logo
The cheap EVs just keep coming and Dacia is at it again!

The cheap EVs just keep coming and Dacia is at it again!

Auto Express3 days ago
Earlier this year, Dacia revealed plans to launch a new £15,000 small electric car in double-quick time, reducing the car's development cycle to just 16 months. Now, following our call with the brand's VP for sales and marketing, it appears positive news is just around the corner.
Speaking on the media call discussing Dacia's 2025 H1 financial results, Frank Marotte told Auto Express: '[Dacia is] committed to increasing our BEV share, our BEV volumes, and our contribution to the Renault Group's CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy).
'So we keep developing the model that was announced earlier this year by (ex-Renault CEO) Luca de Meo, and we will bring more news to you in the coming months about this. You will not wait for too long,' Marotte told us. Advertisement - Article continues below
The existing Dacia Spring is one of the very cheapest EVs money can buy. See if you could save even more via the Auto Express 'Find a Car' service .
De Meo claimed the car will be developed in just 16 months, beating the 21 months that it'll take the Twingo to go from green light to production. 'I defy any competitor in the world to do that, including the Chinese when they come to Europe,' de Meo said at Renault's annual results conference back in January, where the group announced a third successive year of record figures. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
It means Dacia's next EV is now less than 12 months away, with a launch planned for summer 2026. De Meo pledged that the new car, which will be based on the new Renault Twingo, will cost less than 18,000 Euros (around £15,000), and that it will 'always be a true Dacia, and true value for money', as well as 'making money in the way Dacia is used to'.
The model is likely to be sold, at least in the short term, alongside the existing Dacia Spring EV – itself new to market only last year. But because the Spring is built in China, it's at the mercy of European tariffs on Chinese EVs, which could raise its price by as much as 35 per cent. In time, the new model will probably replace the Spring in the UK and Europe.
It should offer an improvement on the Spring's 140-mile range, although it will still be an urban-focused model with efficiency and value at its core. It'll major on its small footprint, but with five doors and seating for four.
Basing the car on the group's AmpR Small platform will boost economies of scale, made easier by the fact that Renault has now confirmed the Twingo will be built in right-hand drive – meaning the dinky Dacia is all but confirmed for the UK, too.
Find a car with the experts MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant
MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant
In order to boost sales, MG is announcing its own a £1,500 grant for some of its EVs Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers
Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers
With a dramatic rise in sales, Mike Rutherford thinks it's only a matter of time before Chinese cars outsell all other countries in the UK Roll over diesel: EVs are now doing the big mileage in the UK
Roll over diesel: EVs are now doing the big mileage in the UK
The average UK electric car now covers more than 10,000 miles per year, a similar amount to the average diesel.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks as EU trade deal nears
Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks as EU trade deal nears

Reuters

time19 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks as EU trade deal nears

