UK car industry needs a ‘world-beating‘ Brexit deal, says SMMT

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November 27, 2019

The main political parties are being urged to ‘put UK automotive at the heart of their economic and trade policies’.

Only a ‘world-beating Brexit trade deal’ would maintain productivity and prosperity for Britain, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned.

Without an ‘ambitious’ trade deal, UK manufacturing would lose 1.5 million vehicles by 2024, costing the country as much as £42.7 billion.

New SMMT research shows World Trade Organisation (WTO) tariffs on imported components and exported vehicles would add £3.2 billion a year to the cost of UK automotive manufacturing.

That’s the equivalent to 90 percent of the sector’s annual spend on research and development.

WTO deal is ‘worst case scenario’

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “UK Automotive’s needs are clear: frictionless trade free of tariffs, with regulatory alignment and continued access to talent.

“Detailed trade negotiations have yet to begin. They will be complex and they will take time. But a close trading relationship is essential to unlock investment so we can deliver our goals: cleaner air, zero carbon emissions, and the ability to go on building our products and marketing them globally.

“Rather than producing two million cars a year by 2020, a no trade deal, WTO tariff worst case scenario could see us making just a million.

“The next government must deliver the ambition, the competitive business environment and the commitment needed to keep automotive in.”

The SMMT says that the UK is well placed to take advantage of the drive to deliver greener vehicles and intelligent mobility, but warns that a bad deal would threaten further investment.

“This would be a tragic waste,” it says.

‘Unprecedented change’

Speaking at the SMMT dinner in London, SMMT president George Gillespie, said: “The automotive sector is going through a period of unprecedented change and we must not let the pressure of Brexit deflect from our focus on a coherent national industrial strategy. Collaboration between industry and government must be stronger than ever.

“We want to work closely with the next government, as we have in the past; united in a common purpose to keep UK Automotive a global player that drives employment, creates wealth and gives all of us pride in what we can do here.”

The UK’s main political parties are gearing up for the general election on the 12 December 2019. This is ahead of the proposed Brexit date of 31 January 2020.

Used electric cars are going UP in value

By

Ethan Jupp

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November 27, 2019

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New research by Cargurus has highlighted the rising popularity of electric cars in 2019. Bucking all conventional trends with regard to mainstream consumer vehicles, some electric cars have actually increased in value.

Using online used car listings data, Cargurus has looked at prices for the four most popular electric vehicles on its site: the BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe and Tesla Model S.

Comparing prices for the last three years, since the start of 2017, months-long streaks of maintained and even increased value were observed. Near-on universally, electric cars outperformed their petrol and diesel-powered equivalents in terms of value retention.

The 2015 Zoe was the champion of the value stakes. Since January 2017, it has risen 18 percent in value, from £6,425, to £7,612. Since this January, it’s gained 14 percent. An equivalent-age oil-burning hatch lost 22 percent of its value over three years, from £9,165 to £7,160.

It’s not quite such a triumphant story for the likes of the BMW i3: 2015 models lost 14 percent on average over the last 2.5 years, from £17,445 in April 2017, to £15,006 in November 2019. That said, it has gained one percent over the course of this year overall.

In January 2019, this age of i3 on average was worth £14,800. For comparison, an equivalent-age Mini lost 18 percent of its value between April 2017 and now, and 14 percent over the last year.

Find the full table below, where it seems that the more expensive the electric cars get, the less well they fare. Cargurus has a theory on this.

