As the world gears up for a huge rise in the number of electric vehicles, the Electric Nation EV smart charging trial has been collecting data with the aim of understanding the impact of home charging on the local electricity network.
Volkswagen is going to deploy mobile electric car charging stations
Over a period of 18 months, 673 EV owners were involved in a series of tests of smart charging strategies, including the use of apps to encourage driver interaction with smart charging systems to minimise disruption to planned EV journeys.
Other EV drivers were offered incentives to encourage them to charge their electric cars when network congestion is low (e.g. overnight rather than early evening).
Using the data from more than 140,000 charging transactions, initial analysis suggests that there is likely to be sufficient flexibility to manage charging away from peak electricity demand periods.
Around 40 different makes and models were involved in the study, including full EVs, plug-in hybrids, and a selection of battery sizes.
Plugged in for 12 hours
The Electric Nation analysis reveals that most vehicles are plugged in for over 12 hours, but they are rarely charging for the full time. Around half of all EVs are plugged in with more than 50 percent battery capacity and most EV owners charge their cars three times a week.
The trial will help Western Power Distribution improve its understanding of the impact of EVs on the electricity network and how this impact could be reduced using smart chargers and incentives.
Further analysis will be revealed via a series of written reports and Electric Nation events.
Motorists are increasingly finding themselves a target for fraudsters, with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) revealing that it received 1,275 reports of suspected tax scams in the final quarter of 2018.
With this in mind, the DVLA has published seven tips designed to help motorists stay safe online. “When looking for contact details or any of DVLA’s digital services, you should only use gov.uk so you can be sure that you’re dealing directly with DVLA,” warned Dave Pope, the chief information security officer at the DVLA.
“Posting on social media is a way of life for most drivers, however, they may not realise they risk setting themselves up as a prime target for fraudulent activity. People can stay ahead of the criminals by being vigilant with their personal information and who they share it with, and reporting anything suspicious to the police via Action Fraud,” he continued.
Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime – a service run by the City of London Police working alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).
A spokesperson for Action Fraud said: “We know that fraudsters are increasingly using more sophisticated ways to trick their victims, and so it is important that members of the public think about their online behaviour and ensure that they do everything they can to protect themselves.
“Taking measures such as limiting the amount of personal information shared on social media platforms and being cautious of any unsolicited messages received can help to prevent online crime.”
The DVLA’s seven tips to stay safe online
Only use gov.uk – double check that you are using a gov.uk webpage so that you can be sure you’re dealing with the DVLA.
Scam emails – the DVLA will never send emails asking motorists to confirm their personal details or payment information. Do not open any links – simply delete the email.
Beware of misleading websites – some sites will offer help when applying for a driving licence or taxing a car, but will charge additional fees for services that are free via gov.uk.
Look out for premium rate numbers – DVLA contact centre numbers will always begin with 0300 – look out for websites using premium rate numbers.
Be mindful of what you share online – never share images of your driving licence or vehicle documents as this exposes you to the risk of identity fraud.
Texts – the DVLA will never send texts about vehicle tax refunds. If you receive one, don’t click the link – simply delete the text.
Report any suspected scams – anything suspicious should be reported to the police via Action Fraud.
To contact Action Fraud, call 0300 123 2040 or use the online reporting tool.
The government has announced that a process is being developed to help in the advanced trials of automated vehicles. This could mean – quite literally – driverless cars on our roads by the end of the year.
This comes very shortly off the back of the Nissan debacle and general uncertainty about the UK’s place in automotive post-Brexit. The government hopes it’s a move to shore up the UK’s status ‘as a global leader in the safe and responsible testing of automated vehicles’.
Advanced trials won’t be supported unless they have passed stringent safety assessments. The government will also strengthen its code of practice for testing automated vehicles in order to better define expectations for the safety of trials. This, with a view to putting cars on the road that do not have humans manually in control.
That would make the UK the first country to allow this extent of testing, with the USA being the only country to have hosted limited trials as yet. The UK wants to run before the rest of the world can walk.
Those carrying out trials for self-driving cars will need to publish trial performance reports and safety information, and carry out risk assessments before trials. Those trialling such vehicles will be expected to keep local authorities and emergency services in the loop when it comes to testing, too.
