Toyota crowned world’s largest car maker for second year in a row January 28, 2022 Car giant Toyota was crowned the world’s largest car maker for the second year in a row, after sales went up 10.1 per cent in 2021. The Japanese manufacturer reported today 10.5 million sales, widening the lead with rival Volkswagen, who delivered only 8.9 million vehicles – the lowest in 10 years. Toyota has managed [...]
Go green or go home: Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi invest £19.2bn in EV development January 27, 2022 A consortium formed by automotive giants Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi will invest €23bn (£19.2bn) within the next five years to develop electric vehicles (EV). As part of its Alliance 2030 electrification strategy, the consortium will increase the number of common EV platforms from four to five, developing 35 new EV models by 2030. The car [...]
UK car output worst since 1956 but EVs and investment brighten 2022 outlook January 27, 2022 2021 was a dismal year for the UK automotive industry, as output fell 6.7 per cent to less than 860,000 units – the lowest since 1956. Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that production went down 34 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, especially as a result of the [...]
Vroom vroom! Cazoo buys Italian online retailer in €80m deal January 26, 2022 Online car retailer Cazoo announced today it will acquire Italian rival Brumbrum in a €80m (£66.8m) deal. Cazoo will acquire Brumbrum in a mix of cash and Cazoo shares, with the transaction expected to be carried out in the next few days. By acquiring Brumbrum, the UK company will have access to the five most [...]
UK needs laws for self-driving cars, government bodies say January 26, 2022 Government bodies are currently lobbying for the UK to adopt a legislation that regulates self-driving vehicles. According to a joint report from the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission, introducing an ‘Automated Vehicles Act’ will help to draw “a clear distinction between features which just assist drivers, such as adaptive [...]
Bentley to develop first electric car as part of £2.5bn green push January 26, 2022 Bentley has announced the development of its first battery-powered electric vehicle as part of a 10-year sustainability push worth £2.5bn. The luxury car maker added that the first vehicles will be ready in three years’ time, as the company plans to become carbon neutral by 2030. “We are already marking the pinnacle in luxury car [...]
Lamborghini lags behind rivals rolling out first fully-electric car in 2030 January 25, 2022 Italian luxury car maker Lamborghini has announced its first fully electric car – a coupe SUV – will be rolled out in 2030. “Our car will perform at the highest level, but with the peculiarities of an electric vehicle,” the car maker’s chief executive Stephan Winkelmann told Italian news agency ANSA. “It will take some [...]
Going Dutch: Motorists who open door with wrong hand to be fined up to £1,000 January 25, 2022 Motorists who open their car’s door with the wrong hand will risk being fined up to £1,000. Under the new High Code’s updates – coming into force from Saturday – motorists are forced to use the ‘Dutch Reach’ manoeuvre, which requires drivers and passengers to get out of their cars using the hand “on the [...]
Used car prices continue ‘to defy gravity’ fuelling 30-year inflation record January 19, 2022 The increase in used car prices shows no sign of stopping and keeps on ‘defying gravity’, according to Auto Trader’s data and insights director Richard Walker. “To call the second-hand car market buoyant would be an understatement and, with new car supply remaining tight, consumer demand currently shows no sign of wavering,” Walker said. According [...]
Ford gains $8.2bn from Rivian investment January 19, 2022 Automotive giant Ford has made an $8.2bn gain from its investment into California electric truck maker and Tesla rival Rivian, following its November market debut. Reporting its fourth quarter results in early February, the Detroit car maker has also announced it would reclassify a $900m non-cash gain from the investment as a special item. As [...]