Latest news with #UKcars
Reuters
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
UK's car output drops in April, sees worst start to year since 2009
May 29 (Reuters) - Britain's vehicle output dropped sharply in April, marking the worst start to the year since 2009, due to weak export demand and the timing of Easter, industry data showed on Thursday. The drop comes as European carmakers strive to cut costs amid stiff competition, U.S. tariffs on auto imports, and a slowing global economy, with the outlook uncertain despite eased U.S.-China trade tensions. Total car and commercial vehicle production fell 15.8% from a year ago to 59,203 units in April, the lowest for that month since 1952, excluding the COVID-19 lockdown-hit 2020, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. UK car sales have fallen in three of the four months in 2025 so far. The April decline was driven by several factors, including the later timing of Easter, which reduced the number of production days in the month and contributed to production in March. Weak demand for cars in key export markets weighed on volumes, SMMT said. Shipments to the UK's two largest global markets, the EU and U.S., fell by 19.1% and 2.7%, respectively. "With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness," SMMT Chief Mike Hawes said in a statement. Britain has secured several trade accords since U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs, unleashing a trade war. Earlier this month, Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a limited bilateral trade agreement that includes cuts to U.S. tariffs on British car exports. In May, Britain also struck a deal with India cutting tariffs on goods while setting quotas for auto imports and repositioned itself closer to the European Union on defence, energy and agriculture. The SMMT said recent trade deals with the U.S., EU and India offer new opportunities, but warned that investment depends on a robust industrial strategy.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Ten cheapest cars to insure in UK for 2025.. including surprisingly plush saloon & sporty convertible
A GROUP of car insurance experts have revealed the cheapest cars to insure in the UK in 2025 – with some surprising models included. A new report from Car Insurance shows that it's not just small, low-powered models that help you save on vehicle cover. 3 3 The comparison site recently shared with Sun Motors their latest car insurance price index, revealing that the average cost of car insurance is £450. Typically, smaller, less powerful ca r s with good safety credentials are the cheapest to insure, such as the ever-popular Peugeot 206 and the compact Smart ForTwo. Unsurprisingly, both feature on list. However, there are a few unexpected entries, including the iconic Mazda MX-5 - which takes the top spot, costing an average of £250 to insure. Long dubbed 'the poster child for convertible cars', the MX-5 has often been recognised as a mechanically reliable choice that's also great fun to drive. The long-forgotten Saab 9-3, praised as a comfortable and practical saloon that also boasts good looks and an excellent safety record, also makes the list. Saab's former Swedish rivals Volvo are also on the list with the S40, costing just £290 to insure on average. Speaking to Sun Motors, Tom Banks, a car insurance expert at explained that the model of the car is just one of many factors insurers consider. He said: 'When an insurer offers you a quote for your car insurance, they take into account a whole range of factors – your age, the area you live in, and where your car is parked can all affect the price, as well as the type of car you drive. 'Generally speaking, more powerful, sporty cars with larger engines are more expensive to insure, while cars with smaller engines are typically more affordable to insure and run. 'While it's unlikely to be cost-effective to change your car solely to lower your insurance premium, if you're in the market for a new car anyway, it's definitely worth researching how much different models cost to insure. 'And if you're not planning to buy a new car but your premiums have increased, there are certain steps you can take to try to reduce the cost of insuring your vehicle.' car insurance top tips Pay annually: Paying monthly for your car insurance could cost you more - insurers view this as a loan and add interest, making it more expensive over the year. So if you can afford to, pay it all in one go. Consider the cover type: While you might think that opting for less cover is cheaper, this isn't always the case. Our data shows that third-party-only policies cost an average of £588, £138 more than comprehensive policies (£450). Job descriptions matter: If there are multiple titles you can use to describe your profession accurately, try them all out, as your car insurance premium could vary depending on which you use - but remember to always be truthful and accurate with your insurer. Time when you buy: Our data shows that you can make some serious savings if you shop in advance of your renewal date. In fact, it could cost you 30% more if you leave it to the day your policy is due for renewal.
