Automotive Industry Digest

Polestar 1 wins Autocar Game-Changer Award

Polestar 1, the Electric Performance Hybrid, has been awarded Autocar Magazine’s 2020 Game Changer accolade. The car’s unique combination of cutting-edge drivetrain, driver-focused dynamics and concept car looks, redefines the modern grand tourer.

Ten actions that businesses can take to convert their fleets to electric

09/07/2020

Ten actions that businesses can take to convert their fleets to electric

Green number plates are set to be rolled out from autumn to help encourage drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles1, but how easy is it for businesses to adopt EVs? DriveElectric, one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle leasing companies, shares ten actions that companies can take to convert their fleets to electric.

The Wraith Kryptos Collection - a labyrinth of complex ciphers

09/07/2020

The Wraith Kryptos Collection - a labyrinth of complex ciphers

Rolls-Royce Collection Cars are poetic embodiments of artistry and skill, envisioned at the hands of the marque’s accomplished designers. They are illustrative of the Bespoke Collective’s mastery of their craft, and extremely limited in number. Incorporating only the finest materials and contemporary applications

Government MOT decision leaves 1 in 10 motorists taking ‘dangerous defects’ risk

09/07/2020

Government MOT decision leaves 1 in 10 motorists taking ‘dangerous defects’ risk

The Government is taking a ‘serious safety risk’ by allowing millions of motorists to keep their cars on the road until January 2021 without a current MOT.

Best ever June sales results as MG Motor continues to grow strongly

09/07/2020

Manufacturer News

Best ever June sales results as MG Motor continues to grow strongly

MG Motor is celebrating once again after achieving its best ever June sales results. The company sold 2,025 cars in the month, its biggest ever June and its second highest volume month ever, after March 2020. In addition, MG Motor achieved a record market share of 1.4%, the highest monthly figure it’s achieved so far.

09/07/2020

New car sales improve after lockdown

“The -34.9% decline in new car sales shows that pent-up demand helped the market during the first weeks, but the market will need to be monitored closely to support the sector over the coming months”, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers

Hyundai announces i10 N Line prices and specifications

09/07/2020

Hyundai announces i10 N Line prices and specifications

Hyundai Motor UK has announced the pricing and specification of the i10 N Line, the latest addition to Hyundai’s multi award winning city car range, which goes on sale on the 30th July.

09/07/2020

Consumer finance new business falls by 56% in May 2020

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business fell in May 2020 by 56% compared with the same month in 2019, and decreased by 27% in the five months to May 2020.

Van sales decline reflects lack of product and subdued demand

09/07/2020

Van sales decline reflects lack of product and subdued demand

“As van dealerships have now reopened throughout the UK, demand for new and cleaner light commercials is gradually increasing”, said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK, commenting on the latest SMMT light commercial vehicle

Volkswagen Amarok picks up Best Utility Vehicle crown at auto trader New Car Awards

09/07/2020

Volkswagen Amarok picks up Best Utility Vehicle crown at auto trader New Car Awards

The Volkswagen Amarok has been crowned Best Utility Vehicle at the fourth annual Auto Trader New Car Awards, voted for by over 181,000 real car owners.

09/07/2020

Consumer car finance market falls by 78% in May 2020

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the consumer car finance market fell in May 2020 by 78% compared with the same month in 2019, and by 41% in the five months to May 2020.

Silverstone auctions presents the Stuttgart Collection, 35 fabulous Porsches on offer from a private collection

09/07/2020

Classic Car News

Silverstone auctions presents the Stuttgart Collection, 35 fabulous Porsches on offer from a private collection

The Stuttgart Collection is an amazing group of hand-picked Porsches that have been collated over many years and include some extremely rare and low mileage models.

Over 350,000 homes will be fitted with an electric vehicle home charger by 2025 as plug-in cars spark UK sales revival

09/07/2020

Over 350,000 homes will be fitted with an electric vehicle home charger by 2025 as plug-in cars spark UK sales revival

By 2025, over 350,000 homes across the UK will be fitted with an electric home charging system according to Andersen, British manufacturer and installer of high-end home charging points

World’s first fuel cell heavy-duty truck, hyundai xcient fuel cell, heads to Europe for commercial use

09/07/2020

World’s first fuel cell heavy-duty truck, hyundai xcient fuel cell, heads to Europe for commercial use

Hyundai Motor Company today shipped the first 10 units of the Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell heavy-duty truck, to Switzerland. The company plans to ship a total of 50 XCIENT Fuel Cells to Switzerland this year, with handover to commercial fleet customers starting in September. Hyundai plans to roll out a total

Drivers urged to avoid the expected MOT rush by booking now

09/07/2020

Drivers urged to avoid the expected MOT rush by booking now

Drivers are being urged to 'beat the rush' and get their vehicles through their annual MOTs this summer to avoid joining hundreds of thousands of others* who have held off getting theirs done by making use of the six-month MOT coronavirus extension, which ends on 1 August.

