Category: vehicle sales

Green NCAP announces latest releases 

Green NCAP has announced the results of its last release of the year, covering the Mazda MX-30, the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, the Tesla Model 3, the Hyundai KONA, the Dacia Duster, the BYD ATTO 2, and the Chery OMODA 5. Full story

Stellantis and CATL to invest up to £3.4bn in joint venture 

Stellantis and CATL today announced they have reached an agreement to invest up to €4.1 billion to form a joint venture that will build a large-scale European lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Designed to be completely carbon neutral, the battery plant will be implemented in several phases and investment plans. Full story

GM to refocus autonomous driving development on personal vehicles 

General Motors (NYSE: GM) plans to realign its autonomous driving strategy and prioritize development of advanced driver assistance systems on a path to fully autonomous personal vehicles. GM will build on the progress of Super Cruise, the company’s hands-off, eyes-on driving feature, now offered on more than 20 GM vehicle models and currently logging over 10 million miles per month. Full story

China’s Tesla Model Y rival set to arrive in the UK 

Chinese car maker Xpeng has confirmed its entry into the UK market. Xpeng’s first cars will go on sale in time for the new 25 registration plate in March next year. Full story

ACEA president unveils input for EU automotive industrial plan; including a simplified regulatory framework 

An efficient EU policy framework is key to enabling a dynamic and competitive transition to zero-emission mobility, creating the right conditions to allow the European automotive industry to thrive and compete globally. Full story

Trend Tracker report reveals potential repair challenges 

Trend Tracker’s UK Motor Claims and Body Repair Report 2024/25 has revealed that the average age of the UK car parc has moved out to nine years old. It found that car ownership still averages 3.7 years, meaning that 16% of car owners are considering buying a new car in the next 12 months. Full story

Bristol sees surge in ‘crash for cash’ scams involving mopeds 

Ageas, one of the UK’s largest motor insurers, has identified a worrying increase in so-called ‘Crash for Cash’ scams involving cars and mopeds, with a significant rise in suspected incidents in the Bristol area, specifically Bishopston.  This type of fraud sees moped riders deliberately manoeuvring their vehicles into the path of reversing vehicles, often vans, to induce an impact and then claim for damage and injuries. Full story

NEXUS to offer Solera’s dynamic routing solution to all members 

Solera, the global leader in vehicle lifecycle management, has announced a new strategic partnership with NEXUS Automotive International. The new global partnership will give NEXUS members access to Solera’s cutting-edge Roadnet Anywhere dynamic routing solution, designed to optimise operations, reduce costs, and lower carbon emissions. Full story

BASF and RBTS sign automotive refinish Memorandum of Understanding  

BASF (China) and Bosch Automotive Technology Service (RBTS) have jointly signed a memorandum of understanding at Automechanika Shanghai to collaborate on the automotive aftermarket business.  

This partnership aims to create an innovative platform that enhances the automotive refinish sector, delivering higher quality and more sustainable solutions. Full story

UK’s Close Bros granted permission to appeal motor finance ruling 

British lender Close Brothers was granted permission to appeal a ruling that motor finance brokers must fully inform customers about commissions on car loans, amid a looming multi-billion-pound consumer redress scheme. The Supreme Court said it had granted Close Bros and South African lender FirstRand permission to appeal against October’s landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal. Full story

Motor trade vacancy rate at lowest point since October 2021 

Motor trade vacancies are at their lowest level since October 2021, according to the latest IMI Automotive Vacancies Report. The vacancy rate has fallen month on month for the past four months. The data shows there are 19,000 vacancies, with 3.3 vacancies for ever 100 employees, down from 3.5 in September. Full story

Home premiums rise while motor policies continue downward trajectory 

The latest General Insurance Pricing Index from Pearson Ham Group has revealed that home insurance premiums rose by 0.4% in November while motor premiums dropped by 2.2%. November’s dip in motor premiums meant policy prices have now decreased eight months in a row with year-on-year decreases recorded at 15%. Full story