Electric versus normal car values

		IMV Jan 2017	IMV Jan 2019	IMV Nov 2019	Value change since Jan 2017	Value change Jan-Nov 2019
Electric supermini car	Renault Zoe (2015 model year)	£6,425	£6,683	£,7612	+18%	+14%
Petrol/diesel equivalent	Ford Fiesta (2015 model year)	£9,165	£8,184	£7,160	-22%	-13%
Electric premium supermini car	BMW i3 (2014 model year)	£17,445 (Apr 2017)	£14,800	£15,006	-14% (since Apr 2017)	+1%
Petrol/diesel equivalent	Mini hatchback (2015 model year)	£10,815 (Apr 2017)	£10,253	£8,862	-18% (since Apr 2017)	-14%
Electric family car	Nissan Leaf (2015 model year)	£11,512	£11,498	£10,438	-9%	-9%
Petrol/diesel equivalent	Volkswagen Golf (2015 model year)	£16,130	£13,063	£11,576	-17%	-11%
Electric luxury car	Tesla Model S (2015 model year)	£57,746 (Oct 2017)	£48,961	£40,957	-29% (since Oct 2017)	-16%
Petrol/diesel equivalent	Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2015 model year)	£50,783 (Oct 2017)	£41,213	£32,166	-37% (since Oct 2017)	-22%

New Tesla Cybertruck revealed: yes, it really looks like this

Cargurus says that as electric cars have grown out of their infancy over the last couple of years, and popularity has grown, this value anomaly is the result. In 2017, electric cars were arguably less desirable than they are now.

As public awareness, faith and interest in electric cars has increased, so has demand, and so the disproportionate loss of value the Zoe experienced when it was new, has near-enough reversed. Demand for new electric cars is up, too, even given their increased expense. Year to date, SMMT figures show that demand has increased by 125 percent.

Sales of electric and low emission vehicles ‘unbalanced’ across Europe

Proof: Electric cars ARE cheaper to run than normal ones

“Our data shows that the residual values of EVs have turned a corner as an increasing number of buyers are starting to take advantage of the benefits of electric motoring, such as the low running costs and easy driving manners of cars like the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe,” said Chris Knapman, Cargurus editor.

“With the market changing so quickly it can be hard to judge what’s a fair deal, which is why the price analysis and deal ratings offered by CarGurus are such powerful tools. With this technology to hand, consumers wanting to move into the world of electric motoring can feel confident of paying a fair price.”

Uber and out: the ride-hailing apps to use instead

By

Ethan Jupp

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November 26, 2019

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Whatever you think of Uber and how it operates, there are a great many people, both drivers and passengers, who rely upon it.

If you live in London, what alternatives to Uber are available if the ride-hailing service is banned? We round them up, from Kapten to Gett – not forgetting the good old-fashioned black cab.

Kapten

Kapten is second only to Uber for popularity in London, and thus stands to benefit most from the ban (currently under appeal). “London doesn’t need Uber,” was Kapten’s response to the news.

“Customers and drivers need to ask themselves if they should use an app under the shadow of repeating safety issues, dodging regulations and toxic corporate culture,” said Kapten UK general manager, Mariusz Zabrocki.

“At Kapten, our main aim at this point is to make sure all drivers and riders affected by the potential ban know that the future needn’t look so bleak, as Kapten will be available.”

Kapten is originally a French firm, now joint-owned by Daimler and BMW. It’s a new player, having launched earlier this year. A ‘points’ system allows loyal users to accrue credit and use it for free rides.

Bolt

Bolt is another ride-sharing app that operates in the capital, launched earlier in 2019. It claims to cover the bases that Uber doesn’t.

“Recent events highlight the critical importance to public safety of, not just checking, but knowing who those drivers are and taking a deep interest in their overall wellbeing,” said a Bolt spokesperson.

“We spent a year working with Transport for London (TfL) on our successful London licence application and we continue to pay the utmost attention to the credentials of drivers we permit to use our platform. With more than 30,000 drivers carefully onboarded onto the platform, we have quickly become a trusted player in the capital.”

Bolt claims its rates are fairer to drivers and that its service is more reliable and safe for customers. There’s also the added bonus that all rides are offset to be carbon neutral.

The company had its own licensing controversies, however, with a stuttering attempted launch in 2017. Bolt drivers are also in the process of demanding a per-mile base rate of £2, up from the current £1.25.

Gett

Israeli-owned Gett is a comparatively long-standing operation in London. It launched in 2011 as straight alternative to the traditional black cab, to cut waiting times and allow advance ordering.

Like a cab, however, it is metered, with no minimum fares. It also works with existing licensed taxi drivers, including in areas outside London.

