IEA calls for global ban on petrol and diesel car sales by 2035 September 20, 2022 The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called for a global ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035. In a report published today, the intergovernmental agency said that global progress on the transition to net-zero transport is falling short of Paris Agreement targets. The study revealed that electric vehicles need to increase [...]
Cazoo shuts EU operations down as it targets return to profitability September 8, 2022 Online car retailer Cazoo announced on Thursday it will shut down its EU operations as it targets a return to profitability by the end of next year. The company reported in August a £243m half-year loss, which prompted a review of its business. Cazoo said its EU operations would require additional external capital, which is [...]
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 [...]