Automotive News – Early April 2025
Estimated reading time 3 minutes
UK demand for new vans shrinks for fourth month running.
- New light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations down -3.2% in March, marking fourth consecutive monthly decline.
- Surging demand for pick-ups ahead of double-cab tax impact, while other key segments bar small vans shrink in volume.
- Record monthly volume of electric uptake after 40.3% growth – but still represents just half the 16% market share that is mandated for 2025. https://www.smmt.co.uk/uk-demand-for-new-vans-shrinks-for-fourth-month-running/
Best month ever for new EV registrations but market share misses mandated target.
- New car market rises 12.4% during plate change month as private retail buyers slowly return.
- Battery electric car uptake rises to highest ever volume at 69,313 units but 19.4% market share still below target set by Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.
- Industry maintains call for accelerated regulatory review and government incentives to raise demand to required level.
https://www.smmt.co.uk/best-month-ever-for-new-ev-registrations-but-market-share-misses-mandated-target
Ten carmakers and two industry groups have been fined a combined total of nearly £78m for withholding information about vehicle recycling.
BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Peugeot Citroen, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Vauxhall, and Volkswagen, and two trade bodies were fined by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The carmakers and trade groups were found to have agreed to withhold information from customers regarding the amount of their cars that could actually be recycled.
Tarmac and TVS Interfleet have joined a government-funded project that is piloting the use of battery-powered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Tarmac and TVS join the 14 founding members of the eFreight 2030 consortium to demonstrate electric vehicles in challenging applications.
The eFreight 2030 initiative is part of the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme (ZEHID), funded through Innovate UK. The project is introducing 100 electric HGV tractor units and 32 new charging locations over several years for an evaluation that is expected to help end reliance on diesel.
Public transport company First Bus has announced a £70m investment in an additional 160 zero-emission buses throughout the West of England. Competitor Go-Ahead is also investing in 45 new green buses. First Bus’s funding will not only cover the vehicles, but also support the electrification of bus depot infrastructure, enabling electric vehicle charging and maintenance.
The potential impact of US President, Donald Trump’s, tariffs on luxury car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, could be devastating, after the company revealed sales performance data today (April 7).
The production figures cover the fourth quarter and full year period to March 31, 2025.
They don’t include financials, which will be revealed in May.
Bus manufacturer Wrightbus has announced plans to invest £25m to meet the UK’s growing demand for locally made, low-emission vehicles.
The company, already the UK’s fastest-growing zero-emission bus manufacturer, will use the money to expand its research and development capabilities, including in creating next-generation electric and hydrogen vehicles.