The UK’s market for automated and connected vehicles is estimated to be worth £52billion by 2035. As such, this is a definitive swing for the UK as a long-term base in the automotive industry. It also reiterates the UK’s determination to meet the 2021 target in terms of having fully self-driving vehicles on the road.
These developments should help step towards the government’s future of mobility grand challenge, with automated driving being a major cornerstone of that movement.
“The UK has a rich heritage in automotive development and manufacturing, with automated and electric vehicles set to transform the way we all live our lives,’ said Richard Harrington, Automotive Minister.
“We want to ensure through the Industrial Strategy Future of Mobility Grand Challenge that we build on this success and strength to ensure we are home to development and manufacture of the next generation of vehicles.”
“We need to ensure we take the public with us as we move towards having self-driving cars on our roads by 2021. The update to the code of practice will provide clearer guidance to those looking to carry out trials on public roads.”
Age: Current third-generation was launched in 2013. Original X-Trail made a debut in 2000.
Style: A lot like a larger Nissan Qashqai, with which the X-Trail shares a platform.
Why are we talking about a six-year-old SUV? Brexit, of course.
I should have guessed. It is 2019, after all. Go on, tell me more: Nissan has rolled back previously announced plans to build European-spec models of the next fourth-generation X-Trail in Sunderland.
Is that because of Brexit? Uncertainty around the UK’s future relationship with the EU is one of the reasons mentioned by Nissan, yes.
But didn’t Nissan have an agreement with the UK government? They did. Prime Minister Theresa May and then Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn had important meetings in October 2016 to soothe worries about Brexit.
Did those talks include bringing the X-Trail to Sunderland? Apparently so, now the previously undisclosed details of those talks have been revealed. Business secretary Greg Clark promised £61m of government support if X-Trail and Qashqai production happened in Sunderland.
So Nissan has broken that promise? They have, but they might also argue the UK government has failed to agree a Brexit deal which protects the automotive industry.
Will Nissan have to pay back that money? Not necessarily. The £61m package of state aid was only formally awarded to Nissan in June 2018. So far, Nissan has only received £2.6m of that, although it might have to reapply to get anything more.
Are there other reasons for Nissan’s decision? Indeed. Nissan already builds the X-Trail in various factories across the world, with European-specification cars manufactured in Japan. It believes the cost of building them there will be cheaper in the long run.
Should I mention the ‘D’ word? If you mean diesel, then yes. Falling demand for diesel will undoubtedly also be playing a part in Nissan’s decision.
How popular is the X-Trail in the Europe? Not as popular as Nissan products like the Qashqai or Juke. In 2017, Nissan sold 69,000 X-Trails across Europe, compared to 247,000 Qashqais and 91,000 Jukes.
What does this mean for Sunderland? The 7,000 people currently employed by Nissan have been told their jobs are safe. But no new X-Trail means no new employment opportunities at the Wearside site.
That’s some good news, I guess: It is, but Nissan’s decision not to invest further in the UK is a worrying one. The SMMT has already said the UK’s car industry is on “red alert” over a potential for a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
Just how big is the UK car industry? Around 850,000 people are employed in the automotive sector across the country.
So what happens next? For now, nothing. But all eyes are firmly fixed on whether a Brexit deal is agreed and implemented with the EU.
The World Car Awards panel has revealed the finalists for the 2019 Awards, across six categories including the prestigious World Car of the Year 2019 prize.
A jury of 86 international automotive journalists have spent the past few months testing all the new cars launched this year. From a list of more than 40 contenders, the shortlists have been drawn up – and the one every car manufacturer wants to win is World Car of the Year.
Last year, the winner was the Volvo XC60 (pictured above). This year, Volvo is again represented on this shortlist, with two entries. It’s the only brand to have two cars in the final running (well, technically three – the S60 saloon and V60 estate sister cars are listed, alongside the XC40).
Other cars include the Jaguar I-Pace, whose large SUV sibling the F-Pace scored a memorable 2017 victory, and new North American brand Genesis, Hyundai’s premium division. Hyundai also has a futuristic fuel cell car on the shortlist with the Nexo; both the I-Pace and Audi e-tron are all-electric machines.
