Can Volkswagen really pivot to defence? Tech Can Volkswagen really pivot into defence? Saskia Koopman examines whether one of Europe’s great industrial names can reinvent itself for an era of rearmament. For most of its eight-decade history, Volkswagen has stood as a symbol of Europe’s industrial might – churning cars out at scale and underpinning entire regional economies. But at the company’s [...]
Volkswagen Passat Estate review: Second place in the space race Life&Style Volkswagen has celebrated several big birthdays in recent years, with both the Polo supermini and Golf hatchback marking their 50th anniversaries. Yet the Passat, first launched in 1973, seemingly did not merit a special commemorative edition when it turned 50. Volkswagen has launched a new version of the Passat, though, now only available in estate [...]
Electric vehicle grants return, but most buyers will miss out Tech The UK government has reintroduced grants for electric vehicles (EVs) in a bid to boost lagging consumer demand, but industry insiders warn that most buyers may be left behind. Unveiled late last week, the new electric car grant will offer up to £3,750 off the price of a new EV, targeting models priced under £37,000 [...]
Little respite for carmakers despite Trump’s tariff rowback April 30, 2025 Donald Trump’s rowback on tariffs provides little respite for a global car industry already struggling to cope. Following intense lobbying from manufacturers, the mercurial US president on Tuesday introduced a set of relief measures for carmakers which enable them to pay less in import taxes for foreign parts. While the move will be welcomed by [...]
Carwow boss: Why Chinese EVs have become so popular April 28, 2025 China’s share of the UK car market has soared in the last two years to make up more than 10 per cent of imports as Brits embrace an influx of new, cheaper models. Many of China’s biggest manufacturers, from BYD to Geely, are jostling to become the dominant player in the UK EV segment, setting [...]
Jaecoo is the new SUV in town and it’s coming for Land Rover April 12, 2025 You’ve probably never heard of the car brand Jaecoo before, but you’re about to start seeing a lot of them. The Jaecoo 7 boasts the three things most motorists in the UK are looking for in a new set of wheels: It’s a mid-size SUV; it’s hybrid with fantastic fuel economy and all the latest [...]
Bentley profit falls on weak China demand March 19, 2025 Bentley Motors has reported a drop in profit and revenue as its boss flagged weaker demand in China. The luxury carmaker, which is owned by Volkswagen, posted an annual operating profit of €373m (£314m) and revenue of €2.6bn (2.2bn). While the profit haul marked the sixth highest in Bentley’s history, it was down more than [...]
The Capitalist: Madders’ badders, desk politics and Volkswagen’s sausage boom March 13, 2025 Justin Madders slips up, desks become status symbols and Volkswagen celebrates sausages sales. That and more in this week's The Capitalist.
Shipping giants face landmark cartel class action for overcharging UK motorists January 13, 2025 First follow-on cartel class action to hit a trial in the UK kicks off over allegations that shipping firms overcharged British consumers for car deliveries
Porsche holding company warns of £17bn writedown in Volkswagen stake December 14, 2024 Volkswagen is suffering from high costs, fierce Asian competition and a prolonged bitter conflict with unions over plant closures.