Ola

The true new kid on the block will be Ola. We say ‘will be’ because it launches in London in January 2020. It secured an operating licence over the summer after a limited launch in 2018.

“Today, we are inviting the tens of thousands of drivers across London to register themselves on the Ola platform, as we prepare to launch in the city in the coming weeks,” said Simon Smith, international lead at Ola. Watch this space.

Kabbee

Slightly different to the above services is Kabbee. Think of it as a Just Eat, CompareTheMarket or MoneySuperMarket of cab services. Seventy providers are listed, with around 10,000 London cabs on its books.

It also pitches itself as the much cheaper alternative to a traditional flag-down cab, and only keeps highly-rated services listed. On its website, it says you can ‘earn miles to enjoy credits, upgrades and other treats’.

Free Now

Free Now is a pan-European ride-hailing company that has more than 100,000 drivers on its books across 100 European cities. If you’re London-based, it has 17,000 black cabs on its books in the capital.

Like Uber, you tap to order and your ride should arrive shortly. The only difference is that pricing is generally fixed for these fully-licensed drivers, and doesn’t peak and trough with demand.

Pricier alternatives to Uber

If your budget is higher, Wheely and Addison Lee bother offer a more premium taxi experience.

The former will chauffeur you in a Mercedes, while the latter is popular with corporate customers.

London public transport

Of course, when in a real pinch (like if your phone battery has died), a black cab is always available. As is the underground and bus network. It’s always worth looking at prices and routes, to see if a tube or bus could work for you.

London buses have fixed pricing, and the tube network can easily get you further for less. So, even if Uber does leave London, you won’t be left stranded.

£4,500 scrappage offer on Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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November 26, 2019

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Mitsubishi is offering a £4,500 scrappage discount on the Outlander PHEV when you trade in your old car. The vehicle must have been registered before 1 January 2013.

This reduces the price of the entry-level Outlander PHEV to £30,955.

The offer is set to run until 27 March 2020, and customers must agree to have their trade-in car scrapped. To qualify, the vehicle must have been registered in your name for at least 90 days prior to the new car’s registration date.

Nearly 50,000 Outlander plug-in hybrids have been registered in the UK since 2014. This makes it the UK’s most popular plug-in car. However, it faces growing competition, including a new breed of all-electric SUVs.

Following an update in 2019, the Outlander PHEV offers an all-electric range of 28 miles and 134mpg, based on the WLTP test cycle.

Although the basic Verve trim costs £35,455 (pre-scrappage), the most expensive Outlander PHEV weighs in at £46,000. For now, it remains the best value plug-in hybrid SUV, not least because rivals of a similar size tend to be offered by the premium manufacturers.

The slightly smaller Kia Niro PHEV costs £31,945 and offers an electric range of 36 miles. Standard specification is high, and you also benefit from Kia’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty. If you don’t require the extra space, the Niro PHEV could be a cost-effective alternative to the ageing Outlander PHEV.

Right now, the Niro PHEV is available on a five percent PCP deal with a £2,000 deposit contribution from Kia. Mitsubishi is offering similar finance deals on the Outlander PHEV.

Rob Lindley, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: “Moving to a new, ultra-low emission vehicle is an aspiration many people have but it’s a big financial step for many owners of older vehicles.

“Our scrappage offer, combined with competitive finance offers, puts a practical, versatile and low-emission vehicle within reach for many more people. If we were able to combine this offer with some form of compelling government-backed support for plug-in hybrids, it would all help put the government’s Road to Zero ambitions back on track.”

Elon Musk says ‘bring it on’ to Cybertruck tug-of-war rematch

By

Ethan Jupp

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November 26, 2019

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Elon Musk has responded to Ford’s request for an ‘apples-to-apples’ truck tug of war. The Tesla CEO said “bring it on”, after the Sundeep Madra, vice president of Ford X at Ford Motor Company, threw down the gauntlet yesterday.

The reason for the rematch? A video of the Cybertruck winning a tug of war with an F-150 pick-up has been criticised for being unfairly tipped in the trapezoidal Tesla’s favour.