World Car of the Year 2019 top 10 finalists:
Audi e-tron
BMW 3 Series
Ford Focus
Genesis G70
Hyundai Nexo
Jaguar I-PACE
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Suzuki Jimny
Volvo S60/V60
Volvo XC40
Other prizes to be awarded include the 2019 World Urban Car, with the five finalists comprising the Audi A1, Hyundai AH2 and Santro, Kia Soul, Seat Arona and Suzuki Jimny.
Premium car makers place great emphasis on the World Luxury Car award; doing battle for 2019 are the Audi A7 and Q8, BMW 8 Series, Mercedes-Benz CLS and Volkswagen Touareg.
Sports car fans, listen up: the 2019 World Performance Car contenders are the Aston Martin Vantage, BMW M2 Competition, Hyundai Veloster N, McLaren 720S and the Mercedes-AMG 4-door Coupe.
At the other end of the scale are the World Green Car contenders. The five 2019 eco-warriors are the Audi e-tron, Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, Hyundai Nexo, Jaguar I-Pace and Kia Niro EV.
Every car longlisted for the World Car Awards is also eligible for the 2019 World Car Design of the year. A crack team of seven professional car designers have decided the following are worthy of being shortlisted as designer’s pick of 2019:
Citroen C5 Aircross
Jaguar E-Pace
Jaguar I-Pace
Suzuki Jimny
Volvo XC40
And what’s next? The 86 jurors will now carry out a further round of judging, with the top three finalists in each category announced at the Geneva Motor Show in early March (where the 2019 World Car Person of the Year will also be revealed).
The overall winners will then be announced at the New York International Auto Show on April 17th. Place your bets now…
Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division has shoehorned a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 with 550hp into the sleek, stylish, World Car Design of the Year-winning Velar. Because of course they have. Welcome to the Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography – here to fill that SV Coupe-shaped hole in your life.
Looks to kill
If it comes from SVO, then you can normally tell it a mile off. The V8 Velar is no exception. ‘Optimised aerodynamics’ translates into air-gorging inlets to feed the V8 and cool the upgraded brakes. They work together with quad exhaust outlets as big as their bark to mark the SVA out as something altogether more aggressive. The ‘beautiful’ Range Rover just got sinister.
There is a whiff of sophistication, mind. The Range Rover lettering on the bonnet and tailgate is now knurled like the dials in a Bentley.
This ‘Dynamic Edition’ is the only Velar available in Satin Byron Blue – a bespoke Special Vehicle Operations colour from the Premium Palette.
V8 supercharged muscle
The star of the show in the SVAutobiography is the engine. There isn’t a car that engine features in where it isn’t the star of the show. With its 550hp and 502lb ft, the Velar SVA will dispatch 62 mph in a supercar-baiting 4.5 seconds before going on to a top speed of 170mph. No doubt all of the above performance rides a bloodcurdling bow wave of V8 ruckus from the lighter variable exhaust.
Stopping power
There should never be go, without stop. The 550hp 170mph Velar has the anchors to keep those monstrous numbers in check. Up-rated high-performance brakes hide beneath 21-inch forged wheels. The discs are 395mm at the front and 396mm at the rear. The red brake callers have four pistons at the front. You can get 22-inch diamond-turned wheels as an option if you want a bit more bling for your buck.
Enhanced dynamics
Putting all that performance to ground is the advanced intelligent driveline dynamics system, which can put as much as 100 percent of the Velar SVA’s power to the rear wheels if the situation calls for it. Continually variable dampers work with firmer air springs and an upgraded anti-roll system to keep the supercharged Velar on the flat and level.
First class cabin
It is a Range Rover, after all, so the cabin has to be second to none. As well as a 550hp supercharged V8, your Velar SVA will come with quilted, perforated and twin-stitched leather. Unique also to the SVA is a sports steering wheel and yes, the metal knurling continues on the inside with the infotainment dials and rotary shifter. All the other luxuries you’d expect of a top-end Range Rover are present – 20-way adjustable massaging heated and cooled seats included.
Hot rod baby Rangie
All in all, the Velar SVAutobiography has the air of a skunkworks special about it. It seems almost naughty that you can now get the middle-sized Range Rover with 550hp of supercharged V8 muscle. It now has the performance to match those sleek and sporty looks, now upgraded themselves in SVA trim.
