Consumer
ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers

ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers
Got an ICE car on order? Don’t bet on collecting it before the New Year…
Plummeting used values could slow EV take-up further, claims new report

Plummeting used values could slow EV take-up further, claims new report
Lease companies can’t afford to sell ex-fleet vehicles, so will re-lease the old ones instead
EVs now 25% of new cars sold, with help from £4bn in manufacturer discounts

EVs now 25% of new cars sold, with help from £4bn in manufacturer discounts
Latest car sales figures show EV market share is up, but only because manufacturers are paying the price
Driving test being 'dumbed down' fear, as examiners report pressure on pass rate

Driving test being 'dumbed down' fear, as examiners report pressure on pass rate
The DVSA is accused of bullying examiners into being more lenient, as it battles with the driving test backlog
Road surface dressing on the up in UK's pothole battle

Road surface dressing on the up in UK's pothole battle
The amount of dressing applied to UK roads increased by nine per cent this year, after a 12-year-low in 2023
Driving home for Christmas? Cheapest fuel prices since Covid will keep costs low

Driving home for Christmas? Cheapest fuel prices since Covid will keep costs low
Fuel may be slightly more expensive than in November, but Christmas is set to be the cheapest in several years for drivers
Warning: your towbar could invalidate your car insurance

Warning: your towbar could invalidate your car insurance
Drivers could be in hot water if they don’t declare if a towbar is fitted when buying car insurance
MP who oversaw ULEZ introduction appointed as new Transport Secretary

MP who oversaw ULEZ introduction appointed as new Transport Secretary
Former London Deputy Mayor Heidi Alexander is the UK’s new Secretary of State for Transport
Transport secretary resigns over spent fraud conviction

Transport secretary resigns over spent fraud conviction
Sky News alleges Louise Haigh tried to scam her employer for phone upgrades
Huge spike in deaths of young women on UK roads

Huge spike in deaths of young women on UK roads
The overall number of road casualties in the UK is slightly down compared with last year, but experts believe a rise in deaths of young women could be…
Government to review ZEV mandate following car industry upheaval

Government to review ZEV mandate following car industry upheaval
An initial consultation with industry leaders will feed back and culminate in a decision in January
Car makers face £2bn in ZEV Mandate fines despite spending £4bn on EV discounts

Car makers face £2bn in ZEV Mandate fines despite spending £4bn on EV discounts
EV targets are placing “unsustainable business costs” on the car industry, the government is warned
How to apply for ULEZ exemption

How to apply for ULEZ exemption
The ULEZ covers most of Greater London. Find out how to apply for exemption and avoid the £12.50 daily charge
Ford job cuts: 800 UK roles go due to slow EV demand and new competition

Ford job cuts: 800 UK roles go due to slow EV demand and new competition
Ford plans to cut a total of 4,000 jobs across Europe, in the hope of creating a “more cost-competitive structure”
Nissan calls for urgent action on ZEV mandate

Nissan calls for urgent action on ZEV mandate
The threat to UK jobs is laid bare as fears over the impact of ZEV mandate escalate
Pothole compensation claims double, but councils refuse to pay out

Pothole compensation claims double, but councils refuse to pay out
In 2023 there were over 20,000 claims to local councils due to pothole damage, although only 15 per cent resulted in a payout
MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars

MoT failure rate is worse for vans than cars
More than a third of light commercials failed their first MoT last year, new figures show
Paris mayor says ‘non’ to through traffic with plans to fine drivers

Paris mayor says ‘non’ to through traffic with plans to fine drivers
Drivers entering Paris city centre will have to prove residency or a valid destination to avoid a fine
Accessible EV charging still a distant dream as progress stalls under Labour

Accessible EV charging still a distant dream as progress stalls under Labour
‘Outrage’ over lack of chargepoint accessibility regulation turns into a government review
Mileage fraud threat highlighted by vehicle check data

Mileage fraud threat highlighted by vehicle check data
160,000 used cars will be sold with incorrect mileage this year, new figures show
Haul of 30 luxury cars stolen from the UK found in Thailand

Haul of 30 luxury cars stolen from the UK found in Thailand
Eight year investigation concludes, with no British charges despite arrests
Fuel duty frozen, but new car buyers hit by VED hikes

Fuel duty frozen, but new car buyers hit by VED hikes
Labour’s first budget spares drivers at the pumps, while industry raises investment fears
Budget hammers new-car buyers as first-year road tax doubles

Budget hammers new-car buyers as first-year road tax doubles
Year-one VED rates hiked for non-EVs, while company EV tax incentives are extended
Chancellor’s budget pothole plan draws faint praise

Chancellor’s budget pothole plan draws faint praise
£500m extra funding promised for 2025, but there’s no long-term funding plan
Dealers forced to reveal commission earned on car finance deals

Dealers forced to reveal commission earned on car finance deals
How much did your dealer pocket when arranging your finance? Now they have to tell you…
BYD Atto 3 given worst Euro NCAP driver-assistance score ever

BYD Atto 3 given worst Euro NCAP driver-assistance score ever
Euro NCAP says it doesn’t recommend the BYD Atto 3’s adaptive cruise control system, given that it “effectively switches off” after periods of driver …
Recognise EV chargers as critical infrastructure to stop cable thefts, says charging CEO

Recognise EV chargers as critical infrastructure to stop cable thefts, says charging CEO
Electric car charger operators have resorted to employing private security patrols after crooks cut cables to sell copper for scrap
Fake car parts warning: top tips to avoid joining the 15% of motorists who fall victim

Fake car parts warning: top tips to avoid joining the 15% of motorists who fall victim
The IPO’s ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign warns motorists not to be drawn in by the attractive prices of potentially deadly counterfeit car parts
Judge calls for mandatory cognitive tests for drivers over 80

Judge calls for mandatory cognitive tests for drivers over 80
Scottish dementia road death puts spotlight on ‘self-certification’ for older drivers
Fleets demand used EV purchase incentives as values slump

Fleets demand used EV purchase incentives as values slump
Lease companies plead for budget measures to support the secondhand EV market
VW hit by £5.4m FCA fine for mistreatment of vulnerable customers

VW hit by £5.4m FCA fine for mistreatment of vulnerable customers
Watchdog punishes VW’s finance arm for treating vulnerable customers unfairly
Rumoured 7p fuel tax hike to send petrol and diesel prices soaring

Rumoured 7p fuel tax hike to send petrol and diesel prices soaring
Working people face fuel duty hammer blow as Labour plots to break pre-election promise
ULEZ enforcement stepped up in light of £450 million debt

ULEZ enforcement stepped up in light of £450 million debt
With Transport for London owed £376 million in unpaid penalty notices and facing large debts itself, it’s escalating efforts to punish drivers dodging…
Sky-high car insurance costs to be tackled by new taskforce

Sky-high car insurance costs to be tackled by new taskforce
Labour forms a new taskforce to tackle the issue of car insurance, with premiums having risen by 21 per cent on average in the past two years
Don’t hammer motorists in the Autumn Budget! Labour warned to avoid car and fuel tax hikes 

Don’t hammer motorists in the Autumn Budget! Labour warned to avoid car and fuel tax hikes
Motorists have had a tough time in recent years and Auto Express is warning the Chancellor against inflicting further pain with her first Budget
Worst motorway in England revealed: traffic, potholes, roadworks, it's got the lot

Worst motorway in England revealed: traffic, potholes, roadworks, it's got the lot
New survey sees drivers rank England’s motorways and ‘A’ roads – and it’s bad news across the board, as satisfaction ratings fall again