Author: Robin Roberts

The UK new car market rose by 7.2% in February to 90,100 registrations, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, but EV demand is slowing again. The growth brings the highest February volume in 22 years, although the month is conventionally lower volume and therefore more volatile, with many buyers preferring to wait for the March number plate change. Demand was largely driven by recovering private retail registrations, up 17.6% to 35,227 units, while fleet uptake grew by 1.8% and the lower-volume business segment declined by -12.7%. Fleets remained the largest source of…

Welsh Government has pulled support for 10,000 people and 130 companies who are members of the Welsh Automotive Forum, writes Robin Roberts. The 27 year old trade cluster has published its intention to voluntarily dissolve at the end of this month when funding ceases through Industry Wales, which is also being closed down by Welsh Government. WAF was established in 1999 to assist local suppliers and businesses threatened by the breakup of Rover Group in the Midlands which had itself been created out of the disintegration of British Leyland. Welsh Government was then so concerned about the implications for local…

Competition in the UK car market is tough, very tough, and Chinese brand Skywell is ramping up the challenge. Introduced early 2025, it quickly realised it had to raise its game and this year intensified its sales drive with better driver technology, improved comfort and lower prices helped by ev-grants and importer discounts. There are under 20 UK dealers for the brand and about a quarter are spread through south and west Wales, where buyers appreciate value for money and the practical features of the Skywell BE11 suv. There are just two versions, with a choice of 72kWh Standard or…

There has been an encouraging start to this year’s new car registrations, but pure battery car have slowed while Chinese makes have gained ground. Car makers now want a rethink on the support for electric cars and proposed pence-per-mile road tolls for them. It also saw a Chinese brand take second place in the UK top ten and three occupied the top ten slots. Regionally, English dealers saw a 5.3% rise, Wales declined 0.15% and Scotland dipped 7.31% but Northern Ireland suffered the biggest downturn at 11.26%. The UK new car market grew by 3.4% in January to reach 144,127…

Genesis was slow coming into Britain but it has accelerated is pace and progress. After a long spell in the US, Genesis arrived in the UK in summer 2021, initially into the business-backed fleet sector where it promised unrivalled VIP buying and service arrangements through direct sales and ‘studios’ with a “we come to you” business model for exclusivity. After gradually building up its brand and range from pure petrol or diesel models it eased into the ev-sector as well. Behind the scenes it also migrated from a stand-alone brand as the halo of the Hyundai Group – which also…

The Kia EV4 is a landmark model for the brand and possibly the UK car market. The EV4 breaks new ground for Kia as the first zero emissions model made in their Slovakian factory and their first hatchback model to have an electric powertrain. Building on the success of the more utilitarian EV3 BEV, the new model is aimed at the markets for Hatchback and Fastback buyers and delivers a far more sporting drive as well. Its careful pricing with initial finance contributions from UK Government and Kia finance build on its practical roomy and spacious package. There is also…

Ford has taken a traditionally cautious approach towards its pure electric range and it’s reaping the benefits without disappointing familiar buyers and going out on a limb. It has scaled back on its pure EV future and written off £14.5Billion investment as it refocuses on future models. Broadly, it is going to fall in line with rivals who are now preparing to offer a range of petrol, mild and plug-in hybrids along with pure electric models in selected markets. It wants to have the widest possible appeal to a very diverse customer base. So, the highly successful stylish petrol Puma…

The number of new cars registered in the UK exceeded two million last year for the first time since the pandemic. Nearly 500,000 of the new cars sold were electric, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, welcomed what he called a “reasonably solid result amid tough economic and geopolitical headwinds”. But electric car sales were still not increasing fast enough to meet official targets, he said, warning of a growing gap between consumer demand and the government’s ambitions. Discounts worth thousands per vehicle were “unsustainable”, he said. In total,…

Audi has dealt a clever hand and a blow to rivals by offering petrol or diesel mild hybrid new versions of its highly popular Q5 rather than go down the pure electric road now being taken by competitors. It is, simply, building and selling the cars customers are asking for in their lives. They are also a lot cheaper than pure battery electric vehicles. While initially sold with a self-charging 48-volt motor, there will be plug in hybrids joining the range in the near future. Now in its third series, the range comprises six versions with petrol or diesel engines,…

International Motors Ltd, a leading UK-based vehicle importer and distributor, will introduce new Mitsubishi vehicles to the UK from next summer. The new models, drawn from Mitsubishi Motors’ global line-up, will bring the brand’s latest advancements in innovation and four-wheel drive technologies, to the UK market, it said today. Complementing the established Mitsubishi aftersales network of over one hundred sites, a dedicated number of retailers are currently being appointed to handle sales and customer service. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in summer 2026. Sharon Townsend, Head of Mitsubishi Motors in Solihull, said, “We’re delighted to be introducing exciting new Mitsubishi…