Daily Motor News – Tuesday 6 May 2025    

“Fleet insurance used to be something businesses could budget for fairly predictably. But now we’re seeing sharp, unexpected hikes that are putting pressure on profit margins and, in some cases, threatening the viability of smaller firms.” Chris Richards, founder of Simply Quote Insurance. Read more

Cargo Theft Tactics and Trend Report 2025 

The cargo theft threat continues to evolve, with 2024 data revealing a surge in sophisticated criminal tactics targeting vulnerabilities across global supply chains. Fraudulent carriers, identity deception, cyber-enabled scams and insider collusion are all emerging as key strategies used by cargo criminals to bypass security measures and target goods such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and essential commodities. Read more

What’s being done to lower the cost of car insurance and is it working? 

This week the Government launched the latest public consultation on insurance reform. It is part of a new action plan on insurance, aimed at encouraging more competition in the market and with the ultimate goal of bringing premium prices down. Read more

Does your car insurance cover pothole damage – and should you claim? 

From buckled wheels to broken suspension springs, potholes are leaving drivers with serious repair bills. According to the RAC, breakdowns caused by potholes rose by 19% in the first three months of 2025.  Read more

Scottish business owners slam ‘shocking’ fleet insurance hikes as costs double for some firms 

Small and medium-sized businesses across the UK say they are facing an insurance crisis, with the cost of insuring commercial vehicles and fleets soaring by as much as 50% in the past 12 months. Read more

Auto Insurance Market Stays Rational Despite Improved Trends, Says Allstate 

US: Allstate Corp. CEO Tom Wilson said he does not expect auto insurers to get more aggressive on pricing as the industry’s increases seem to have levelled off. 

For the most part, Wilson explained to analysts during a call to discuss first quarter earnings, insurers seem to be where they need to be from a profitability standpoint in the auto line, but he doesn’t see insurers losing any discipline because each are looking to maintain profitable growth. Read more

New car market falls in April as tax changes bite 

The UK’s new car market fell -10.4% in April, with 120,331 units registered, according to the latest data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the sixth fall in the last seven months, reflecting a fragile economic backdrop and weakened consumer confidence, with 13,943 fewer cars registered in the month compared with the year before and 25.3% behind pre-pandemic April 2019. Read more

Five months of falling demand for new vans 

UK demand for new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) fell by -14.9% in April with 20,332 vans, 4x4s and pick-ups joining UK roads, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the worst April performance since 2020, in part due to the timing of Easter, while it is also traditionally a low volume month and, therefore, subject to fluctuations. Read more

Uber and WeRide Expand Strategic Partnership to Bring Autonomous Vehicles to 15 More Cities 

Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), the world’s largest mobility and delivery platform, and WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced a significant expansion of their previously announced strategic partnership, adding 15 additional cities globally over the next five years, including in Europe. Read more

Retail values rise in April as pricing confidence builds in response to robust demand  

According to the latest data from Auto Trader, despite the political and economic turbulence of recent months, the used car market remains stable, with retail prices rising, vehicles selling at record speeds, and sales volumes increasing. However, with supply complexities persisting, retailers are urged to utilise available data to unlock more margin in their stock. Read more

Toyota issues urgent warning: Falling behind China goes far beyond just EVs 

It’s not just electric vehicles. Toyota is warning, “We don’t have much time left,” with China poised to take the lead in another emerging technology following EVs. Read more

Lucid and Saudi Arabia’s KAUST Announce Strategic Partnership  

Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID), maker of the world’s most advanced electric vehicles, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a leading academic and research institution focused on science and technology innovation with regional and global impact, today announced a strategic partnership designed to shape the future of EV technology. Leveraging the growing resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lucid aims to further advance the company’s technology leadership. Read more

U.S. House Votes to Bar California 2035 EV Plan 

US: The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to bar California’s landmark plan to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035 that has been adopted by 11 other states. Read more

IMI unveils its commitment to the UK automotive sector 

Underlining its commitment to tackling the UK’s automotive skills crisis, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has launched its new manifesto, ‘Driving the Future of Automotive Professionals’. The manifesto sets out clear, actionable steps to attract new talent into the sector, create defined career pathways, support the upskilling of the existing workforce, and ensure the industry is equipped with the skills it needs for the future. Read more

Official: Used car ad platform Heycar is set to close as Volkswagen pulls the plug 

Used car advertising platform Heycar will close after majority shareholders Volkswagen Financial Services pulled the plug. The used car site launched in the UK in the summer of 2019 aiming to compete with Auto Trader and Motors, but has made heavy losses since. Read more

ACEA position on Omnibus Package 1 

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) welcomes the Omnibus Package 1, as it will simplify corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence and the EU Taxonomy, providing much-needed regulatory relief, while still supporting climate neutrality commitments. Read more

Tariffs on car parts entering the US come into force 

A 25% import tax on engines, transmissions and other key car parts has come into force in the US, raising pressure on an industry finding its way through a thicket of policy changes. Read more

Consumer Alert: NHTSA Urges Drivers to Share the Road Amid Rising Motorcyclist Fatality Rate 

US: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today is urging the driving public to help prevent motorcyclist fatalities by riding and driving safely as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month gets underway.  Read more

Texting, Social Media and Calls Top Driver Distractions: Report 

US: U.S. drivers are distracted by their phones for nearly 11 out of every 100 miles driven, or 11 percent of the time, according to more than 1.3 billion miles of driving data from across the country analysed by Root Insurance, a technology-driven personal car insurance carrier and subsidiary of Root, Inc. Read more

ZIGUP has received a King’s Award for Enterprise, recognised for excellence in Promoting Opportunity. ZIGUP is one of 197 organisations nationally to be recognised this year with a prestigious King’s Award and one of only 10 awarded in this category. 

Deliveroo, the food delivery app, has agreed to be taken over by US giant DoorDash in a deal valuing the British business at £2.9bn. Read more

Uber is now allowing passengers across most of the UK to pay in cash. Following trials, the cash payment option was this week extended to all UK cities, except London, where it is being reviewed. Read more

Neil Orton has started a new position as Founder and Lead Consultant at Ortonomi Coaching and Consultancy Services.