Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback review: Vorsprung durch electric September 6, 2022 Audi has played to its strengths with the Q4 E-Tron: an electric SUV with brilliant build quality and refined road manners. We drive it.
UK car production grows for third consecutive month but still below pre-Covid August 25, 2022 UK automotive production grew in July by 8.6 per cent, marking the third consecutive month of growth, according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Factories produced 4,605 additional vehicles – a signal that component shortages might begin to ease – while output for the UK market surged 40.7 [...]
Toyota ad banned for encouraging ‘unsafe and irresponsible driving’ August 24, 2022 Toyota’s ad for the GR Series car has been banned after a watchdog ruled the promotional campaign “condoned and encouraged unsafe and irresponsible driving.” It appeared on the Guardian and the i between April and May, and ad depicts three cars driving close to one another on a country road, with a text at the [...]
Car chain Lookers profits dip as soaring costs throttle jump in sales August 24, 2022 Car dealership chain Lookers has reported a dip in profits for the first half of the year as soaring costs and supply strains offset a jump in revenue to £2.23bn. In a trading update today, bosses said that pre-tax profits fell from £50.4m in the first six months of last year to £49.9m in 2022, [...]
Used car market shrinks due to knock-on impact on new vehicles August 10, 2022 The UK used car market has shrunk by almost 19 per cent in the second quarter of this year due to the knock-on impact of semiconductor shortages on new vehicles. According to data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 1.7 million second-hand transactions have taken place – down by 407,820 [...]
German tyre maker Continental posts €251m loss following ‘hurricane’ of setbacks August 9, 2022 German automotive manufacturer Continental has posted a quarterly loss of €251m (£212.3m) as it described the current setbacks as a “hurricane.” “The current headwind is rather like a hurricane and will not subside any time soon,” commented chief financial officer Katja Dürrfeld. “Given this environment, we have performed well and become more resilient. “We cannot [...]
Cazoo CFO steps down as company reports £243m half-year loss August 2, 2022 Cazoo has announced its chief financial officer Stephen Morana will step down at the end of the year as the company reported a half-year loss of £243m. Morana will be replaced in the fourth quarter of this year by Graphcore finance boss Paul Woolf. “I would like to thank Stephen for his notable contributions, including [...]
Toyota to leave UK if government bans hybrids July 31, 2022 Toyota has threatened to stop manufacturing in the UK if the government goes ahead with its plans to ban the sale of hybrid cars from 2030. The marquee told government officials the ban would constrain “manufacturing, retail and other business activities” as well as “future investment.” “If the government adopts an SZEC [significant zero emission [...]
Aston Martin’s profits drop as supply chain disruption scuppers deliveries July 29, 2022 Luxury sports car seller Aston Martin today said its losses had more than doubled due to the impact of supply chain disruption in the first half of 2022. Aston Martin said its sales volumes dropped eight per cent from 2,901 in the first half of 2021 to 2,676 in the first half of 2022. The [...]
Car industry downgrades yearly output forecast amid semiconductor issues and Ukraine war July 28, 2022 The UK automotive industry has downgraded its production forecast for the year as global chip shortages and the war in Ukraine’s impact continue to bite. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) told journalists today production will grow by 1 per cent. This means that 866,000 cars will be built by the end of [...]