It rather begs the question… if you can get in an SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition Velar for £86,120, why would you pay out near-on £100,000 for an SVR Range Rover Sport? The performance is almost identical and in spite of the Sport’s recent facelift, the Velar retains that next-generation feel to it.
What is worth remembering is that the Jaguar F-Pace SVR also now exists. It’s got that same incredible engine, will get to 62mph 0.2 seconds quicker and top out at 174mph… all for £10,000 less. Still, the heart wants what the heart wants. We quite want this new hot rod Rangie…
Ford is celebrating a commanding sales win in January 2019 with a one-two result in the UK new car registrations chart.
As always, the Fiesta was number one, but the latest Ford Focus made it into second place – beating its perennial arch-rival, the Volkswagen Golf.
Indeed, the Nissan Qashqai also outsold the Golf, and was only narrowly behind the Focus in third place. The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class rounded out the top five in the data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Overall, new car registrations dipped 1.6 percent in January 2019, the fifth consecutive month of decline. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said it was still a decent performance, with sales roughly on a par with a year ago “as the latest high tech models and deals attracted buyers into showrooms”.
However, he said, “to restore momentum, we need supportive policies, not least on vehicle taxation, to encourage buyers to invest in new, cleaner vehicles that best suit their driving needs – from the latest petrols and diesels to an ever growing range of exciting electrified vehicles.”
Diesel down… again
For now, diesels continue to dramatically decline. Registrations were down 20.3 percent, taking the diesel new car share of the market to less than 30 percent.
Alternatively fuelled vehicle sales were, however, up 26.3 percent, giving them a 6.8 percent market share. Yet this is still at the lower end of government targets, added the SMMT, “underlining the need for greater purchase incentives and investment in charging infrastructure”.
Some brand also suffered significant individual declines, the SMMT figures also revealed. Audi was down 26.9 percent in January, while Porsche was down 41.5 percent.
Infiniti sales plunged by a dramatic 67 percent to just 32 new cars – giving it a tiny 0.02 percent market share. Volvo registrations, by contrast, grew by a massive 79.7 percent, taking its market share up to 2.5 percent.
Ian Plummer is director at new and used car marketplace Auto Trader. He said the SMMT figures showed some brands were still suffering from stocking effects due to the new WLTP fuel economy rules, “placing real strain on retailers.
“However, we can see for some brands such as Volvo and some of the Korean and Japanese marques, supply seems to be in good shape and has helped them to record a great start ot the year.”
Plummer added that in the run-up to the March registration plate change, there should be some good deals in showrooms, particularly in the run-up to Brexit on 29 March.
“The outlook for the industry in 2019 remains relatively positive.”
With over 800 million Instagram users, it’s easy to see why car manufacturers value the social platform for marketing and engagement. But which brands are doing their best to win followers amongst the memes and celebrities on Instagram? We’ve crunched the numbers and, at the time of publishing, these are the top 28 in ascending order.
28. Alfa Romeo – @alfaromeoofficial – 1.2m
According to the old adage, you’re not a true petrolhead until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo. Today, following Alfa on Instagram might not be enough to earn you a petrolhead badge, but it’s a good starting point. As you’d expect, the feed is a blend of Alfas old and new, along with annoyingly good looking people staring into the middle distance.
Volvo’s Instagram feed couldn’t be more Scandinavian if it changed its name to Bjorn, wrapped itself in a hygge sweater and disappeared to a log cabin for a weekend of playing board games and drinking hot chocolate in front of a log fire. The photos have a moody Scandi-noir vibe, with the occasional classic car chucked in for good measure. The humble Volvo 440 received 22,500 likes and 306 comments.
Cadillac’s feed is filled with SUVs and crossovers, peppered with the occasional gem from yesteryear. Scroll back to July 2018 and you’ll find images of the stunning Cyclone concept car of 1959, complete with jet age styling and a bubble-top canopy.
Who could really say no to the idea of an exotic Italian supercar, pictured against a stunning backdrop? As such, Pagani seems a natural fit for a social media channel that centres on the aesthetically pleasing, so its inclusion on this list shouldn’t be a surprise. The Huayra Roadster steals a lot of the limelight, but epic road trips have provided video snapshots, too. You’ll need to be a real fan of carbon fibre though.
