Just over 90,000 new cars were sold in the UK in the slowest January for more than 50 years, according to industry figures released on Thursday. Sales fell 40% compared with January 2020 to 90,249, as the closure of car showrooms under lockdown compounded the economic gloom. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)… Continue reading UK new car sales fall 40% in January as lockdown bites
Author: The Guardian Online News
UK new car sales fall 40% in January lockdown, and construction output dips – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news UK car sales drop 39.5% in January Worst start to a year since 1970 UK construction output fell last month too LIVE Updated The Windrush Volkswagen garage in Slough, Berkshire, during last month’s lockdown Photograph: Maureen McLean/REX/Shutterstock Key events Show 6.02am EST 06:02 UK construction sector… Continue reading UK new car sales fall 40% in January lockdown, and construction output dips – business live
Ford to install Google’s Android operating system in most cars from 2023
Ford Carmaker signs deal with Alphabet in latest sign of tech firms’ interest in automotive sector Ford will install Android in all its cars outside China from 2023 for at least six years. Photograph: Piotr Molęcki/East News/Rex/Shutterstock Google and Ford have signed a deal under which the Android operating system will be installed in most… Continue reading Ford to install Google’s Android operating system in most cars from 2023
Wealthy people in UK still driven to splash out on supercars
Wealthy people in the UK are buying more luxury supercars than ever before, according to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures shared with the Guardian. Almost 16,000 supercars – such as Ferrari, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Maserati and Koenigsegg models – were registered at UK addresses in the year to December 2019, according to figures released… Continue reading Wealthy people in UK still driven to splash out on supercars
Chinese carbuyers help Jaguar Land Rover outpace UK lockdowns
Jaguar Land Rover staged a recovery in the final three months of 2020, as the growth of car sales in China made up for the UK’s continued lockdowns and its setting aside of £35m to pay fines for missing carbon dioxide emissions targets. The carmaker made pre-tax profits of £439m in the last quarter of… Continue reading Chinese carbuyers help Jaguar Land Rover outpace UK lockdowns
Electric vehicles close to ‘tipping point’ of mass adoption
Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars Sales increase 43% globally in 2020 as plunging battery costs mean the cars will soon be the cheapest vehicles to buy In a poll of electric car owners, 91% said they would not want to return to petrol. Photograph: David Gee/Alamy Electric vehicles are close to the “tipping point” of… Continue reading Electric vehicles close to ‘tipping point’ of mass adoption
Brexit has given competitive edge on car battery tariffs, says Nissan chief
Nissan has said Brexit has given the company an edge, as the Japanese carmaker said it will buy more batteries from within the UK to avoid tariffs. The owner of the UK’s largest car factory, in Sunderland, also said it would push ahead with the production of a new version of its Qashqai SUV this… Continue reading Brexit has given competitive edge on car battery tariffs, says Nissan chief
Nissan forced to shut UK production line owing to supply delays
Nissan Temporary shutdown at Sunderland plant caused by disruption to supply chain during pandemic Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Workers at Nissan’s factory in Sunderland where one of two production lines has been paused. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Nissan has been forced to shut one of the two production lines at its… Continue reading Nissan forced to shut UK production line owing to supply delays
Vauxhall plant at risk after ‘brutal’ 2030 ban, says Stellantis boss
The future of Vauxhall’s UK car production will depend on government support after the “brutal” decision to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, according to the boss of Stellantis, the newly formed carmaker. Stellantis was officially created on Saturday after the completion of the merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and… Continue reading Vauxhall plant at risk after ‘brutal’ 2030 ban, says Stellantis boss
Honda to close UK plant for four days owing to supply chain problems
Honda will shut its UK factory for four days next week as global supply chain problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic continue to plague the Japanese carmaker. The closure is thought to be related to the unavailability of semiconductors, the computer chips used to run cars’ onboard management systems. The problem has affected carmakers around… Continue reading Honda to close UK plant for four days owing to supply chain problems