Ford’s decision. The UK new light … [Read more...]
Virus shutdown to cost UK automotive over £8B
The British car industry faces losing output worth more than £8 Billion due to the coronavirus outbreak. It suffered a production drop in March of a third and fell to its lowest level since 2009, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders thursday. Britain’s biggest exporter of goods which employs more than 800,000 people saw factories and … [Read more...]