EDINBURGH/LONDON, July 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arrived in Scotland on Friday for some golf and bilateral talks that could yield a trade deal with the European Union. Trump told reporters before leaving the U.S. that he will visit his two golf properties in Scotland and meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish leader John Swinney. Trump said he and Starmer would discuss the U.S.-British trade deal and perhaps even "improve" it, but gave no details. He said Washington was also working hard on a possible trade deal with the European Union, which he said was very keen to make a deal. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said later she would meet Trump in Scotland on Sunday. EU diplomats say a deal could result in a broad 15% tariff on EU goods, mirroring a framework agreement with Japan reached this week and half of the 30% Trump is threatening to impose by August 1. Trump has sought to reorder the global economy after imposing a 10% tariff on nearly all trading partners in April and threatening sharply higher rates for many countries to kick in a week from now. Trump says the moves will reduce the U.S. trade deficit and bring in extra revenue, but economists warn the new trade policies could drive up inflation. The Republican president faces the biggest domestic political crisis of his second term in office. Allies and opponents alike have criticized his administration's handling of investigative files related to Epstein's criminal charges and the circumstances of his 2019 death in prison. The issue has caused a rare breach with some of Trump's most loyal Make America Great Again supporters, and majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believe the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. White House officials, frustrated by the ongoing focus on the Epstein saga, are hoping the controversy dies down while Trump is abroad, one person familiar with the matter said. As part of the visit, Trump will open a second 18-hole course on the Aberdeen property named in honor of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born and raised on a Scottish island before emigrating to America. As he left the White House, Trump told reporters that he looked forward to meeting both Starmer and Swinney, who had publicly backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. "We have a lot of things in Scotland. I have a lot of love - my mother was born in Scotland," he said. "The Scottish leader is a good man, so I look forward to meeting him," Trump said. The trip, initially billed as a private visit, gives Trump and Starmer a chance to deepen their already warm relationship, with key issues on the agenda to include ending Russia's war in Ukraine, British and U.S. sources said. British officials have been heartened by what they see as a clear shift in Trump's rhetoric on Ukraine and Russia in recent weeks, a British source said. The deteriorating situation in Gaza is also likely to come up. Starmer on Thursday said he would hold an emergency call with France and Germany over what he called the "unspeakable and indefensible" suffering and starvation being reported there, and called on Israel to allow aid to enter the Palestinian enclave. Gaza health authorities say more than 100 people have died from starvation, most of them in recent weeks. Human rights groups have said mass starvation is spreading even as tonnes of food and other supplies sit untouched just outside the territory. Since being elected last year, Starmer has prioritized good relations with Trump, stressing the importance of Britain's defense and security alliance with the U.S. and being careful to avoid openly criticizing Trump's tariff policies. Britain sealed the first tariff-reduction deal with the U.S. in May, which reaffirmed quotas and tariff rates on British automobiles and eliminated tariffs on the UK's aerospace sector, but left steel tariffs in place. Starmer is expected to press for lower steel tariffs, but sources close to the matter said it was unclear if any breakthrough was possible during Trump's visit. Trump has described Scotland as a "very special place" and made a similar trip there in 2016 during his first run for the presidency, but he will not necessarily get a warm welcome. About 70% of Scots have an unfavorable opinion, opens new tab of Trump, while 18% have a favorable opinion, an Ipsos poll in March found. Scottish police are girding for protests on Saturday in both Aberdeen and in Edinburgh, the country's capital. Trump will return to Britain from September 17-19 for a state visit hosted by King Charles. It will make Trump the first world leader in modern times to undertake two state visits to Britain. The late Queen Elizabeth hosted him at Buckingham Palace for a three-day state visit in June 2019.

Accountant who defrauded farmer in mortgage deception case gets suspended sentence
Accountant who defrauded farmer in mortgage deception case gets suspended sentence

BreakingNews.ie

time22 minutes ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Accountant who defrauded farmer in mortgage deception case gets suspended sentence