Salon Privé to showcase world’s finest cars

09/07/2020

Classic Car News

Salon Privé to showcase world’s finest cars

Salon Privé is renowned for attracting the world’s finest motor cars to its Concours d’Elégance by AXA, and this year more than a century of automotive history will be represented on the lawns of Blenheim Palace – from pioneering veterans to modern-day hypercars.

Advanced drivers and riders must be ambassadors for safe vehicle use says IAM RoadSmart

09/07/2020

Advanced drivers and riders must be ambassadors for safe vehicle use says IAM RoadSmart

As Advanced Riding gets back on the road nationwide from today (Monday 6 July) and Advanced Driving starts preparations to restart, IAM RoadSmart is calling on its members and trainers to be ambassadors for safe vehicle use.

Drivers get a 'shock to the system' as June ends three straight months of falling fuel prices

09/07/2020

Politics and Regulations

Drivers get a 'shock to the system' as June ends three straight months of falling fuel prices

After three months of falling pump prices in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic the average cost of fuel shot up in June with a litre of unleaded increasing by nearly 4p from 107.11p to 110.85p (3.74p), new RAC Fuel Watch data reveals.*

New car sales healthy in June for Carwow

09/07/2020

New car sales healthy in June for Carwow

As the SMMT reveals that new car registration figures fell in June by a third year-on-year, carwow offers much needed hope for the industry. New car quotes and enquiries continue to match, if not exceed, the volumes carwow was reporting pre-Covid-19 in 2020.

British Gas makes largest UK commercial EV order with Vauxhall

09/07/2020

British Gas makes largest UK commercial EV order with Vauxhall

British Gas has announced that it has ordered 1,000 new all-electric Vivaro-e vans from Vauxhall – the largest commercial BEV (battery electric vehicle) order in the UK to date. The BEVs will arrive over the next 12 months and be rolled out nationwide across the British Gas engineer workforce.

92% of automotive businesses open by the second half of June

09/07/2020

92% of automotive businesses open by the second half of June

Analysis of new ONS data[1] by Institute of the Motor Industry illustrates determination of sector to get back on its feet, with 19% reporting increase in turnover

Making history: the first new DB5 in more than 50 years rolls off the line as inaugural Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger continuation car is completed

09/07/2020

Classic Car News

Making history: the first new DB5 in more than 50 years rolls off the line as inaugural Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger continuation car is completed

Many of the UK’s most talented craftspeople and engineers put the finishing touches to the first in a new but very familiar series of Aston Martin sports cars, as the first customer car in the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation programme left the production line last week.

The online car sales market is maturing as fast as it expands

09/07/2020

The online car sales market is maturing as fast as it expands

The finding comes from a study of more than 700 car buyers conducted by the web-based car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown which spurred more motorists to go online for their next car.

New 'MotoRate' Product Set to Help Redefine Dealer Finance

09/07/2020

New 'MotoRate' Product Set to Help Redefine Dealer Finance

Innovation in used car dealer finance can be fundamental to the 'new normal' environment for car buying and retailing that is emerging as the UK comes out of lock-down. MotoNovo is leading the way as it announces the full launch of its new, ground-breaking MotoRate finance pricing product that promises to be a positive move for dealers and car

Fleets can deliver sustainable transport and a stronger economy

25/06/2020

Fleets can deliver sustainable transport and a stronger economy

The vehicle rental, leasing and fleet sector can work with policymakers to deliver a swift rebound in the economy and a faster trajectory towards transport decarbonisation.

UK auto calls for restart support as COVID crisis threatens one in six jobs

25/06/2020

UK auto calls for restart support as COVID crisis threatens one in six jobs

The harsh reality of the Covid crisis for the UK’s £18.6 billion automotive sector is laid bare today by a new member survey from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealing that up to one in six jobs are at risk of redundancy. With a third of automotive workers still furloughed, the end of the government’s job retention

Hyundai Motor aims to be one of the biggest providers of electric vehicles in the UK with strong supply and immediate availability

25/06/2020

Manufacturer News

Hyundai Motor aims to be one of the biggest providers of electric vehicles in the UK with strong supply and immediate availability

Hyundai Motor UK is pleased to confirm the supply of thousands of electric vehicles in 2020, in its aim to become one of the nation’s largest provider of electric cars. Customers looking for an all-electric Hyundai can order their car now with delivery in as little as a few days.

Over a third of drivers to stop car sharing as a result of COVID-19

25/06/2020

Over a third of drivers to stop car sharing as a result of COVID-19

Over a third of people questioned are planning to stop car sharing permanently in the wake of COVID-19 according to Motorpoint.

Full of excitement: new Vauxhall Mokka electric and energetic

25/06/2020