Cybertruck pulls F-150 uphill pic.twitter.com/OfaqUkrDI3

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2019

New Tesla Cybertruck revealed: yes, it really looks like this

The F-150 in question was either a rear-wheel-drive model, or was in rear-wheel-drive mode. In short, with power going to all four wheels, it could have had the advantage.

Not quite the convincing proof that the Cybertruck is “better than an F-150” as Musk claims.

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model 3?

Bring it on https://t.co/pCnln1NdRO

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2019

Interestingly, Madra said Tesla should send Ford a Cybertruck with which to perform the new tug-of-war. For all Musk’s retaliatory bravado, we’d be highly surprised if he does that.

It might not be an issue anyway, given that Ford itself has qualified Madra’s challenge as ‘tongue-in-cheek’ in a statement to InsideEVs. Will the rematch happen at all, if it was all Twitter posturing?

All-electric Ford F-150 tows a HUGE train

BMW makes subtle dig at Tesla following Cybertruck launch event

It’s not like Ford has much to prove. A few months ago, it released a video of a prototype electric F-150 towing one million pounds (453,592kg) of laden freight train.

Other manufacturers have poked fun at Tesla, too. In response to the Cybertruck’s rocky reveal, BMW showed off its armoured X5, saying it ‘comes with bulletproof windows and offers splinter protection in case it gets hit by a metal ball’.

Of course, that refers to the Cybertruck’s ‘unbreakable’ windows that broke on stage, causing Musk to blurt expletives.

Audi will answer your EV questions via WhatsApp

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Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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November 26, 2019

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Audi is the first car manufacturer in the UK to offer customer support via WhatsApp.

Between the hours of 8am and 9pm, Audi E-tron owners can message a dedicated electric car expert. The customer can expect to receive a response within minutes, says Audi.

Customers who have placed an order for an E-tron will be invited to start a chat. Questions can be posed via photos, videos, voice recordings or standard messaging.

The WhatsApp-based Concierge Service has been in place since September, and Audi has received a variety of queries. Questions include access to charging points and winter tyre availability.

Audi says it will also use the ‘valuable feedback’ to ‘hone the premium E-tron ownership experience in the UK’.

The all-electric Audi E-tron SUV costs around £71,500, with a Launch Edition available for a little over £83,000. The five-seat SUV offers a total electric range of up to 237 miles based on the WLTP testing cycle. Fast charging stations are capable of giving the E-tron 80 percent battery capacity in just 30 minutes.

A new E-tron Sportback 55 was unveiled at the recent LA Auto Show. Although there’s no word on price, Audi’s second all-electric car will deliver up to 240 miles of range.

‘Always switched on’

Speaking about the Concierge Service, Andrew Doyle, director of Audi UK, said: “We fully understand that making the transition to a fully electric car can potentially give rise to new questions that may not have been considered before, and therefore an appropriately user-focused option was required.

“We also know that our E-tron customers are always switched on and appreciate the added convenience its many digital services such as Amazon Alexa, natural language voice control and the myAudi app already offer, which is why the E-tron Concierge is an ideal extension of that hassle-free approach to communication outside of the car.”

Nissan works with EU to encourage electric car uptake

By

Ethan Jupp

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November 26, 2019

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Nissan is taking a broader look at how drivers can be encouraged to switch to electric cars. The company has led a White Paper, working with the European Innovation partnership on Smart Cities and Communities, to ‘accelerate towards more sustainable societies‘.

A large part of the programme, also supported by the European Commission, concerns battery technology. It covers how batteries have use beyond their time in a car (‘second life’), plus how can EVs can work with the electricity grid, rather than just pulling energy from it.

Cheaper electric cars for more buyers

All British Gas vans will be electric by 2030

Nissan is keen to see better incentives for mid-range EVs, like its Leaf hatchback. While self-serving, it argues that lower costs, and potentially larger incentives, are required to get more people to go electric.

Nissan is also suggesting tax incentives based on EV owners’ environmental impact, and rewards for power put back into the grid.