Used electric cars are selling faster than petrol and diesel models 

Motorists are snapping up used electric vehicles faster than any other type of car as rock-bottom second-hand prices make them more appealing than petrol and diesel alternatives. In the month of November, dealers were, on average, selling an EV in just 33 days, says cap hpi. Full story

2.6 million people don’t drive as they can’t afford car insurance cost 

New research by Citizens Advice has revealed that 2.6 million people don’t drive because they’re unable to afford the accelerating cost of car insurance. This includes almost 900,000 people who have had to cancel their cover in the last 12 months, in addition to 1.7m people who have already been priced out of the market for longer than a year. Full story

Van theft hotspots revealed by new police data 

London is the UK’s van theft capital, with October being a peak month for van-related theft, new research suggests. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to police forces across the country revealed 14,529 incidents were recorded in London last year alone, equating to 40 vans a day being targeted in the capital. Full story

eSure celebrates tech partnership 

eSure Group has highlighted the benefits to policyholders of its partnership with HERE Technologies. It harnesses HERE’s telematics data to inform motor insurance pricing models, while its dynamic map content and high-quality traffic data enables it to react at pace to emerging trends and build richer, data-driven insights. Full story

It is becoming more important that repair shops get paid for total loss process as claims rise, RDE panelists say 

Proper contracts and documentation are needed to ensure collision repair shops get paid for total loss claims, Tony Adams, AkzoNobel services consultant, and Tim Ronak, AkzoNobel senior services consultant, said during a 2024 Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education session at the SEMA Show. Full story

Euro NCAP and UK’s What Van? applaud Ford’s commitment to business safety

In collaboration with the UK’s What Van? Awards, Matthew Avery, Euro NCAP’s Director of Strategic Development, has presented Ford with the Safety Award for the Transit Courier. Ford also received a ‘commended’ for the Transit Custom. Full story

Fully electric Volvo EX30 SUV scores maximum five-star rating in latest Euro NCAP safety tests

The Volvo EX30 has scored a maximum five-star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP safety testing. It delivers modern restraint technology, as well as a structural design that fulfils the brand’s pioneering in-house safety requirements. Full story

Stellantis and Zeta Energy announce agreement to develop Lithium-Sulfur EV batteries

Stellantis NV and Zeta Energy have announced a joint development agreement aimed at advancing battery cell technology for electric vehicle applications. The partnership aims to develop lithium-sulfur EV batteries with game-changing gravimetric energy density while achieving a volumetric energy density comparable to today’s lithium-ion technology. Full story

Euro NCAP closes 2024 with a raft of five-star ratings

Euro NCAP has announced the final set of safety results from the year, with 15 models assessed and 11 achieving a top five-star rating.

It tested the very first electric pick-up on the European market, with the eTERRON 9, produced by Chinese firm Maxus, achieving a highly commendable five stars. Full story

Innovative direct recycling at the BMW Group

The BMW Group is building a Cell Recycling Competence Centre for battery cells in Kirchroth, in the Straubing-Bogen district of Lower Bavaria, where it will implement a process referred to as “direct recycling”. Full story

Nissan AMIEO harnesses power of AI and machine learning to accelerate digitalisation in partnership with Anaplan

Nissan has entered a new strategic partnership with Anaplan, a scenario planning and analysis platform provider, to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies that will enhance business optimisation across the AMIEO region. Full story

Stellantis boss abruptly quits in boardroom clash

The boss of car making giant Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, has quit with immediate effect following a boardroom clash. His abrupt exit from the company – which owns brands including Vauxhall, Jeep, Fiat, Peugeot and Chrysler – comes two months after Stellantis issued a profit warning. Full story

Geely EX5 debuts at 41st Thailand International Motor Expo

Geely Auto has unveiled its all-electric SUV, the Geely EX5, at the 41^st Thailand International Motor Expo. This strategic move positions Geely as a key player in Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle market, driving sustainable mobility forward. Full story

