March 2021 new car registrations grew for the first time since August 2020 with sales in the plate change month rising 11.5 percent.

The turnaround came despite retailer showrooms remaining closed due to the pandemic – although the figure is still a hefty 36.9 percent off the 10-year average figure for March.

A total of 283,964 new cars were registered: the usual run rate for the March new car registration month is around 450k vehicles.

Showrooms will finally reopen on 12 April but in embracing ‘click and collect’, car manufacturers and retailers have provided a lifeline for the automotive industry.

Even so, trade body the Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders expects further sales growth when car dealers reopen as click and collect “does not offer the same experience and excitement as a showroom”.

Dealers will be hoping they can start to recover some of the £22.2bn in lost turnover since the pandemic took hold in March 2020.

EVs continue charge

Plug-in vehicles hit their highest-ever sales last month, with battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models taking a combined market share of 13.9 percent.

This is almost double the figure of a year ago – and when hybrid vehicles are added in too, electrified vehicles commanded a 21.4 percent share of the new car market.

Compared to a year ago, BEV sales were up 88.2 percent and PHEV sales rose 152.2 percent.

A growth in fleet car sales – where there are favourable tax advantages for electric cars – helped the surge in electrified vehicles.

Diesel, in contrast, plunged to a 19 percent share.

“The past year has been the toughest in modern history and the automotive sector has, like many others, been hit hard,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

“However, with showrooms opening in less than a week, there is optimism that consumer confidence – and hence the market – will return.

“We know we will see record breaking growth next month given April 2020 was a washout, but a strong and sustainable market is possible if customers are attracted to the choice and competitive offer the industry is able to provide within the safest of showroom environments.”

March 2021’s top new cars

The Vauxhall Corsa continued to lead the best-sellers chart, ahead of the Ford Fiesta and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Tesla sprang one of its frequent sales surprises in taking fourth with its enhanced Model 3, beating the Nissan Qashqai, BMW 3 Series and Volkswagen Golf.

The award-winning Toyota Yaris was eighth, ahead of the Ford Puma and Mini.

The Vauxhall Corsa is also leading the year-to-date sales, again ahead of the Ford Fiesta, with the British-built Nissan Qashqai – which is replaced later in 2021 – in third.

Top 10 best-sellers – March 2021

1: Vauxhall Corsa

2: Ford Fiesta

3: Mercedes-Benz A-Class

4: Tesla Model 3

5: Nissan Qashqai

6: BMW 3 Series

7: Volkswagen Golf

8: Toyota Yaris

9: Ford Puma

10: Mini

Toyota has modified its Land Cruiser 4×4 to be capable of carrying refrigerated vaccines in developing countries.

The conversion has obtained the (deep breath…) Performance, Quality and Safety prequalification for quality of medical devices and equipment – as set by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the first refrigerated vehicle for vaccines to gain approval.

Fitted with a B Medical Systems CF850 vaccine refrigerator, the Land Cruiser can transport 396 litres, or 400 vaccine packages at a time, and is also fitted with an independent battery allowing the refrigerator to be operated for around 16 hours without a power supply.

The fridge can be also charged by the vehicle while driving, and from an external power source when parked.

Designed for developing countries

Toyota said vaccines normally require storage at 2°C to 8°C, and cannot be used if not stored under proper temperature management. It added that around 20 percent of all vaccines supplied worldwide are disposed of each year because they become unusable due to temperature changes during the final stage of transportation.

This often includes the journey to a hospital or clinic, as there may be no refrigerated transport in developing countries.

As well as supplying vaccines for children, Toyota said the converted 4×4 can be used under the international framework COVAX, which seeks to distribute vaccines for Covid-19 fairly to developing countries.

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A retro Chevrolet El Camino, featured on the TV show Fast N’ Loud, has sold for £31,500 in the UK. 

Built in the twelfth season of the Discovery Channel programme, the Chevy pickup was extensively modified by Aaron Kaufman. 

It made for a rare opportunity to buy an El Camino on this side of the Atlantic, and one with a genuine claim to fame.

