The relief was palpable from Berlin to Munich when Germany – announced its latest GDP figures. After months of gloom, modest growth of 0.4pc in the first quarter was heralded as a sign Europe’s largest economy might weather the global slowdown better than most experts predict. For the first time in six months, Germany is
Britain’s electric vehicle revolution is being hampered by a “bottleneck” in global battery production, as demand far outstrips supply of zero-emission vehicles. An investigation by the Press Association found that some dealers were telling customers they could be waiting more than a year if they placed an order for an EV today, with some manufacturers
A lack of choice has been one reason that buyers in Europe have not fully embraced full-electric and electrified plug-in hybrid cars. But that is quickly changing as automakers prepare to launch more models to prepare for tougher CO2 emissions regulations that start to take effect in 2020. The number of EVs on sale in
Automakers are focused on developing models, but ad spending surge is sure to follow Oil-rich Texas is an unlikely spot for an electric vehicle demand surge. But John Luciano, general manager of a Volkswagen dealership in Amarillo, says his customers are juiced about EVs, suggesting the market might finally emerge from niche status nationally. “If
By the middle of the next decade, the world as we know it will end. This end is not written in stone, it was not predicted by the Mayans, and it was not foretold by UFO religions. This end has been sung in the past few years in press releases, statements and interviews. It is
After months of showing us a camouflage production prototype of the e-tron quattro, Audi was finally going to reveal the official production version of the electric SUV in August. Now the German automaker has reportedly postponed the launch of the vehicle amidst the arrest of its CEO. If you haven’t been following the Dieselgate scandal
Further to the news reported yesterday (15 August) that Skoda is ramping up plans to launch four electric vehicles (EVs) by 2021 and a further two by 2025, including two SUVs and an image-boosting sports car, more details of EV plans from Volkswagen Group’s other brands Volkswagen (VW) and Audi have come to light. Also,
Continental, a major supplier for automakers around the world, has come out with a bold prediction: internal-combustion engine development by German automakers will essentially end by the year 2025. The supplier, which makes exhaust-gas-cleaning systems for diesel cars and nitrogen oxide-measuring sensors, lists several factors contributing to its prediction: the increasing costs of development, the end of
At this point, most industry watchers would agree that car dealers are a barrier to the electrification of the car industry. Recent studies have painted a negative (borderline disastrous) picture of the electric vehicle shopping experience. Car dealers’ lack of interest in selling EVs have led to poor knowledge about the vehicles, no inventories, cars
The best cars eligible for zero per cent benefit in kind in 2020
The government has announced that it is reducing the amount of company car tax that buyers of electric vehicles will be charged in a bid to accelerate the switch to zero-emission vehicles. For 2020, buyers of all-electric vehicles will be charged zero per cent benefit in kind, with this increasing to one per cent in
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