It might be one of the biggest car brands in the USA, but the bowtie-wearing Chevrolet loses out on Instagram followers to other American companies. It is, at least, the most-followed of all General Motors manufacturers, beating Cadillac and Buick. However, Chevrolet’s feed is more business, less fun, with slick and polished press office photography the order of the day. Corvettes, Camaros and the Silverado garner the most likes, while the Spark city car gets a less favourable reception.
When the sub-brand upstages the mother brand. Corvette has 200,000 more followers than Chevrolet, despite posting half as many updates as its parent. While this is unusual in the automotive world, it’s more common in other forms of life. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo has a staggering 153 million followers on Instagram, while his club, Juventus, has ‘just’ 21.9 million.
The Instagram account for Honda USA is predominantly corporate, majoring on official press images and marketing videos. Being American-orientated, images abound of US products like the Passport SUV, although the new CR-V makes regular appearances, too. For comparison, the Honda UK account boasts just 40,000 followers, while Honda Japan has 64,000.
With a current image built almost entirely on muscle cars, you can guarantee a plentiful supply of Chargers, Challengers and Vipers on the official Dodge Instagram feed. Mixing Dodge’s own photography with user-submitted content strikes a balance between being engaging, but also on-message. If you get bored of seeing Challenger Hellcats doing smokey burnouts, you can count on retro Mopar images to break things up.
No prizes for predicting that the Mustang makes a significant contribution to the images on the Blue Oval’s feed. From the new Mustang, all the way back the original first-generation pony car, there is plenty of ‘Stang love here. As an American account, the F-150 pickup truck is prominently on display, but there are also pics of the Focus and Fiesta ST models. Ford’s UK Instagram profile has attracted a more modest 56,500 followers.
Nissan’s global Instagram page focusses on user-created content, encouraging submissions directly to them. It clearly works, with over 3.6m followers wanting to see what’s next. Predictably there is little evidence of more everyday Nissan products like the Micra or Qashqai here. It’s more about the GT-R and 370Z – especially if they’re heavily modified, and spitting flames from their exhausts – although retro Datsuns do also get a look in.
Jeep’s Instagram account has a heavy Wrangler bias, which is hardly surprising given its iconic status. Backdrops range from snow-capped mountains to vast desert plains, and it’s good to see the Grand Wagoneer making the occasional appearance. There’s plenty of user-generated content, with photos of dogs receiving the most likes.
Glance quickly at the global Instagram page for Land Rover and you could be mistaken for thinking the company produces nothing but Range Rovers these days. From Evoque to Velar and Sport, the premium off-roader makes up the bulk of the content, meaning you’ll have to watch carefully to spot a Discovery or Defender making an appearance. Land Rover UK’s own Instagram page has 127,000 followers alone, and packs in the retro archive images to good effect.
Boasting 1.7 million more followers than that of the McLaren F1 team, the Instagram account perhaps proves that supercars have even more appeal than Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz. With more posts in the first four days of February than Tesla has managed this year, you can be sure of a contribution from McLaren cropping up in your feed most days. The 720S accounts for many of the latest images, but there are also archive pictures like the P1 featured here.
Despite having posted just a dozen updates since the beginning of this year, Tesla still proves to be a popular attraction on Instagram. Perhaps there is only so many times you can post pictures of the Model S and Model X, although the new Model 3 does offer some alternatives. Much to the dismay of his eight million followers, Elon Musk deleted his Instagram account in 2018.
On the face of it, the Volkswagen account is a typical corporate affair, but the feed is interspersed with more lighthearted images. For example, hands-free parking is demonstrated with the help of a hamster emoji, while a cat in a Santa hat was on hand to showcase the benefits of a heated steering wheel.
13. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars – @rollsroycecars – 5.8m
Just looking at the Rolls-Royce Instagram page feels expensive. Recent posts include the Faberge egg and images highlighting the company’s Bespoke programme, but it won’t be long before you find a series of Cullinan photos and videos.
We’re sure Rolls-Royce won’t be too bitter about losing out to former stablemates, Bentley. With an emphasis placed more on ‘lifestyle’ than products alone, the Bentley Motors feed includes images of fashion and fishing along with the usual pictures of cars. Motorsport gets an occasional look in, with the GT3-spec Continental race cars appearing – especially when they win.