No monkeying around

For the uninitiated, Fast N’ Loud focussed on the Texas-based Gas Monkey Garage. Led by the larger-than-life Richard Rawlings, the programme became known for building crazy cars over short timescales. 

Building a modified Chevrolet El Camino, ahead of schedule, was the challenge laid down for the Gas Monkey Garage crew. 

Closer in concept to ‘utes’ favoured in Australia, the El Camino was a light duty pickup based upon the Chevrolet Malibu car. 

An acquired taste, even for Chevrolet fans, the El Camino used as a base on Fast N’ Loud was a low-mileage, one-owner, example.

Faster and louder

The original engine was ditched, and replaced with a 416-cubic inch (6.8-litre) modified Chevy V8 engine. Producing more than 600 hp, and with a six-speed manual gearbox, this is a serious performance machine. 

Ridetech suspension and Wilwood brakes were installed to keep everything under control. The Toyo Proxes tyres are even noted as still having plenty of tread left. 

On the outside, sinister black paintwork is the main change, although the custom-made alloy wheels are a neat touch. A combination of suede and leather can be found inside the cabin, with Vintage Air cooling also added.

“Get you some of that!”

Despite the effort that went into transforming the El Camino, a total of just 980 miles have been recorded on the odometer since. 

Fully registered in the UK after being imported, the Chevy has an MOT that lasts until June 2021. 

Finding a Chevrolet El Camino this side of the Atlantic is a rarity. Finding one that appeared on a hit TV programme was arguably a unique opportunity.

Such special enthusiast appeal resulted in an intense bidding war, pushing the final selling price to £31,500.

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London’s controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) could be scrapped if Shaun Bailey wins the race to become the next mayor in May.

The Conservative candidate said he would launch consultations relating to LTNs that have been installed by councils using emergency powers, and added those that were “imposed” without support will be removed.

LTNs use street furniture – such as plants or bollards – to block roads in residential areas, in an attempt to reduce traffic volumes, stop drivers from using streets as ‘rat runs’ and encourage people to walk and cycle more.

According to Paddy Power, Sadiq Khan is favourite to stay in office for another four years, with odds of 1/33 that he will win the election on 6 May, while Bailey’s current odds stand at 12/1.

When LTNs are in place, it remains possible for emergency services, delivery drivers and residents to access the streets, but the intention is to make it harder to drive through from one main road to the next via a residential street.

‘LTNs were pushed through’

“LTNs that Sadiq Khan funded were pushed through without giving residents a say. And they’re the ones facing the consequences,” Bailey told The Telegraph. “Increased traffic, greater pollution on main roads and longer wait times for ambulances. 

As mayor, I’ll hold consultations within 100 days and scrap every LTN that a majority of residents don’t want.”  

According to a Telegraph report, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said local councils “had got it wrong” and “had not thought through” the schemes. 

Shapps added he had received “more contact on this than any other subject probably other than Beeching reversals from Members of Parliament wanting to have well-designed schemes in their area”.

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Fiat has partnered with Google to launch a new range of 500, 500L and 500X ‘Hey Google’ special editions.

The cars come equipped with the Hey Google voice assistant, which they firm says allows customers to interact with their car even when they’re away from it.

This can be done either through the Google smartphone app – or the Google Nest hub that’s included for free with every Fiat 500 Hey Google car.

Fiat says customers can say ‘Hey Google, ask my Fiat’ about:

• Where it is parked
• How much fuel is left
• Total mileage driven that day

The status of the car can also be monitored – an alert is sent if a theft is attempted, for example.

Alerts can also be set if the Fiat 500 Hey Google leaves a preset area, or exceeds a predefined speed.

Exterior changes aren’t extensive (all come in two-tone white and gloss black), but they are significant: this is the first time the Google logo has appeared on a car, on the wheelarches of each special Fiat 500.

There’s also the multicoloured Hey Google ‘molecules’ on the central pillars and, inside, on the seats.

The chairs also feature a Hey Google tag, while the 7.0-inch touchscreen has an animated Google start-up sequence.

And what’s in the goodie bag that all owners receive at purchase? Their Google Next Hub device – with a skin colour-matched to the car – plus a key cover and a welcome letter advising how to set up the Hey Google voice assistant in their car.

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