Direct Line accepts improved Aviva bid

Direct Line has accepted an improved £3.6bn offer from Aviva. The two insurers have reached a preliminary agreement which values Direct Line at 275p per share. This is the third offer made by Aviva, after initial offers of 250p and 261p per share were rejected in the last week. Full story

AkzoNobel embarks on £2.5m investment in global network of Automotive Training Centres 

AkzoNobel has embarked on a multi-million-euro global programme to expand and upgrade its network of Automotive Training Centres (ATCs) to further upskill painters, bodyshop managers and OEM engineers on a new generation of coatings and technologies to support the industry in delivering a more sustainable future. Full story

Work volumes and skilled labour are key repairer challenges

A survey of more than 100 vehicle repairers who attended this year’s Enterprise Rent-A-Car Repair Partner Event has revealed that almost half (47%) think work volumes are the biggest challenge for the repair industry. This was closely followed by skilled labour shortages, with a third (32%) of respondents saying this is their second biggest concern. Full story

New discount rate announced

The Lord Chancellor has announced that the new personal injury discount rate in England & Wales will increase from –0.25% to +0.5%. The change will be effective from 11 January 2025. Full story

PRASCO UK’s stock levels at an all-time high  

Prasco UK has added 2,600 new items to its product line over the last six months – and now further plans are in place to double that figure by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Full story

£1,000 apprentice cashback for employers

Apprenticeship Central has revealed that employers can claim up to £1,000 tax free when taking on an apprentice under the age of 19.

It has highlighted this after its own research revealed that few bodyshops are aware of this potential benefit. Full story

Skills for Future Automotive Professionals

The IMI has launched its brand-new member conference: Skills for Future Automotive Professionals. Taking place on 27 February, the event will address key challenges and opportunities in the sector in seminars and panel sessions involving industry leaders and respected strategic thinkers. Full story

Thatcham Research partners Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Thatcham Research has welcomed Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service for a hands-on exercise with the latest electric vehicles. Teams from across the county gained valuable insights and practical experience of post-impact vehicle safety procedures. Full story

Silverlake Automotive Recycling awarded Salvage Company of the Year 2024

Silverlake Automotive Recycling was awarded Salvage Company of the Year for the second year in a row at the prestigious ATF Professional Vehicle Recycling Awards.

The award recognised the innovation Silverlake applies to its UK-wide operations which sees the business process 33,000-plus salvage vehicles a year. Full story

How swarm data is paving the way for automated driving and road safety

Connected Friction, a project by CARIAD and its Swedish subsidiary NIRA, collects real-time data on road slipperiness, roughness, and weather conditions across Europe and North America. This project allows vehicles to share critical safety data with each other, benefiting not just individual drivers but entire road systems. Full story

NASVE goes live

The National Association of Stolen Vehicle Examiners has gone live on LinkedIn. NASVE is a dedicated association committed to showcasing and supporting the expertise of Qualified Stolen Vehicle Examiners (QSVEs). Full story

BASF Coatings and Koch International rely on electric trucks for long-distance transport

BASF Coatings, a leading partner for innovative surface solutions, and Koch International, an international logistics service provider based in Osnabrück, have successfully tested the use of electric trucks for long distances and have now implemented this sustainable transport solution for BASF Coatings in long-distance transport. Full story

GSF Car Parts celebrates year of progress

GSF Car Parts celebrated the past year with more than 400 branch managers recently, highlighting successes such as 403 new vans, 15 new branches and 525 new team members. Full story

Autoglass opens new site

Autoglass has cut the ribbon on a new branch, situated in Waltham Abbey. Full story

R-M Global celebrates ‘remarkable milestone’

R-M Global has celebrated what it calls a ‘remarkable milestone’ achieved through its eSense products. It has revealed that for each five-litre can of clear coat, two end-of-life tires are recycled into pyrolysis oil, substituting fossil feedstock via the mass balance approach. Full story

