Daily Motor News – Monday 13 January 2025

Weekend round-up 

According to Techcrunch AI and automated driving topped the bill at this year’s CES technology show in Las Vegas with the likes of BMW and Amazon set to roll out their LLM-powered capabilities as part of a beta in select vehicles and countries. Vehicle screens too were a major focus with automotive supplier Hyundai Mobis showing off a holographic screen that covers the entire windshield, whilst developments in micromobility – ebikes and scooters – were too prominent. 

Contrary to the major drive for AI in vehicles at CES, a Deloitte study has found that over a quarter of UK drivers do not trust AI in cars, mirroring scepticism in the US (26%) and Germany (25%).

Meanwhile, according to the BBC Norway could be the first nation to go all EV with nine out of 10 new vehicles sold last year electric. By contrast EVs made up 20% of all new cars registered in the UK – a record high. In the US that figure was just eight percent. 

And despite the recent freezing temperatures and safety warnings for motorists, research from Ebay has found that one in four (25%) of drivers only checked their tyre pressure on a quarterly basis, while 11% admitted to only checking their tyre tread on a yearly basis. At the same time almost two fifths (19%) of motorists only check their brakes when their car is due its annual service or MOT.   

With the recent freezing temperatures coming to an end for now across the UK – although concerns remain with some 40 flood warnings in place – now might be the ideal time to give that vehicle the ‘once over’.

CES 2025: Self-driving cars were everywhere, plus other transportation tech trends

Even before CES 2025 kicked off a few trends began to emerge — or more accurately, some gaps appeared. All US and some European automakers that have helped turn CES into an auto show were absent. Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by China’s Geely Holdings. Wey, a premium brand under Great Wall Motor, and Xpeng also had booths. Full story

Steering change: Technology drives motor insurance forward

Motor insurance is no actuarial exception – technology is changing things rapidly. Claims technicians and vehicle mechanics will need to keep up.

Technological innovations – including digitalisation, automation, data analytics and advanced diagnostic tools – are transforming motor insurance claims and crash repairs, improving claims processing and providing cost savings. Full story

Drivers facing winter woes: eBay data reveals motorists neglect basic vehicle maintenance and a quarter fear wintery drives

British motorists driving over the winter months could be at risk of potential problems, after research from eBay revealed a significant number of drivers are neglecting basic car maintenance tasks. The data found that one in four (25%) of drivers only checked their tyre pressure on a quarterly basis. Full story

No let up in drink-driving offences over Christmas

The number of people continuing to drive after drinking or taking drugs is “concerning”, a police force has said. Wiltshire Police arrested 96 people for offences related to drink or drug-driving from 1 December to 1 January as part of its annual Don’t Risk It campaign. Of those arrests, 45 were for drink driving, and 25 were for drug driving. Full story

Raids found stolen cars in shipping containers

Five people have been charged after police found stolen cars hidden on a Nottinghamshire farm. Two SUVs were found in a shipping container and a further five cars in outbuildings during a raid in Ollerton Road, Carburton, on 15 October 2023. Full story

UK drivers among most sceptical globally about AI in cars

British drivers are among the most sceptical in the world when it comes to having artificial intelligence (AI) in vehicles, according to research by Deloitte. The Global Automotive Consumer Study, surveying over 31,000 individuals across 30 countries, found that over a quarter (26%) of British drivers remain unconvinced about the benefits of AI in cars. Full story

Auto Trader predicts used car sales growth

Auto Trader’s latest Monthly Market Intelligence Report found that the UK’s used car market grew by three per cent last year. It is further predicting a 1.2% increase in used car sales this year as well as a seven per cent rise in new car sales. By fuel type it is forecasting a 26% increase in electric vehicle sales. Full story

Protecting your supercar this winter

ERS has warned that the winter weather can wreak havoc on supercars, causing damage and impacting performance. Notably, the majority of supercars are equipped with summer tyres which are not suitable for the icy winter conditions. It has listed the top tips to protect supercars during icy conditions. Full story

Top 10 most scrapped cars of 2024

The Ford Focus has been announced as the most scrapped car in the UK in 2024 – marking the eighth year in a row it has topped the list. It accounted for 6.3% of all vehicles scrapped while the Vauxhall Astra represented 5.6% of all cars scrapped. Full story

Armstead revisited

In response to the Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill, the Government introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to modernise UK safety regulations. However, concerns remain about whether it sufficiently tackles specific issues around lithium-ion batteries. Keoghs has taken a deeper dive into comments made surrounding lithium-ion batteries during the Committee Stage in the House of Lords as well as the likely timeline for the bills progression through Parliament. Full story

Recyclus to recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries for leading global automotive company

Recyclus has entered into an agreement to recycle lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs for a leading global automotive company. Under the terms of the contract, it will process hundreds of electric vehicle (EV) Li-ion battery packs at its Wolverhampton industrial-scale recycling facility. Full story

Good Practice of the Month – January 2025 awarded to ASIMOB (Spain) for improving work zone safety

The January spotlight features ASIMOB (Advanced Services in MOBility SL) from Spain for their impactful initiative, “Work Zone Signage Control through Computer Vision to Improve Road Safety.” This innovative service leverages advanced technology to improve the monitoring and maintenance of work zone signage, ensuring safer conditions for road users. Full story

In brief

Higher polluting vehicles will cost more to park in a county town, a local authority has proposed. Those with the highest carbon dioxide emissions would see charges more than double from April, under plans drawn up by Reading Borough Council. Full story

Jameel Motors has appointed Inchcape executive Tom Carney as its first managing director in the UK.