News & Events
 Do-it-yourself diesel on the rise
Makers of home-brew diesel kits can’t keep up with demand.
 Reaction to fuel duty suspension
Motoring organisations and business groups are among those to have voiced their opinion on the government's decision to postpone the proposed 2p rise in fuel duty.
 Saudis on the highway to change
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive.
Life in the fast lane will soon be over for 'Top Gear' blokes
Jeremy Clarkson is apparently content with his two million quid contract for presenting Top Gear, but his pals James May and Richard Hammond are reviewing theirs.
 Prius 'to be part solar-powered'
Toyota is planning to add solar-powered air conditioning to high-end models of its Prius hybrid cars, a report says.
Prime Minister hints at fuel tax retreat
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given his strongest hint that the Government will not go ahead with the planned 2p-a-litre increase in fuel duty scheduled for October 1.
 Tyre law shake-up on way?
New laws are set to force motorists to fit environmentally-friendly rubber to their motors.
 Motor trade share price update
Sector is struggling but some companies put in good performance
Automatic cars 'slash journey times'
A new "self-driving car" developed in America has the ability to drastically cut traffic jams by increasing the flow of traffic up to three times, its developers have told the BBC.
 Infiniti to provide financial backing for car dealers
Luxury brand wants network established next year
Pollutants left in cars because of scrap loophole
More than one million cars a year are being scrapped without having pollutants such as oil, brake fluid and airbag gas canisters removed because of a loophole in environmental regulations.
 Economy 'facing painful slowdown'
The UK economy is set for a "rapid, painful adjustment" over the next two years, according to an influential economic forecasting group.
 School-run charge 'could spread'
A controversial scheme that charges parents who drive their children to school could be adopted by local authorities across the UK.
 MG production confirmed for this summmer
Shanghai committed to July start date for TF model
 Male drivers behave just like cavemen
Male motorists are more aggressive than females because they still behave like cavemen, a psychologist claims.
Darling backs £50bn bank bailout
Chancellor Alistair Darling has backed the Bank of England's £50bn plan to help prevent the credit crisis causing more damage to the UK banking system.
Fresh oil price record fuels fears of £1.50 petrol this summer
Fears that petrol could hit £1.50 a litre by late summer were fuelled yesterday as world oil prices hit yet another record. US crude oil surged to $114.95 a barrel after government data showed an unexpected fall in crude supplies. US crude stocks, which analysts expected to rise, fell 2.3m barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said.
 Green cars set for a bright future
Fuel cells, hybrids, biodiesel, electricity, even compressed air: no one wants to talk about petrol any more. The motor industry has predicted many times before that a new age of engine technology is upon us. But this time, it seems, they really mean it
 End MOT Uncertainty, RMIF Tells Government
‘Prolonged uncertainty over the future of the MOT is causing disquiet in the motor sector, and it must stop; the Government needs to make its intentions toward the test clear as soon as possible,’ according to Stephen Coles, Head of MOT Operations for the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).
 Mysterious death of the petrol station
It's a hub of the community under threat in harsh economic climate. Along with the post office and the local shop, petrol stations are disappearing. Fuel prices are high, so why are so many closing?
 AA study slams impact of speed bumps
Speed calming techniques cause moer emissions
 Act now to avoid income tax fine
Hundreds of thousands of tax payers have until midnight on Thursday 31 January to file their income tax returns, or pay a fine plus interest.
More jobseekers use internet to search for work
More jobseekers are relying solely on the internet to search for work, major new research has found.
 Bank of England will cut interest rates in 2008
Analysts predict cuts will come to offset recession threat
 Car dealers: credit crunch survival tips
Analysts offer best practice advice
Despite the squeeze of the credit crunch, there may be a glimmer of hope for dealers, according to industry analysts.
 Vauxhall hit by yet more runaway cars
BBC’s Watchdog claims new Corsa also suffers from handbrake problems
European Parliament calls for strengthening automotive industry competitiveness
The European Parliament has given an important statement on the need to improve the regulatory framework for the European automotive industry, by voting in its plenary session, yesterday in Strasbourg, in favour of the report on CARS21 by the Industry Committee rapporteur Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (ALDE, Germany). "The Parliament has clearly recognised the crucial role which 'better regulation' principles have to play in the EU decision making process to ensure that sufficient lead-time is provided to implement new requirements and legislation is preceded by a transparent, thorough assessment of the impact on EU competitiveness and employment levels', said Ivan Hodac, Secretary General of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
 Industry body calls for rate cuts
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has called for "modest" interest rate cuts, amid signs that the UK economy slowed towards the end of last year.
 London drink-drive figures drop
The number of drink-drivers stopped over the Christmas period in London dropped by almost a third compared with the 2006 campaign, police have said.
Paris offers drivers electric cars to beat pollution - for a small charge
The Mayor of Paris is about to launch another novel scheme for fighting congestion and pollution: self-service cars.
 Green light for car data checks
One of the nation’s leading car history checking firms has gone green!