Leading by example

Nissan wants public services and authorities to play a part, too. Low-emission zones are a big part of the plan, in order to encourage people to make the jump to EVs.

Liberal Democrats will cut VAT on electric cars to 5 percent

Nissan also suggests procedures for smart charging installation should be improved. It proposes incentivised, or ideally mandatory, installation of renewable energy tech and smart charging in new buildings.

The big picture is the so-called ‘smart city’, with car charging wherever drivers need it, housing equipped with renewables energy sources and so on. This is the future, says Nissan.

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model 3?

“To meet the challenges Europe faces we need a fundamental rethink on how mobility and energy policies are designed,” said Friederike Kienitz of Nissan Europe.

“While Nissan brought mass battery technology to Europe when it pioneered the Nissan Leaf 10 years ago, it is clear from this paper that this is about more than just Nissan or electric vehicles. There is much work to be done if Europe is to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050, and this white paper sets out how to get there at the national, regional and municipal level.”

Special Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde takes flight

By

Richard Aucock

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November 26, 2019

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Aston Martin has teamed up with British Airways and Bristol car retailer Dick Lovett to create a limited-to-10 special edition DBS Superleggera Concorde.

The launch coincides with 50 years since Concorde’s first flight, and the centenary of Concorde flag-carrying airline, British Airways.

Just 10 DBS Superleggera Concorde will be sold, all through the local retailer Aston Martin Bristol – which is located ‘just a long runway’s length away from Aerospace Bristol at Filton’, where the final Concorde ever to fly is now located.

Fittingly, British Concordes were also built at the Bristol site.

Making today’s announcement even more timely, the launch of the DBS Superleggera Concorde coincides with the last Concorde flight when G-BOAF touched down on 26 November 2003.

A donation for every car sold will be made to the Air League Trust, which teaches under-privileged children how to fly and supports them in work for engineering.

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde: in detail

All DBS Superleggera Concordes feature bespoke livery with British Airways colours on the roof strake, aero blade and rear diffuser. The roof itself is black tinted carbon fibre with a Concorde graphic.

The British Airways ‘Speedmarque’ logo is depicted in chrome on the front wings.

Painted Civil Aviation Authority identifier numbers are depicted on the side sills.

Aston Martin Lagonda president and CEO Andy Palmer and British Airways CEO Alex Cruz have also signed unique inspection plates for each car.

The Concorde logo features on the front seats and there’s a ‘sonic boom’ graphic for the Alcantara roof liner.

There’s even a Mach Meter graphic for the sun visor…

…while the seatbelt buckle badges are made from solid aluminium.

And the steering wheel paddle shifters are made from titanium, sourced from actual Concorde engine compressor blades.

All cars use the stock DBS Superleggera 5.2-V12 twin-turbo, producing 725 horsepower. This is good for 211mph and 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds. The DBS will go from 0-100 mph in a scant 6.4 seconds.

Gives you wings

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde is part of the Aston Martin Wings Series of special editions. It is built by the firm’s bespoke Q by Aston Martin division.

Other aviation-inspired models include the Vanquish S Red Arrows Edition, the Vantage Blades Edition and the V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80.

Marek Reichman, chief creative officer at Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “It’s only fitting that our great British sports car brand marks the achievement of the incredibly dedicated, talented and ambitious teams of British and French scientists, engineers, designers and aircraft workers who made Concorde, and supersonic air travel, a reality in our skies 50 years ago.

Coming in to land on 26th November, register to witness an automotive icon coming soon here: https://t.co/PZcwz8FOI6 pic.twitter.com/W3jPqWcRR6

— British Airways (@British_Airways) November 22, 2019

“Using the DBS Superleggera as our starting point, and with the support of the talented personalisation experts in the Q by Aston Martin service to draw on, we have been able to subtly and sympathetically enhance and highlight some of the car’s most notable features while preserving the elegance, style and sheer brutish road presence for which the Aston Martin DBS is rightly known.”

California will no longer buy gasoline-only cars

By

Ethan Jupp

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November 25, 2019

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The State of California will no longer buy vehicles solely powered by internal combustion engines, says the California Department of General Services (DGS).