Aston Martin is probably quite satisfied to have edged out Bentley in this Instagram battle. Although mostly filled with official press photography, the Aston Martin feed also features and encourages fans and owners to submit their own images. An easy task, given how naturally photogenic the brand’s products are.
Jaguar Land Rover can congratulate themselves on building a strong social media following, adding an additional 3.7 million Jaguar fans to those following Land Rover. Most of the images come from Jaguar direct, although some are user contributions, covering the full range of products, including the E-Pace compact SUV and I-Pace. Photo highlights from the Formula E Jaguar Racing team can also be found, serving as a reminder for where the brand is going.
Maserati offers up photographs that the company believes capture timeless elegance and sporting prowess. It also means featuring photos of Maserati cars next to polo horses and players, given that the company is the title sponsor for a number of major polo tournaments. It’s clearly a strategy that works, along with pictures of the Levante and Maserati-branded merchandise. In case you’re wondering, yes you can buy a Maserati polo shirt…
Bugatti has released two cars in a decade but has managed to amass going on for nine million followers. It helps that the cars in question are powered by quad-turbocharged W16 engines and are capable of more than 240mph. As the newest of the two, the Chiron garners most of the attention on the Bugatti feed, but occasional pictures of the previous Veyron also make appearances.
This is impressive – the official Instagram account of Mercedes-AMG has amassed 8.8 million followers, which is in addition to the soon-to-be-revealed follower count of Mercedes-Benz. The feed offers a blend of road and track action, along with the obligatory lifestyle images designed to tempt you into emptying your wallet for some branded gear.
The profile for the Italian supercar maker is only able to claim sixth place on our list. Notably, Ferrari only follows just two accounts on Instagram, one of which is that of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team, which attracts 2.7 million followers alone. For those solely interested in road cars, Ferrari posts numerous pictures of the latest machinery mixed with highlights from a back catalogue spanning seven decades.
Another North American profile that acts as an Instagram brand beacon, especially when the official Audi account attracts just 443,000 followers. Audi North America keeps things firmly on one side of the Atlantic, with photos and videos of Audi models in virtually every state throughout the country. User submissions are also encouraged and feature alongside professional photography. Despite all this, Audi UK’s own Instagram page boasts a healthy following of over 123,000.
This may be the Instagram account for Porsche Cars North America, but it has become the top destination for followers of the Stuttgart marque. Encouraging user contributions through the #PorscheMoment tag, there is an international flavour to the feed despite the American origins. The Porsche GB account has amassed 148,000 followers.
Claiming top position in the battle of the Italian supercar manufacturers, and sneaking into the top three ahead of the other companies in the Volkswagen Group, is Lamborghini. The featured photography is as eclectic as you would probably expect from the Sant’Agata brand, mixing modern work with retro goodness.
With almost 12,000 photos and videos shared, Mercedes-Benz goes big when it comes to Instagram. As a result, the Stuttgart brand boasts nearly 18 million avid followers and encourages numerous submissions by Mercedes-Benz fans and owners from across the globe. With such an extensive history, the Mercedes account includes a plentiful supply of retro images.
This is it, the peak of the Instagram car brands, and by the time you read this BMW will may have increased its follower count to 20 million. That’s equivalent to the entire population of Romania eagerly awaiting new photos that capture the ideas of ‘sheer driving pleasure’ on Instagram. As impressive as BMW’s Insta achievement might be, it’s still a long way from brands like Nike (84.3m) and National Geographic (99.2m), which truly dominate the platform.
Following feverous online speculation over the weekend, Nissan has officially confirmed that the next X-Trail model will not be built at the Sunderland plant in the UK.
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn previously announced in October 2016 that the next-generation X-Trail would be built in Sunderland, following talks with prime minister Theresa May.
The news will come as a major blow to the Wearside site, even if Nissan has made clear that future planned investment for the Qashqai, and replacement Juke, are unaffected by this shock announcement. No job losses from the 7,000 workers employed at the Sunderland factory will arise from this decision.
Brexit uncertainty has played a part
Nissan has cited a number of key factors in choosing to keep production of the European-specification X-Trail in Japan.
