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 significant surge in fleet renewal … [Read more...]
Car makers Budget plan to overcome stalling EV sales
The automotive industry is calling for the Chancellor to use this week's Budget to put the UK’s shift to electric vehicles back in the fast lane. Research commissioned by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders from Savanta has revealed that rising numbers of would-be EV drivers are now likely to delay their switch to a battery electric car – but a three-point plan of tax reform would … [Read more...]
Call for highter fuel duties at pumps
The founder of a public charging network for electric vehicles wants petrol and diesel fuel duties increased. Asif Ghafoor, a veteran of infrastructure delivery and the co-founder and CEO of national charging network Be.EV said the increase would encourage the switch to electric vehicles while covering the shortfall in public finance which has happened since more evs have been purchased. The … [Read more...]
Bumping in the trade under HMRC watch
HMRC has identified an increasing risk of an error in the VAT returns for certain Franchised Dealerships, described as “Bumping”. HMRC are sending letters to some motor retailers that they believe are at risk from ‘Bumping’. Bumping is where there is a discrepancy between a vehicle sales invoice on the DMS system and the finance proposal one, which can lead to the underpayment of output VAT on … [Read more...]
Drivers still short-changed on fuel, says RAC
Despite a further 12p (12.31p) coming off the price of the average price of petrol last month – the largest monthly drop on record – pump prices remain a long way off what the RAC believes are fair given current wholesale fuel costs, new RAC Fuel Watch analysis shows. The average price of a litre of unleaded is now under 170p (169.8p) for the first time since May, with the price cuts made by … [Read more...]
InstaVolt raising public charging price
EV charging network InstaVolt has raising its price 15.7% to 66ppkWh from Monday. The rise from 57ppkWh applies to all payment types and the company says the steep rise is due to the enforced 20% VAT rate on public chargers compared to just 5% levied on domestic points. Other public point providers are expected to follow suit as the electric supply industry faces enormous increases this … [Read more...]
UK Gov has done least to help motorists
The UK is one of the European countries that has done the least to support drivers with rocketing pump prices since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, new RAC Europe data analysis shows – leading UK drivers to pay as much as 20p more per litre of petrol than drivers in France. Out of 13 EU countries that have cut tax on petrol in order to ease the spiralling costs faced by drivers every time they fill … [Read more...]
Tolls to replace lost fuel duties and taxes
Road tolls are back on the Government's agenda. The fleet sector needs to start having a constructive discussion about the likelihood of road charging being introduced in the future and the kind of scheme it would like to see, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet software specialist, said that the rapid growth in electric vehicles expected over the next few years – and … [Read more...]
Motorists’ misery is mounting by the day
Motorists’ misery is mounting by the day, said the RAC. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said, “The average price of petrol went up yet again on Sunday to a new record of 188.7p a litre. “More than five weeks of successive record prices has caused a litre of unleaded to rocket 23p from 165.5p in mid-May. “Diesel also climbed to another all-time high on Saturday with a litre reaching 196.1p. A … [Read more...]
Electricity charging costs rise 21% as market grows
The era of cheap electricity to charge a new low emissions car is disappearing while their sales are rising in the latest production figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The average price of charging an electric car on a pay-as-you go, non-subscription basis at a publicly accessible rapid charger in Great Britain has increased by 21% to 44.55p per kilowatt hour since … [Read more...]