College unveils hydrogen vehicle training workshop

South & City College Birmingham (SCCB) has unveiled a new hydrogen vehicle training facility which has been developed following £1.5m of capital funding from The Office for Students. Intended to support the automotive industry as it upskills its existing workforce to address the growing demand for hydrogen fuelled vehicles, including light vehicles, PSVs and HGVs. Full story

Zapmap reveals findings of latest EV driver survey

Conducted during October 2024, the Zapmap annual survey offers unparalleled insights into the behaviours, attitudes and satisfaction of EV drivers, helping to shape the UK’s evolving charging landscape. Responses show that overall satisfaction continues to improve, while also highlighting  areas which require industry focus. Full story

Motorists urged to avoid falling foul of vehicle cloning scammers

Motorists must guard against unscrupulous car cloning criminals to avoid fines and penalties for offences they’ve not committed, warns leading vehicle data and valuation specialist HPI. Full story

Christmas at the pumps set to be cheapest since the pandemic

Despite a slight rise at the pumps in November, drivers are on track to enjoy the cheapest Christmas at the pumps since the pandemic, according to new data from RAC Fuel Watch. Full story

Insights from the FISITA World Mobility Summit

Speaking at the FISITA World Mobility Summit at the GM R&D centre in Warren Michigan, USA, Ben Townsend, Head of Automotive, Thatcham Research, highlighted the critical role that insurance plays in sustainability, pointing out that sustainability has always been at the very core of insurance. Full story

UK drivers face potential nationwide pavement parking ban within weeks

Sweeping reforms to UK driving regulations could soon come into effect, touching upon every corner of the nation. Motorists have been put on high alert with the potential for a nationwide ban on pavement parking. Full story

Supplies of used BEVs are exceeding demand in Europe reports INDICATA

Sales of used BEVs are slowly increasing across European according to the latest INDICATA Market Watch report accounting for a 5.8% market share in October. However, supply continues to exceed demand with BEVs accounting for a 7.6% share of overall stock with countries such as Spain reporting a Market Days’ Supply figure of well over 100. Full story

Red weather warning issued as Storm Darragh targets UK

A red weather warning has been issued by the Met Office as Storm Darragh is set to bring damaging winds to many parts of the UK.The Met Office issued the red warning, the most serious kind, for wind for the coasts of south and west Wales, valid from 3am to 11am on Saturday. Full story

Nissan has ‘12 to 14 Months’ left

A new report suggests that the automaker’s days are numbered. In an interview with the Financial Times, two unnamed Nissan executives said the company has “12 to 14 months to survive.” Full story

Volkswagen Group and SAIC strengthen long-standing partnership

The Volkswagen Group is strengthening its successful 40-year partnership with SAIC Motor for the long term. In Shanghai, both companies signed an extension of their joint venture agreement until the year 2040. Full story

Vauxhall owner to close Luton factory

The owner of Vauxhall has announced plans to close its van-making factory in Luton, putting about 1,100 jobs at risk. Stellantis, which also owns brands including Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat, said it would combine its electric van production at its other UK plant in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Full story

Lotus dealers to get hybrids as carmaker drops EV exclusive strategy

Lotus dealerships will begin selling ‘hyper hybrid’ versions of its luxury cars as the carmaker shifts from its exclusively electric vehicle strategy due to consumer reticence. It is the latest in a number of brands which had set out to be at the forefront of the zero emissions vehicle market, in line with governmental policies, but which has now reacted to the slower than expected adoption of EVs globally. Full story

Ford calls for incentives to buy electric cars as backlash grows

Ford UK has called on the government to introduce incentives to encourage drivers to buy electric vehicles (EVs) as an industry backlash grows over sales targets. Lisa Brankin, Ford UK’s chair and managing director, told the BBC that without demand, a government mandate to produce and sell more EVs “just doesn’t work.” Full story

Improved automated parking

Mercedes-Benz has further improved the Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC. With 4kmph, the system now parks twice as fast as before. Full story