The current X-Trail has been produced at the Kanda factory in Kyushu since 2013, with Nissan stating that retaining the model there will reduce the need for further investment. The decline in the demand for diesel-engined vehicles is also likely to be a major reason.
However, whilst Nissan notes to have “taken this decision for business reasons”, it also adds that the “continued uncertainty around the UK’s future relationship with the EU is not helping companies like ours to plan for the future.”
Nissan’s announcement comes just days after Mike Hawes, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Chief Executive, stated: “With fewer than 60 days before we leave the EU and the risk of crashing out without a deal looking increasingly real, UK Automotive is on red alert. Brexit uncertainty has already done enormous damage to output, investment and jobs.”
Clear and present danger
Business secretary Greg Clark described Nissan’s decision as a “blow to the sector and the region” given the introduction of the X-Trail would have been a “significant expansion of the site and workforce.”
Clark also underlined the importance of the car industry in the UK, describing it as “a vital sector for the British economy which draws on our combination of rich automotive heritage and cutting edge innovation.”
With more than 850,000 jobs dependent upon the automotive sector across the UK, the stakes at play are high. Nissan’s latest announcement is based upon a number of financial reasons, but the worry about the effects of Brexit are clearly present in the decision to curtail further investment.
The Times has also reported that Nissan could stand to lose a £60million support package from the government. Business minister Richard Harrington has rebutted the claims, saying the funding “still stands”, but conceding that Nissan’s decision was a “disaster” when speaking to BBC Newcastle.
The European new car market stablised in 2018, with registrations up by 346 units (yes, just three hundred and forty six cars!).
According to JATO Dynamics, a total of 15.6 million vehicles were registered, making it the market’s best result since 2017, but consumer confidence was hit by the aftereffects of dieselgate, WLTP and Brexit.
Here, we reveal the top 25 best-selling cars of 2018, with the results presented in reverse order.
Also be sure to check out our British top 20 best-sellers of 2018, to see how we compare with the rest of Europe; we have more in common than you may think…
25: Ford Kuga – 154,125 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 1%
The Ford Kuga creeps into the top 25, with a slight increase in registrations in 2018. Four cars slipped out of the top 25: Audi A3, Renault Megane, Vauxhall Mokka and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Commenting on the results, Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics said: “The effects of WLTP and the lack of availability of many key versions affected registrations in Q4, which is not surprising given that by late November less than two in three versions in Europe were homologated.”
24: Peugeot 308 – 155,925 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 2%
“Throughout 2018 we continued to see the effects of the diesel crisis, as announcements of policy changes by governments led to confusion and panic among consumers,” continued Munoz. Meanwhile, Peugeot 308 registrations were down in 2018.
23: Mercedes-Benz A-Class – 156,020 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 8%
Fresh from its launch at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Mercedes A-Class has cemented its position as Europe’s most popular premium car. Highlights include a much-improved interior and a new MBUX infotainment system.
22: Volkswagen Passat – 157,986 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 14%
Sales of the Volkswagen Passat continue to fall, which is hardly surprising for a car that dates back to 2014 in Europe. The slump was offset by strong performances from the Polo and the new T-Roc.
21: Vauxhall Astra – 160,275 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 27%
This is another wretched performance for the Astra, with registrations down 27 percent. This time last year, registrations were down 13.8 percent, as the Astra just managed to hold on to a top ten slot. It might even struggle to secure a place in the top 25 in 2019.
20: Fiat Panda – 168,697 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 10%
If Fiat wasn’t aware of the desperate need for a Panda replacement, the city car’s zero-star Euro NCAP crash test rating should have rammed the message home.
19: Skoda Fabia – 172,511 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 5%
The Skoda Fabia has been on sale a while, but a raft of revisions in 2018 delivered a much-needed refresh. The Fabia still offers excellent value for money, but has been left behind the likes of the Polo and Ibiza. Which means it’s no surprise to see registrations down in 2018.
18: Peugeot 2008 – 180,204 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: no change
The Peugeot 2008 was launched in 2013 and given a mid-life facelift in 2016. Sales remained static in 2018, but the 2020 version of this popular compact SUV is required to avoid a sales slump in 2019.