ArabGT
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Trump's U.K. Trade Deal Sparks Outrage from Detroit Automakers
Remember when we warned that British carmakers could become the biggest losers under Trump's aggressive tariff agenda? It turns out the U.K. government shared the same concern—and acted fast. In a political and economic maneuver that stunned the auto world, Britain secured a deal with Washington that significantly softens U.S. tariffs on U.K.-made vehicles. And the biggest losers? Detroit's Big Three. The agreement, still in a preliminary phase, reduces U.S. import tariffs on British cars—many of which have no American components—from 25% down to just 10%. That figure matches the U.K.'s own duty on imported vehicles and applies to the first 100,000 cars shipped to the U.S. annually, conveniently covering Britain's current export volume. This has triggered a fierce backlash from American manufacturers, especially General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. Their frustration stems from the fact that vehicles built in Mexico or Canada—even those containing a high percentage of U.S. parts under the USMCA trade deal—remain subject to the full 25% tariff. In effect, a British car with almost no American content now costs less to import than a partially U.S.-made one. 'This hurts American automakers, suppliers and auto workers,' said Matt Blunt, President of the American Automotive Policy Council. 'We hope this preferential access for U.K. vehicles over North American ones does not set a precedent for future negotiations with Asian and European competitors.' The group criticized Trump for favoring the U.K.—a nation far removed from America's immediate trade sphere—over its closest partners. 'Under this deal, it will now be cheaper to import a U.K. vehicle with very little U.S. content than a USMCA-compliant vehicle from Mexico or Canada that is half American parts,' Blunt emphasized. The White House quickly fired back. 'No president has taken a greater personal interest in reviving the American auto industry than President Trump,' said spokesperson Kush Desai. He insisted that the administration is working closely with automakers to reshore manufacturing and deliver targeted relief through deregulation and tariffs. Still, the political calculus behind the agreement is hard to ignore. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced mounting pressure after a bruising local election loss, while Trump's approval ratings have been shaken amid fears of a looming trade-induced recession. The trade pact offers both leaders a chance to score a political win—and Trump wasted no time declaring a 'MAJOR TRADE DEAL' with a 'BIG, AND HIGHLY RESPECTED COUNTRY' on Truth Social, even before it was finalized. Back in the U.K., the reception was far more positive. Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, hailed the deal as 'great news' for British carmakers. 'The application of these tariffs was a severe and immediate threat to U.K. automotive exporters, so this deal will provide much-needed relief,' he said. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump admitted his own personal fondness for Britain's high-end car brands may have influenced his decision. Speaking to reporters, he said he favored lowering tariffs for companies like McLaren, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce—luxury manufacturers unlikely to ever build vehicles on American soil. 'That's really handmade stuff. They've been doing it for a long time in the same location,' Trump remarked. 'So I said, 'yeah, that would be good. Let's help them out with that one'.' Even though the 100,000-car limit caps potential future growth for the U.K. auto industry in the U.S., the financial markets responded swiftly. Shares in Aston Martin Lagonda—the only British automaker listed on the London Stock Exchange—jumped 14% following news of the deal. For Detroit's Big Three, however, the message was loud and clear: when it comes to Trump's trade priorities, it may be handcrafted luxury over homegrown industry.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Seven beloved motors BANNED from car parks over new ‘length rule' – check full list of models affected
SEVEN popular motors have been banned from UK car parks with drivers facing fines if they break the rules. Owners of well-known car models from top manufacturers will have their parking restricted because of a little known "length rule". This will affect the owners of popular cars including Tesla, Kia, BMW and Mercedes. Some of the best-selling vehicles affected include a Mercedes S-Class, Tesla Model S, BMW 7 series, Range Rovers, the Audi A8 and the Kia EV9. A Rolls Royce Cullinan as well as other high end sports car would also be barred. British automotive magazine, Autocar, reported that it has received confirmation of the rule from five local councils. Vehicles that are too long to fit into a parking space are now officially banned from parking in any of their council-run car parks. If your motor is longer than five metres, you'll be unable to use their parking bays which measure at 4.8 metres. Drivers could be hit with fines by the council if their car doesn't fit the bay. This poses a problem with cars getting bigger and larger over the years and which are now commonplace on British roads. Many of the spaces in these council-run car parks haven't been updated for decades. New Forest Council explained: "The standard parking space has remained at a consistent size for several decades. "However, national research has shown that on average, cars have got larger over time, both in width and in length. "In 1965 the top five models sold in the UK had an average width of 1.5 m and average length of 3.9 m, compared to an average width of 1.8 m and length of 4.3 m for the top five sellers of 2020." Autocar sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to every council in the UK asking whether they planned to extend parking bays to accommodate longer cars. The five local authorities implementing the ban are Wokingham, South Hampshire, Broadland, South Suffolk and West Devon. They confirmed to Autocar they had effectively banned any cars which fail to fit into their spaces. Wokingham Council addressed the FOI on its website. When asked whether cars exceeding a certain length were banned from their car parks, they confirmed the size rule was in place. They responded: "We have a limit on size of vehicle and weight of vehicle allowed to use the car parks these were introduced at different dates as shown below. ""Since June 2023, all motor vehicles whose maximum length does not exceed 5,00 metres and overall height exceeds 2.10 metres and whose gross weight does not exceed 3050 kilogrammes, except for access." Between 2017 and 2024, Wokingham found 153 instances of vehicles falling foul of the "length rule".
