Automotive Industry Digest

Rising interest rates push leasing costs up

Higher Bank of England interest rates are leading to an increase in company car and van lease costs, according to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).

The Volvo EX90: designed to be elegant, safe and efficient

03/11/2022

The Volvo EX90: designed to be elegant, safe and efficient

In every Volvo car, form, function and technical innovation are in perfect harmony. This is especially true for our upcoming fully electric Volvo EX90.

Bentayga Odyssean Edition – the most sustainable Bentayga

03/11/2022

Bentayga Odyssean Edition – the most sustainable Bentayga

Bentley is unveiling the Bentayga Odyssean Edition, continuing the story of extraordinary sustainable design, without compromise to the renowned Bentley character or craftsmanship. This new limited edition is focused in sustainability, and will be strictly limited to just 70 examples.

UK CV production up in best September since 2011

03/11/2022

Light Commercial Vehicles

UK CV production up in best September since 2011

UK commercial vehicle (CV) production grew by 53.6% in September, with 11,979 vans, buses, trucks, coaches and taxis rolling off British factory lines, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). September output levels reached their highest since 2011, marking nine months of consecutive

Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4MATIC+ starts from £63,140 OTR - on sale now

03/11/2022

Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4MATIC+ starts from £63,140 OTR - on sale now

The Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4MATIC+ features a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with no less than 421hp and 500 Nm of torque. Also included is the pick of the refreshed A-Class interior and exterior options, including the latest MBUX infotainment system and 10.25-inch driver displays.

‘Surge in road accidents’ as clocks go back

03/11/2022

‘Surge in road accidents’ as clocks go back

Drivers are being advised to take extra care on the road, with new data from Enterprise Rent-A-Car indicating road accidents increase by as much as 10% in the two weeks after the clocks go back.

World-first: Abarth trials facial recognition technology to measure driver and passenger enjoyment

03/11/2022

Manufacturer News

World-first: Abarth trials facial recognition technology to measure driver and passenger enjoyment

Performance car brand, Abarth, has become the first manufacturer to trial facial recognition technology to better understand the emotions experienced when in its car.

Back by popular demand! Dacia Duster Extreme SE returns with an even bolder look

03/11/2022

Back by popular demand! Dacia Duster Extreme SE returns with an even bolder look

The Dacia Duster Extreme SE has returned and is more striking than ever. Back by popular demand, its rugged style and unique exterior is now complemented by the brand’s bold new visual identity.

EVs powered by all solid state batteries – still 10 years away from mass production, says StoreDot

03/11/2022

EVs powered by all solid state batteries – still 10 years away from mass production, says StoreDot

StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast charging battery technology for electric vehicles, has stated that mass-produced solid state batteries are still at least a decade from mass production and that global automotive manufacturers should be considering interim technologies in the medium term, such as semi-solid batteries.

03/11/2022

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio

The new Giulia and Stelvio are making their debuts. These two award-winning models have won over the international community thanks both to the brand’s trademark driving dynamics and the timeless design which makes any Alfa Romeo vehicle a moving work of art.

Free to charge: EV drivers can circumnavigate Britain without paying to top up according to Peugeot research

03/11/2022

Free to charge: EV drivers can circumnavigate Britain without paying to top up according to Peugeot research

Electric vehicle drivers can circumnavigate mainland Britain without spending a penny on recharging, according to new research by PEUGEOT UK – all thanks to a network of 4,400 † free-to-use public chargers.

03/11/2022

Light Commercial Vehicles

Logistics UK announces brand-new 'delivering decarbonisation' conference

With net-zero deadlines moving ever closer, Logistics UK is thrilled to announce its new one-day conference 'Delivering Decarbonisation', to be held on 22 November 2022 at the Congress Centre, London.

20% of EV drivers willing to share their home charger: New JustCharge and Zap-Map partnership now means they can

03/11/2022

20% of EV drivers willing to share their home charger: New JustCharge and Zap-Map partnership now means they can

JustCharge, the community electric vehicle (EV) charging network from JustPark, has gone live with a brand new partnership with leading charge point mapping service Zap-Map. The partnership offers Zap-Map users the ability to find and book JustCharge chargers directly through the Zap-Map app.

Lexus selects UK locations to enjoy the benefits of forest bathing

03/11/2022

Lexus selects UK locations to enjoy the benefits of forest bathing

Immersing yourself in a forest, watching the sun through the leaves and listening to whispering trees, enjoying the moment, is known as forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku in Japan. This therapeutic practice of relaxation has mental, emotional and physical benefits, from reducing blood pressure and improving concentration levels, to boosting the immune

03/11/2022

NFDA outlines key issues affecting automotive industry to new cabinet ministers

Following Prime Minster Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet reshuffle, on Wednesday 26 October NFDA has written to the new Secretary of States for key Cabinet positions, highlighting the principal challenges the automotive industry is currently facing.