An accountant and property developer who defrauded a farmer by taking out a €54,000 mortgage on his behalf and using it to pay off his debts nearly 20 years ago has been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence. Francis Joseph Woods (75) applied for a mortgage for an investment property in Manchester on the injured party's behalf in 2007 in his capacity as the director of a property development company, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Advertisement The farmer, who used Woods' accountancy firm and knew Woods personally since he had managed his own father's business, paid a deposit of €14,000 and signed a loan document after meeting Woods and a mortgage broker in a pub. When he did not hear anything further in relation to the investment property, the farmer asked for his deposit back, which was eventually returned to him in 2008. However, the following year, the man was contacted by Ulster Bank and informed he was in debt to the mortgage amount of €54,500 plus interest. Woods, of Damestown, The Naul, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of defrauding the man on a date between August 2007 and November 2007. A mortgage drawdown letter purporting to be signed by the injured party was uncovered during the garda investigation. Advertisement It is the State's case that Woods used the mortgage money to pay costs related to his property development business. The garda investigation started in 2015 when the farmer made a complaint to gardaí. Woods was questioned in 2019 and made some admissions, telling gardaí he was in financial difficulty at the time. He has no previous convictions apart from some minor road traffic matters from 25 years ago. A victim impact statement was handed into court but not read aloud. Sentencing Woods on Friday, Judge Orla Crowe said that Woods had been a 'trusted adviser' to the injured party, and breached this trust, which was an aggravating factor. Advertisement Judge Crowe said this was a 'grievous breach of trust by a professional qualified person in a fiduciary position' who had 'abused that fiduciary position'. She noted the victim impact statement outlined the 'terrible impact' on the injured party, who still owes a 'significant amount' of money. Ireland Enoch Burke wins appeal over composition of discip... Read More The judge said the injured party wanted Woods to know that he trusted him and had considered him to be a 'pillar of the community'. She said the mitigation included the guilty plea, a token of remorse of €10,000 and that he has not come to recent negative garda attention. The judge said she also took into account Woods's health issues and the contents of testimonials, many of which spoke of the defendant's honesty, adding that the court noted he was dishonest on this occasion, and 'fell into temptation'. She imposed a sentence of 18 months, suspended on strict conditions.

Oil prices dip to settle at 3-week low on US and China economic concerns
Oil prices dip to settle at 3-week low on US and China economic concerns

Reuters

timean hour ago

  • Reuters

Oil prices dip to settle at 3-week low on US and China economic concerns

NEW YORK, July 25 (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Friday and settled at a three-week low as traders worried about negative economic news from the U.S. and China and signs of growing supply. Losses were limited by optimism U.S. trade deals could boost global economic growth and oil demand in the future. Brent crude futures fell 74 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $68.44, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 87 cents, or 1.3%, to settle at $65.16. Those were the lowest settlement levels for Brent since July 4 and WTI since June 30. For the week, Brent was down about 1% with WTI down about 3%. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday in Scotland. European Union officials and diplomats said they expected to reach a framework trade deal this weekend. The euro zone economy has remained resilient to the pervasive uncertainty caused by a global trade war, a slew of data showed on Friday, even as European Central Bank policymakers appeared to temper market bets on no more rate cuts. In the U.S., new orders for U.S.-manufactured capital goods unexpectedly fell in June while shipments of those products increased moderately, suggesting business spending on equipment slowed considerably in the second quarter. Trump said he had a good meeting with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and got the impression that the head of the U.S. central bank might be ready to lower interest rates. Lower interest rates reduce consumer borrowing costs and can boost economic growth and demand for oil. In China, the world's second-biggest economy, fiscal revenue dipped 0.3% in the first six months from a year earlier, the finance ministry said, maintaining the rate of decline seen between January and May. The U.S. is preparing to allow partners of Venezuela's state-run PDVSA ( starting with U.S. oil major Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab, to operate with limitations in the sanctioned nation, sources said on Thursday. That could boost Venezuelan oil exports by a little more than 200,000 barrels per day (bpd), news U.S. refiners would welcome, as it would ease tightness in the heavier crude market, ING analysts wrote. Iran said it would continue nuclear talks with European powers after "serious, frank, and detailed" conversations on Friday, the first such face-to-face meeting since Israel and the U.S. bombed Iran last month. Venezuela and Iran are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Any deal that could increase the amount of oil either sanctioned country could export would boost the amount of crude available to global markets. OPEC said the joint ministerial monitoring committee (JMMC) scheduled to convene on Monday does not hold decision-making authority over production levels. Four OPEC+ delegates said an OPEC+ panel is to raise oil output when it meets, noting the producer group is keen to recover market share while summer demand is helping to absorb the extra barrels. OPEC+ includes OPEC and allies like Russia. In Russia, the world's No. 2 crude producer behind the U.S., daily oil exports from its western ports are set to be around 1.77 million bpd in August, down from 1.93 million bpd in July's plan, Reuters calculations based on data from two sources show. In the U.S., energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for the 12th time in 13 weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store