Author: Aimee Turner

Japan’s manufacturing heavyweights Honda and Nissan are set to start merger talks as they battle mounting competition from Chinese EV manufacturers, reports the Nikkei. As Japan’s second and third largest automobile makers after Toyota, each have seen market share erode, particularly in China, where EV sales hit 1.27 million units in November – nearly 70% of the worldwide total. In 2023, Honda and Nissan sold a combined 7.4 million vehicles worldwide but are grappling to maintain pace as those rivals surge ahead. The 2 corporations had already been strengthening ties: in March, they agreed to collaborate on EVs, and by…

AM100 dealership group Hendy Group will officially open its all-new, state-of-the-art automotive dealership on Kingstanding Way in Tunbridge Wells in January. The brand new dealership, positioned next to the Kingstanding Retail Park off the A21, will sell, as an authorised dealer, recent and used Ford, Mazda and Kia cars and Ford business vehicles, in addition to being an authorised repair centre, providing customers with comprehensive service, maintenance and repair support. Hendy Group has invested greater than £6 million within the disused brownfield location, which was formerly occupied by John Lewis and has been vacant since April 2021. The Kingstanding Way…

Used automobile sales proceed to point out robust demand and improving pricing trends, based on the newest Auto Trader Retail Price Index. The common price of a used automobile in November was £16,492, reflecting a modest month-on-month dip of 0.6%, aligning with historic seasonal trends. This marks the fifth consecutive month of improving year-on-year pricing trends, signalling sustained retail demand. Vehicles sold two days faster in November in comparison with 2023, with a mean of 31 days on forecourts. Electric vehicles sold even quicker at 28 days, with three-to-five-year-old EVs turning over in only 22 days. Despite this, Auto Trader…

The Toyota Yaris has clinched the title of probably the most reliable supermini, boasting a guaranty claim rate of just 3.6%, in keeping with Warranty Solutions Group (WSG). The highest three commonest warranty claims were the wheel bearings (averaging £271.00), concentric slave cylinder (£313.32) and air con condenser (£420.07). Known for its urban agility and impressive motorway performance, WSG said the fourth-generation Yaris combines reliability with fuel efficiency, making it a top alternative in its class – despite its relatively high price, limited rear passenger space, a small boot, and somewhat plain interior. The Toyota Aygo got here an in…

Vauxhall is to shut its van manufacturing plant in Luton, a move that might impact 1,100 jobs.Parent company Stellantis said it now plans to transfer van production from Luton, Bedfordshire, to its factory in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, citing the UK’s difficult economic conditions and the federal government’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate as key aspects behind the choice.This recent development signals a shift in Stellantis’s strategy because it consolidates UK light business vehicle manufacturing on one site and follows Ford’s decision to chop 4,000 jobs across Europe, including 800 within the UK. Login to proceed reading Or register with AM-online to maintain up so far with…

Ineos Automotive is planning to restart production of its Grenadier and Quartermaster models in early January, following a halt in September attributable to a critical component shortage. The corporate confirmed that every one partners are prepared to support the resumption of operations at its manufacturing facility in Hambach, France, which produces vehicles for delivery. Lynn Calder, CEO of Ineos, said: “It’s great news that an answer has been found so quickly. Automotive supply chains are extremely complex, but we weren’t willing to compromise on quality, so we’re satisfied that we have now found the most effective possible end result.” Despite…

It’s no secret the automotive industry has hit a couple of potholes in 2024. Flattened consumer spending, persistently high rates of interest and provide chain disruptions stemming from geopolitical tensions have forced auto manufacturers (each budget and luxury) to negatively adjust their forecasts, writes Adrian Stalham of Sullivan & Stanley Aston Martin’s production volume for 2024 has fallen to six,000, representing a 14% decline from its initial guidance. Meanwhile, plummeting sales in China have caused VW’s profits to fall by 60%. Although there are vibrant spots – reminiscent of global electric vehicle (EV) sales being up 22% in H1 2024,…

The used EV market is showing signs of decline, in line with recent data from Marketcheck, with sales slipping while petrol vehicle sales achieved a yearly peak. While petrol automotive sales jumped from 175,897 in May to 190,320 in October, used EV sales saw a marked 11% drop in only two months, with concerns mounting around charging infrastructure, cost, and the impact of tightening household budgets. Alastair Campbell, Marketcheck UK, commented: “That is the primary statistically significant drop within the sales of used EVs now we have recorded. Alongside the more positive petrol figures, it might suggest a shift in…

Peoples is to expand beyond its 42-year history with Ford to incorporate Chinese brands BYD and Omoda/Jaecoo across its dealerships in Scotland and England.In 2022, Peoples said it was considering latest automobile retail franchise partnerships after years of solely representing Ford. On the time Brian Gilda, chairman of the Falkirk-based AM100 automobile retail group, suggested that the UK’s economic uncertainty, Ford’s shifting business model and the challenge of transitioning long-standing customers of the now- discontinued Fiesta right into a latest automobile had all played a component in the choice.Announcing its latest financial results which saw a 7.6% drop in turnover to £283.449m and…

The UK financial watchdog plans to seek the advice of on extending the time finance firms have to reply to consumer complaints involving non-discretionary commissions and granting consumers more time to escalate these complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service.“We’re acting swiftly to deal with concerns raised by the Court of Appeal’s recent ruling,” the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced this week.Expected to publish proposals inside two weeks, the FCA is aiming for a mid-December implementation of this extension, should it’s adopted. Login to proceed reading Or register with AM-online to maintain up so far with the most recent UK automotive retail…