Alarm bells ringing as EV transition hits auto industry

The UK automotive industry has called for urgent government intervention to safeguard the sector and Britain’s zero emission vehicle transition. The call comes as new analysis by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals that weak demand for EVs and the need to fulfil ever-rising sales quotas will cost the industry some £6bn in 2024, and even more next year. Full story

Confirmed: Government set to rework EV mandate

Changes are set to be made to the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, the government has confirmed, following a backlash from car makers over the rules. The government will now consult with car makers to find “options for a better way forward”. Full story

Government consultation on ZEV mandate: IMI response

Azlina Bulmer, Managing Director, IMI, said, “Representing the interests of our 100,000+ members, we aim to make clear in our response to the consultation that businesses and individuals need the certainty and support to invest in the critical skills required to support an ever-growing electric vehicle parc and to give motorists the confidence to make the switch.” Full story

Car output slips in October as UK and EU markets stall

UK car manufacturing output fell 15.3% in October, the eighth consecutive month of decline, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 77,484 units left factory gates, 14,037 fewer than in the same month last year, with plants continuing their retooling to enable production of the next generation of zero emission vehicles. Full story

New and used car market to grow, but acquiring new-to-brand customers critical for 2025 new car success

According to Auto Trader analysis, the new car market is predicted to remain just under the two million car level next year, rising two per cent in 2025 from an estimated 1.94 million registrations to circa 1.98 million. Full story

For advanced metal replacement: bridging the gap between PA66 and PPA with Ultramid T7000

For advanced metal replacement in structural parts, BASF is now offering a portfolio of polyamide (PA) and polyphthalamide (PPA) blends with better, more constant mechanical properties than PA66. Ultramid T7000 outperforms PA66 regarding stiffness and strength in dry state and especially in presence of humidity. Full story

2024 IMI Skills Competitions winners announced

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has announced the winners of its 2024 IMI Skills Competitions. Following a year-long application and assessment process, winners were announced across four categories: Light Vehicle Technology, Body Repair, Refinishing and Heavy Vehicle. Full story

Apprenticeship Central highlights positive trends

Apprenticeship Central has highlighted three positive trends of apprenticeships in the past 12 months. It found that almost a half of school leavers are now considering the apprenticeship route, with 46% of regarding it as a viable option for further education. Full story

AkzoNobel installs hydrogen-powered spraybooth at new automotive training centre

One of the automotive industry’s first hydrogen-powered spraybooths has been installed by AkzoNobel at a new training centre in Belgium. Designed to go beyond local and legislative requirements, the new spray booth highlights how embracing the latest technologies can contribute to more sustainable operations. Full story

TTC launches new EV eLearning courses

TTC Group has designed and launched two new eLearning modules to bring easily accessible and cost-effective help to businesses making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs). The trusted training and compliance expert has designed a module for drivers new to electric driving, and a second, shorter module, to support existing EV drivers. Full story

Ben launches new Health and Wellbeing survey

Automotive charity Ben has launched its annual Health & Wellbeing survey. The charity wants to hear what health and wellbeing issues have affected automotive people and their families over the past year and what they think their challenges might be in the future. The survey is confidential, takes under 10 minutes. Full story

Farvima deploys Solera’s RNA solution to reduce emissions and improve delivery

Solera has announced that Italian pharmaceutical Farvima has deployed its Roadnet Anywhere to drive the efficiency of its logistics operations. Farvima has opted for a full-suite solution that includes a strategic planner, routing, dispatch, mobile manager for the driver, and analytics. Full story

All Clear Diagnostics and Calibration joins SMMT

All Clear Diagnostics and Calibration has been approved as a member of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Full story

Manufacturers Cause Vehicle Thefts…

The press explains the ease with which vehicles can be taken, vehicle manufacturers are being ´named & shamed´, keyless tech is to blame, and car-makers are urged to ‘sort out their failures’. Think again. Full story