State agencies will also avoid buying vehicles from a company that doesn’t adhere to California’s upcoming strict new rules on fuel economy.

The specifics don’t mean that California is necessarily going all-electric. Looking in finer detail, ‘solely-powered’ basically means conventional non-hybrid automobiles. So-called ‘electrified’ gasoline cars, such as plug-ins and hybrids, will still be allowed.

Exceptions will also be made for some public safety vehicles – where suitable electrified alternatives aren’t available for the specific use case.

Cars could be banned from parts of the British Lake District

The ‘no non-hybrids’ rule is effective now. As for compliance with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) rules, that will come in on January 1, 2020.

California has its own standards for fuel economy, that are more strict by comparison with the rest of the United States. Only Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW are on board with these fleet-average standards, over and above the more relaxed national rules.

California’s fleet rules: money to gain

Sorry, Greta: driving slowly in a Giulia Quadrifoglio really sucks

It’s estimated that around $74 million was spent on fleet purchases in 2018 by the state of California. Of that, ‘non-compliant’ marques like Chevrolet, Fiat-Chrysler and Toyota made up over $40 million.

Even though all of these marques will have low and zero-emission / fuel consumption vehicles under their umbrellas, they won’t be part of the Californian new car fleet next year. Why? Because they’ve chosen to follow nationwide standards, not California’s – a move for which all have been criticised.

Compliant Ford, meanwhile, made up $18 million of that California state spend. It could stand to win big, as a vacuum of sorts opens for 2020 and beyond.

Indeed, could the state of California be the first big buyer of the new all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E? It looks possible.

In 2018, the Californian fleet had a six percent figure for fleet BEVs and plug-in hybrids. Big changes are to come, then – and fast…

BP customers ‘stay too long’, get £100 parking charge

By

Ethan Jupp

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November 25, 2019

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An unexpected cost facing many UK drivers is the maximum-stay parking fine. Supermarkets and retail parks have been quietly installing CCTV and ANPR systems to make sure customers aren’t outstaying their welcome. Now, petrol stations are getting in on the act. Customers are finding out the hard way.

Gareth Hughes received a £100 fine for exceeding the 30-minute maximum stay limit at BP on Mitcham Road in Croydon. He didn’t park and ‘abandon’ his car, though. He got fuel, he paid, then chose to use the car wash. The resulting charge came after Mr Hughes took a full 17 minutes more than the allotted time. He claims there was no signage to denote the maximum stay period, either.

Another customer of the same BP outlet received a similar £100 fine. Media trainer and journalist Guy Clapperton browsed the adjacent M&S Simply Food to grab a few bits and to avoid the queue to pay. He paid and used the on-site car washing facilities, which amounted to him being there for 42 minutes. He appealed the fine and was eventually refunded, but got no sympathy from BP.

Crunch time: how to avoid low-speed parking accidents

“How can it make sense to penalise people who spend £80 or more on your services. An allowance of 45 minutes would be far more reasonable,” he told The Guardian.

When approached, a cashier at this BP admitted that they’ve been getting a lot of complaints, and that he thought those using the car wash got more time.

Similar experiences have occurred at other vendors too. The Guardian featured the case of a customer of Shell in Kilburn, who received a fine after being stuck in a queue for the car wash.

Plug and pay: UK’s largest EV rapid-charge network goes contactless

Winter driving: how to save fuel and prevent breakdowns

The vendors and representatives of the retailers insist these limits and charges are there to stop rogue parkers from taking up spaces for excessive periods. Drivers contest, however, that not only are these restrictions unfairly tight, but they’re poorly publicised. In spite of parking enforcement companies often insisting they are ‘clearly signposted’, motorists still feel like they’re being taken for a ride.

Appealing parking fines

All time-limited parking vendors have appeals systems that you can use. If you feel a fine you’ve received is unjust, it’s worth the effort. If your fine comes following nothing but your use of the on-site facilities taking longer than you’d like, due to queues or similar, there’s a good chance you can make a successful appeal.