Daily Motor News – Thursday 27 March 2025

Rising costs of car ownership drive interest in subscription models

Research commissioned by vehicle subscription service Pivotal highlights the growing financial and logistical challenges of car ownership in the UK. Rising insurance premiums, maintenance costs, and time-consuming servicing requirements are prompting consumers to explore alternative mobility solutions. Read more

Van insurance premiums see modest 1.6% rise amid signs of decline

Quoted van insurance premiums rose 1.6% in the year to the end of February but prices are starting to fall, according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Van Insurance Price Index¹.

The three months to the end of February saw quoted premiums drop 0.8% as competition increased and providers started to cut rates. Read more

LV= announces 2024 financial results

With a focused business strategy and balanced portfolio, LV= continues to deliver impactful results.

Overall, new business sales on a Present Value of New Business Premiums (PVNBP) basis grew by four per cent to £1,229m (FY 2023: £1,187m). Protection sales increased by 12% year-on-year, with PVNBP reaching £398m in 2024 (FY 2023: £356m). Savings and Retirement sales remained stable at £831m and there was positive growth for equity release sales. Read more

Trump announces 25% tariffs on car imports to US

President Donald Trump has announced new import taxes of 25% on cars and car parts coming into the US.

Trump said the latest tariffs would come into effect on 2 April, with charges on businesses importing vehicles starting the next day. Taxes on parts are set to start in May or later. Read more

US auto tariffs will hurt global automakers and US manufacturing at the same time

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is deeply concerned by the US President’s announcement of additional tariffs on our sector. It comes at a watershed moment for our industry’s transformation and as fierce international competition mounts. Read more

SMMT response to President Trump tariff news

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Rather than imposing additional tariffs, we should explore ways in which opportunities for both British and American manufacturers can be created as part of a mutually beneficial relationship, benefitting consumers and creating jobs and growth across the Atlantic.

“The industry urges both sides to come together immediately and strike a deal that works for all.” Read more

Analysing the government’s Spring Statement impact on automotive retail

Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said, “The Spring Statement did not provide an update on the electrification of the UK car parc. This transition provides a huge economic opportunity for the UK and the Government needs to be incentivising consumers to purchase a new vehicle, which will drive growth in the UK economy.

“Overall, there were missed opportunities to use the automotive sector to stimulate growth in the UK.” Read more

Electrifying times for Nissan: Britain’s biggest car maker prepares for arrival of third generation LEAF and updated Qashqai e-POWER, plus new Juke EV coming in FY26

Nissan’s ongoing electrified product offensive will be powered up with the launch of two all-new electric vehicles in 2025 – and a third coming soon – as well as an update to one of its most innovative and popular technologies. Read more

Car output down as sector calls for measures to boost manufacturing

UK car and commercial vehicle production declined 11.6% in February, to 82,178 units, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Manufacturers turned out 10,787 fewer cars, vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches than in February the year before. Read more

Enterprise Mobility bolsters community support with £155m commitment

Enterprise Mobility announced it will expand efforts to address food insecurity and advance social equity by committing more than £155m through its Fill Your Tank programme and ROAD Forward initiative. The grant funding will continue to strengthen communities where Enterprise Mobility operates in North America and Europe by supporting local nonprofit organizations and key partners. Read more

Copart Cares – providing more benefits for buyers

We’re committed to continuously improving what we do and how we do it, to create a beneficial experience for Copart buyers, who are bidding on and buying thousands of vehicles in our auctions every day. 

In this series of Copart Cares blogs, we’ve been demonstrating how we enact the five pillars of our Copart Cares commitment in everything we do, and this week we’re focusing on our buyers. Read more

What Makes S&G Response the architects of accident management?

Success can never be left to chance when it comes to accident management, in fact, it needs to be carefully designed, expertly crafted and built on strong foundations.

At S&G Response, we pride ourselves on being the architects of accident management, constructing seamless processes that support insurers, fleets, brokers and drivers at every stage of their journey. But every expert build takes an incredibly careful process, and we’re pleased to say that we have our strategies down to a T. Read more

ABI responds to the Spring Statement

Responding to the Spring Statement 2025, delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hannah Gurga, ABI Director General, said: “Certainty and stability are crucial for economic growth, and we support the approach the Government has set out in its Spring Statement to deliver this.

“The insurance and long-term savings sector has a vital role to play in the growth mission, including through the commitment to invest £100bn in UK productive finance over the next 10 years.” Read more

2025 Spring Statement: IMI response

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) supports the government’s overarching focus on stability, growth, and reform as outlined in today’s Spring Statement. However, the IMI continues to champion for greater focus on recognition, investment and inclusion for the automotive sector in government strategies and reforms. Read more

How Octopus EV grew from start-up to one of the UK’s biggest sal/sac providers

Octopus Electric Vehicles is shaking up the established order. In just four years, it has mushroomed from a disruptive leasing start-up to become the UK’s second biggest salary sacrifice provider, with a fleet of 27,000 cars plus another 3,500 in the order bank. Read more

Unlocking Europe’s potential with the power of economic inclusion

Imagine a young woman named Sofia. She grew up in a working-class neighbourhood in Madrid, excelling in math but never seeing a path to a career in data science. Despite her potential, the barriers—limited access to networks, financial constraints, and the subtle but powerful biases of the job market—made advancement seem impossible. Read more

Spain to mandate V-16 emergency beacons for all vehicles by 2026

Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has announced that from 1 January 2026, all vehicles on Spanish roads must be equipped with a V-16 emergency beacon, replacing the traditional warning triangles used to signal breakdowns or accidents. This regulation aims to enhance road safety by reducing the risk to drivers and passengers when their vehicles are immobilised. Read more

Two in five drivers say they have no alternative to the car for commuting

Two out of five (40%) drivers say they have no feasible alternatives to the car for getting to work, a new survey by the RAC suggests. For those living in rural locations the figure rises to 70%.

More than four out of five (81%) respondents said they would find it very difficult to adjust their lifestyle to being without a vehicle. Read more