Convenience and Ease for Aftersales = Success

03/11/2022

Latest Dealer News

Convenience and Ease for Aftersales = Success

With many customers only requiring an annual service for their car, travelling to an appropriate franchised dealer may not appear to be a burden; it often is. Less than half of all consumers want to travel more than 4 miles to have their car serviced. While price is often cited as a barrier to retaining aftersales work from owners of used cars,

Switching home energy tariffs can save EV owners around £15 per charge and £600 annually, research shows

03/11/2022

Switching home energy tariffs can save EV owners around £15 per charge and £600 annually, research shows

Studying the current electricity tariff pricing structure, Smart Home Charge has found that those charging their EVs at home could be saving approximately £15 per charge and nearly £600 annually just by switching to a more economical energy tariff. The data was compiled by Smart Home Charge’s EV Energy Tariff Comparison tool, which compares the

More than a third of young drivers putting off car repairs in attempt to save money

03/11/2022

More than a third of young drivers putting off car repairs in attempt to save money

More than a third of drivers aged 17 to 24 (37%) are putting off necessary repairs to their vehicles in an attempt to cut their outgoings as the cost-of-living crisis bites, research from the 2022 RAC Report on Motoring has found.*

03/11/2022

IGA highlights challenges facing independents to new Transport Secretary

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has written to the new Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, highlighting the importance of the independent garage sector to the UK’s economy and the current issues facing the industry.

End of the tyre kicker as majority of consumers arrive at forecourts ready to buy on first visit

03/11/2022

Latest Dealer News

End of the tyre kicker as majority of consumers arrive at forecourts ready to buy on first visit

According to the latest consumer research from Auto Trader, the traditional ‘tyre kicker’ may soon be a thing of the past as most of today’s car buyers are not only arriving at forecourts ready to purchase, they’re ready to do so on their first visit. The research, which builds on a previous study conducted in 2019, highlights a dramatic shift in

Government considers penalty points for drivers not using seatbelts - RAC reaction

03/11/2022

Government considers penalty points for drivers not using seatbelts - RAC reaction

Following the answer to a UK parliamentary question in which the Government says it will consider introducing penalty points for drivers caught not wearing seatbelts, RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said:

Gigafactory plan threatened after Government cash request denied

03/11/2022

Gigafactory plan threatened after Government cash request denied

Britishvolt’s plan to build a gigafactory in the North East, which would make batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), is in danger of collapse after a request for Government help was refused, reports suggest.

Connectivity expert VNC Automotive discusses the future of law enforcement fleets in latest video

27/10/2022

Connectivity expert VNC Automotive discusses the future of law enforcement fleets in latest video

Vehicle converters, police workers and first responder technology providers debate the future of law enforcement vehicles in a now freely available video, ‘Tomorrow’s Tech for Law Enforcement Vehicles’ produced by vehicle connectivity pioneer VNC Automotive.

27/10/2022

Launch of S-Cross Full Hybrid

The Suzuki S-Cross has earned high acclaim for its stylish design, compact and easy to manage dimensions and good on-road performance. It is was replaced in late 2021 by an all-new model which takes advantage of Suzuki’s long-established expertise in packaging vehicles with an even higher level of safety equipment and latest technology all as

Hyundai Motor UK announces IONIQ 6 First Edition pricing and specification

27/10/2022

Hyundai Motor UK announces IONIQ 6 First Edition pricing and specification

Hyundai Motor UK has announced pricing and specification of the IONIQ 6 First Edition, the first model in the eagerly anticipated IONIQ 6 range and the second model of the IONIQ all-electric-vehicle line-up brand.

ŠKODA ENYAQ iV vRS: Sustainability meets high-performance driving

27/10/2022

ŠKODA ENYAQ iV vRS: Sustainability meets high-performance driving

ŠKODA AUTO is expanding its vRS family to include another all-electric model – the ENYAQ iV vRS. Just like the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV vRS, the Czech carmaker has opted for two motors with a total system output of 299 PS (220 kW)* and all-wheel drive for the top version of the SUV. Thanks to an exceptional drag coefficient of c w 0.265, the ENYAQ iV vRS has

The first images of the new Maserati GranCabrio prototype

27/10/2022

The first images of the new Maserati GranCabrio prototype

Maserati's energy never ceases. To follow the resurgence of the GranTurismo legend, the new Maserati GranCabrio prototypes are now taking to the streets of Modena for the initial stages of development testing.

Mazda CX-60 diesel | UK specification and pricing announced

27/10/2022

Mazda CX-60 diesel | UK specification and pricing announced

Arriving in the UK early next year the all-new Mazda CX-60 e-Skyactiv D MHEV is available to order now. Powered by a powerful, clean and efficient all-new e-Skyactiv D diesel engine, the new model will be offered in the same Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi grades as the recently launched PHEV version.

Ford takes next steps towards carbon neutrality in Europe by 2035 – Signs MoUs with key suppliers to secure delivery of low carbon steel

27/10/2022