Daily Motor News – Tuesday 25 February 2025   

With Cap HPI data finding that automatics now make up a third of the UK car parc, Stacey Ward, Senior Data Director, said: “Changing driving habits, especially in congested urban areas, have made automatics more appealing to drivers for their ease of use in stop-start traffic. Advances in technology over the past decade have also greatly improved automatic transmissions’ efficiency and responsiveness.

“The rise in popularity of EVs, which are always automatic, has significantly contributed to the increasing shift towards automatics over manual. Manufacturers have responded by reducing manual gearbox options, with some major brands eliminating them entirely from their lineups.”

New legislation on theft devices marks important step in vehicle security evolution, says Thatcham Research

The UK’s leading automotive risk intelligence organisation, Thatcham Research, welcomes the government’s new Crime and Policing Bill targeting electronic devices used in vehicle theft, while emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach to combat increasingly sophisticated criminal operations. Full story

Almost two thirds of car TikToks are misleading, Auto Trader reveals

With a growing number of #CarTok videos, Auto Trader has analysed over 100 TikTok videos. It found that 90% of car repair videos should be met with caution, 72% of car maintenance tips are helpful to drivers and 68% of driving tips videos are helpful, especially for learner drivers. Full story

As Vision Zero hopes fade, a five-year goal can help us reset

IIHS-HLDI is proposing 30×30 — a 30% reduction in fatalities by 2030. It said introducing a few simple measures could have a significant impact, such as setting a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph, increasing seat belt use to 100%, and reducing the legally allowed blood alcohol concentration for drivers to 0.05%. Full story

UK highways ranked eighth most hazardous for HGV drivers in Europe

Great Britain has the eighth highest yearly fatal HGV collision rate in Europe, according to analysis by SNAP, the haulage industry’s digital marketplace. When examining all vehicle types, the UK takes sixth place among the most hazardous highways in Europe. Full story

New Drivers Insights from FirstCar’s DVSA survey

FirstCar’s New Driver Insights 2025 report found that 30% of new drivers said affordability was the most important factor when purchasing insurance. Other factors included level of cover (20%), customer reviews (13%), additional benefits (11%) and brand reputation (9%). Some 42% respondents said they would consider a black box/telematics product while a similar percentage (40%) would not. Full story

Unsafe motorcycle helmets are widely available around the world

Not all motorcycle helmets meet safety standards and some of them mimic safe ones using fake certification labels or branding. These unsafe, nonstandard helmets are widely available around the world, even in countries with existing helmet standards. It can be hard for riders to know if a helmet will protect them properly. Those are the highlights of new research announced by the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety. Full story

£120 million to roll-out more electric vans, taxis and motorbikes

Drivers, cabbies and businesses are set to benefit from £120 million in government funding to make the switch to cleaner vans, wheelchair accessible vehicles and taxis easier, faster and cheaper.

Today (25 February 2025) Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that the department is extending the Plug-in van grant for another year, to help van drivers and businesses transition to zero emission vehicles. Full story

What China’s EV market can teach US and EU automakers

In 2020, sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in both China and Europe accounted for about five per cent of passenger cars sold, while US sales were at two per cent. Fast-forward to 2024 and BEV market share in China has surged to approximately 27%, Europe has stalled at 13%, and the US continues to lag at just eight per cent. Full story

Solid-state battery road tests begin

Mercedes-Benz engineers from the road and racetrack and Factorial cell engineers have worked together on delivering an all-new solid-state battery test program, which has brought the first car powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery to the road. Full story

Time to get serious about enforcement: why the next MVBER consultation matters more than ever

The European Commission’s consultation on Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (MVBER) is set in the coming months. While this might sound like dry policy speak, it represents a critical moment for Europe’s aftermarket. Andy Hamilton, President & Executive Managing Director, LKQ Europe, has highlighted three areas where the next iteration of MVBER needs to be strengthened. Full story

AAA: Fear in Self-Driving Vehicles Persists

According to AAA’s latest survey on autonomous vehicles, 13% of US drivers would trust riding in self-driving vehicles – an increase from last year, when this number was nine per cent. Despite this slight increase, six in 10 US drivers still report being afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle. Full story

Maextro S800 luxury sedan released in China as Maybach rival with 6C charging

The Maextro S800 luxury sedan was officially released in China as the domestic rival for the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class. The S800 has all-electric or range-extended powertrain options, 32 ADAS sensors, and up to 635 kW (852 hp). Full story

Automotive Veterans’ Career Guide

In partnership with Mission Automotive, SMMT has published the Veterans’ Career Guide to provide industry awareness, career advice and support to Armed Forces leavers considering the well-paid, rewarding job opportunities that the UK automotive sector has to offer. Full story

Survey unveils key barriers to employing apprentices

A recent survey conducted by Apprenticeship Central has highlighted the primary obstacles businesses face when considering apprenticeships with the most common being a lack of time for training, concerns about cost and difficulty finding suitable candidates. Full story

RSGB Academy unveils new course dates

The Road Safety GB Academy has unveiled its calendar of training courses for the second and third quarters of 2025. All of the courses offered in the Academy’s programme are being delivered in a Zoom virtual classroom, meaning candidates can participate from the convenience of their home or office. Full story

Willis report finds transportation industry set to expand and invest, despite headwinds

A new report by WTW has found senior decision makers are optimistic about the future, with 44% ranking customer experience as a leading opportunity across the next two years. Enhancing the customer experience through advanced technologies and personalised services is a critical focus for many firms. Full story

Bentley Motors has announced the appointment of Axel Dewitz as Board Member for Finance and IT.

Audatex UK has restructured its crash repair team with the appointment of Joe Baynham to the BDM role.

The government has extended the plug-in van grant until April 2026. The £5,000 cash incentive is set to end next month.