New CO2 rules must balance environmental aims with affordable cars and a diverse and competitive car
Today the European Commission published its proposals for a new regulatory framework, setting limits for new car CO2 emissions from 2012. And while the industry is committed to continuing to work with policy makers to shape a workable solution, the Commission's proposal has led to concerns, in particular about unrealistic lead-times and costs of non-compliance.
 Europe to become world's biggest new car market?
Sales on the continent could overtake the US this year
Employment Bill promises big tribunal fines for employers failing to follow code of practice and end to statutory dismissal and grievance procedures
Employers face bigger fines at employment tribunals if they fail to follow a statutory code of practice under proposed new laws.
Buyers prefer their used cars with less than 60,000 miles on the clock
Potential used car buyers continue to discriminate against vehicles with higher mileages, according to EurotaxGlass's.
 Small car dealers face independent future
Consolidation threatens franchised dealer status
 RMIF Tells MOT Stations: Be Prepared For Risk Assessments
MOT testing stations that fall short in risk-assessments currently taking place will be targeted for further investigation in 2008, the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) is warning businesses.
 Messy motorists lose £90m a year
Bad habits cause residual values to plummet
 Aston Martin gets license to thrill
Flagship DBS to star in next James Bond film
Rising car sales defy high street downturn
Car sales are showing surprising resilience in the face of falling houses prices and warnings from retailers of slower sales this Christmas.
 Economy fears hitting recruitment
UK employers are set to take on new workers at their slowest rate in six years in the wake of the credit crisis, recruitment firm Manpower has said.
 Renault buys stake in Lada owner
Renault is to buy a 25% stake in Russia's largest car manufacturer - the firm which owns the Lada model.
Unemployment is a greater threat
to the retail motor industry than the possibility of a credit crunch. That is the view of corporate stock-broker Panmure Gordon.
 Car dealers warned over squeeze on lending
Car dealers can expect more pain than gain in the used car market moving into 2008, according to EurotaxGlass’s.
 New MOT Facilities – New Challenges, Says RMIF
MOT testers need to make sure they fully understand the new MOT facilities provided by computerisation as they risk disciplinary action if they perform the elements of the test in the wrong order, the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) is warning MOT testing stations.
 Oil reaches new record above $99
Oil prices came close to breaching the $100 a barrel mark on Wednesday as the dollar remained weak, tempting traders towards commodities.
 Property slump leaves dealers vulnerable
Sites need to be catious, says expert
As returns on commercial property dipped to their lowest levels since 1990, a dealership property expert is warning that loss making businesses reliant on rising property prices could go bust.
 Petrol prices go sky high
UK prices hit record mark
Petrol prices have risen to more than £1 a litre for the first time this week.
The rise to just under 101p on Tuesday was an increase of more than 17 per cent on last year, when a litre cost just 86p, according to the AA.
 Penalty points double for speeding drivers
Motorists face being banned from driving for only two speeding offences under a government plan to double the fixed penalty for exceeding the limit by a wide margin, The Times has learnt
NAC MG looks for more UK dealers
NAC MG (UK) has received over 100 enquiries by UK dealers to take on an MG franchise.
 Carmakers look east
Saturated mature markets prompts shift in focus
 Public outrage leads to first fall in number of speed-camera fines
The number of drivers caught by speed cameras has fallen for the first time, according to government figures which reveal that widespread complaints about excessive enforcement have finally forced a retreat by police and local authorities.
 What is driving oil prices so high?
Prices have more than quadrupled since 2002 and are currently 40% higher than at the start of the year.
What factors are causing this unremitting increase and what are the likely consequences for consumers and the global economy?
 Law may bring 'car breathalysers'
Convicted drink drivers could have breathalysers installed in their cars to prevent them starting the engine if they are over the limit.
 UK Independent Repairers Comment On R2RC UK Launch
‘The Right To Repair Campaign should help to assure the non-discriminatory provision of technical repair information within the retail motor sector,’ said Ray Holloway, director of independent membership within the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF), commenting on the UK launch of the Campaign today (Tuesday 30 October 2007) in London.
Protesters urge 'no more fuel duty rises
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is under growing pressure to suspend forthcoming rises in fuel duty after it emerged that the Treasury is set to pick up an unexpected £3 billion tax windfall from the soaring price of oil.
CO2 cuts on the way
The European Parliament has voted by a large majority to introduce legislation to cap average emissions from all new cars at 125g CO2/km from 2015.
 Michelin to sponsor Road Safety Expo
Michelin has extended its comprehensive road safety programmes to include sponsorship of the first ever UK Road Safety Expo taking place in London on 22 November.
Carmakers struggle to balance safety and emissions
Britain's motor industry today warned Brussels that carmakers are finding it tougher than ever to meet demands to curb emissions and increase safety.
MINI UK hits another record
MINI UK has achieved a record sales month; the highest since MINI went on sale in July 2001. 150 UK dealers sold 8,764 models in September 2007*. Year-to-date figures are running higher than the previous record year of 2005, at 36,969 models, making the outlook for a new record sales year certainly look more likely than snow on Christmas day. As announced at Frankfurt Motor Show last month, global sales figures are heading for the 220,000 mark in 2007.
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