17: Dacia Duster – 182,100 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 22%
Go Duster! Or something. From outside the top 25 in 2017, the Dacia Duster catapults itself to 17th in 2018, with registrations up 22 percent. The new version has been improved in a number of areas, including more comfortable seats and more efficient engines.
16: Fiat 500 – 191,205 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 1%
The Fiat 500 is a non-mover at number 16, with registrations up once again. Since it went on sale way back in 2007, the 500 has remained one of the most fashionable cars you can buy, with recent sales assisted by a 2016 facelift.
15: Ford Focus – 196,583 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 9%
Sales of the new Ford Focus are down from 214,661 in 2017 to 196,583 in 2018. Blame disruption from the switchover to the new model. Ford registered just over a million new cars in 2018, placing it third overall on the list of manufacturers behind Renault in second and Volkswagen at the top.
14: Peugeot 3008 – 204,197 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 26%
It has been a good couple of years for the Peugeot 3008, with this performance following a huge increase of 554.9 percent in 2017. This is the largest increase in the top 25, with Peugeot registering just shy of a million cars in 2018.
13: Citroen C3 – 210,082 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 1%
Launched in January 2017, the Citroen C3 remains in 13th place for the second successive year. UK prices start from just shy of £12,000, with top-spec models weighing in at around £16,000.
12: Renault Captur – 214,720 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: no change
The Renault Captur is another non-mover, with registrations remaining static in 2018. With overall registrations of 1.1 million, Renault is the second biggest brand in Europe.
11: Dacia Sandero – 216,306 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 8%
It’s another good year for the Dacia Sandero, with this performance following an increase of 15.6 percent this time last year. It also sees the Sandero climbing from 15th to 11th place. Another 731 registrations and it would have made the top ten.
10: Vauxhall Corsa – 217,036 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 7%
The Vauxhall Corsa is left clinging on to a place in the top ten, with registrations falling from 232,738 to 217,036. It means that the 2020 Corsa is long overdue – the new car will use the same platform as the next-generation Peugeot 208.
9: Toyota Yaris – 217,642 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 9%
From 14th place in 2017, the Toyota Yaris has broken the 200k mark to finish above the Corsa. Amazingly, this is the only Toyota to feature in the top 25, although the company made the top ten on the list of manufacturers.
8: Skoda Octavia – 223,352 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 3%
With more than six million Octavias of all generations sold, this is by far the best-seller in the Skoda range. Registrations might have been down in 2018, but this is around 50,000 more units than the Fabia.
7: Volkswagen Tiguan – 224,788 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 5%
With three models in the top ten, Volkswagen recorded a 3 percent increase in registrations, with sales totalling 1.75 million. As an aside, the majority of vehicles registered in 2018 were powered by petrol engines, with the fuel type making up 57 percent of all registrations.
6: Peugeot 208 – 230,026 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 6%
Interestingly, the top seven cars have all retained their places in 2018, which proves that European consumers are a predictable bunch.
5: Nissan Qashqai – 233,026 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 6%
The Nissan Qashqai remains Europe’s most popular crossover, although the Volkswagen Tiguan is closing in.
4: Ford Fiesta – 270,738 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 6%
Britain’s best-selling car is Europe’s fourth-best, with registrations up from 254,539 to 270,738. The new Fiesta is available in a range of flavours, including hot ST, posh Vignale (pictured) and semi-rugged Active.
3: Volkswagen Polo – 299,920 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 10%
It was another good year for the Volkswagen Polo, although the premium supermini fell agonisingly short of the 300,000 mark. Just 80 more units would have made all the difference.
2: Renault Clio – 336,268 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: up 2%
A new Renault Clio will be shown at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, but sales of the outgoing model are showing no signs of slowing up. Good work, Renault.
1: Volkswagen Golf – 445,754 registrations
Change 2017 vs 2018: down 8%
Even with an 8 percent fall in registrations, the Volkswagen Golf remains the best-selling car in Europe. Sales of diesel models were down by a massive 30 percent. Still, there’s little chance of anything catching the Golf in 2019.
Are there other reasons for Nissan’s decision? Indeed. Nissan already builds the X-Trail in various factories across the world, with European-specification cars manufactured in Japan. It believes the cost of building them there will be cheaper in the long run.
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