2018 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LEBrian Harper / Driving As Europe continues to tighten emissions regulations, the handful of EU or U.K. citizens that appreciate the subtleties of the big-block Chevrolet V8 and have been hoping to get into the latest performance offering from the brand are finding themselves in a pinch. A ban on sales of any Chevy vehicle with a 6.2-litre LT1 V8 engine will take effect August 31, 2019, making the C7 Corvette and sixth-gen Camaro SS impossible to purchase new in the United Kingdom and European Union as of September 1, though used models can still be moved. The over-460-horsepower V8 engine just doesn’t fit with Europe’s vision of a pollution-free future. To be fair, the modern American muscle cars have hardly been selling like crumpets across the pond. According to British outlet Motoring Research, which recently published a “last chance to buy a muscle car” warning, the last wave of English Vettes and Camaros are being sold from a single authorized dealer in the U.K. Not exactly crushing demand, despite the fact the Camaro tops Motoring Research’s list of Britain’s favourite specialist used cars. The Corvette didn’t make the top ten. Makes you wonder if GM will even push for European distribution for the upcoming C8 Corvette, right?
Origin: Europe to outlaw C7 Corvette and Camaro SS sales
sales
EV sales growth bucks UK new car market trend
EV sales growth bucks UK new car market trend Pure electric models increased against an overall market drop Pure-electric car registrations are bucking the current UK market trend, with continued growth in May 2019 seeing almost 2,000 units sold, an increase of 81% compared to last year. That’s against a backdrop where the total UK new car market dropped 4.6% compared to last year. Although pure-EVs are showing sustained growth – the last dip in sales compared to the previous year happened in March 2018 – PHEV registrations have dipped for the third month on the trot. More than 2,300 PHEVs were registered in May 2019, a drop of 41% compared to 2018’s figure, which sees a combined UK plug-in car total – EV & PHEV – of 4,352 units registered during the month. Despite current strength in pure-electric market growth, the sector still only made up 1.1% of total UK new car registrations last month, and PHEVs accounted for just 1.3%. The combined plug-in car market share for May 2019 is 2.4%, while the current share for 2019 is 2.1% and the 12-month rolling share is 2.6%. The continued growth for pure-EVs and drop in PHEV registrations sees the market split balance out, with the past three months seeing a share of around 45:55 for pure-EVs compared to PHEVs. For a long time, the total market split has been around a ratio of 35:65, and by the end of last year, the split was as great as almost 25:75. There is discussion as to what is affecting the UK plug-in car market most, with the effective removal of the Plug-in Car Grant for PHEVs no doubt a factor in the dip in sales performance. Likely to be far more significant though is likely to be supply issues from manufacturers for new plug-in cars. A number of popular models – both pure-EV and PHEV – have long waiting lists, and even suspended order books. Table courtesy of SMMT There doesn’t seem to be a lack of demand from buyers, but there is certainly a lack of supply. With new EVs due in the second half of 2019 and early 2020, it is hoped that increased choice will help mitigate any supply issues for what remains an important electric vehicle market in Europe. The backdrop for the electric vehicle market is the UK new car market as a whole, which sees diesel continue its decline. Sales dropped 18% compared to last year, and the market share is only 28% of total new car registrations in May 2019, down from last year’s 32% – itself a figure that was far lower than the year before’s 45%. Market share for petrol models is now at two-thirds, and alternatively fuelled vehicles – which bundle together the likes of pure-electric, PHEVs, and conventional hybrids – sit at 6% market share, with growth of 14% compared to last year.
Origin: EV sales growth bucks UK new car market trend
Autocar confidential: five-digit EV sales still a way off for Jaguar, Seat finds a more premium audience and more
This week’s selection of snippets from the automotive sphere brings news of Seat’s continuing rise towards premium status, a bright future for McLaren and Nissan’s worries that governments could be doing more for autonomy. London longing for electric Jaguars UK sales of the Jaguar I-Pace will double to around 3000 units in the next 12 months, according to UK boss Rawdon Glover, though he predicted that five-digit sales of the EV would be at least five years away. More than 40% of I-Pace sales are within the M25. Seat not so simple any more The Seat Tarraco and stand-alone Cupra brand are pushing buyers into higher, hitherto unseen price points for the firm, much to boss Luca de Meo’s delight. “We’ve been on a journey, first to get people to consider our cars for more than £20,000 and now more than £30,000. It is working. There was no future in selling our cars for 15% less than similar ones,” he says. McLaren gives customers what they want McLaren’s Special Operations department has tripled its business in the past two years, and CEO Mike Flewitt sees no reason why that trajectory won’t continue. “We’re seeing it again with Speedtail that people who buy exclusive cars want to make them individual,” he said. “Our bespoke content offering is hitting new heights.” Governments make autonomy a no-go? Peter Bedrosian, Nissan Europe’s product planning chief, says it’s government legislation, and not technology, that is slowing the advancement of autonomous vehicles. “It’s not the know-how holding us back – a lot of policy needs to change before we introduce level-three autonomy and above,” he said. “It requires a big change in legislation and infrastructure, because it profoundly changes cars. We’ll be ready for level three by 2019 and, depending on policies, 2020 for level four and above.”
Origin: Autocar confidential: five-digit EV sales still a way off for Jaguar, Seat finds a more premium audience and more
Brexit and diesel fears stall car sales, says new research
As news of yet another monthly fall in new car sales emerged last week, there is strong new evidence that substantial numbers of car buyers are delaying purchases as a direct result of Brexit and confusion over powertrain choices. Exclusive data has been collected for Autocar by market research firm Simpson Carpenter from a sample of more than 1000 British car owners. It shows that among those whose car is more than two years old, almost half said they had originally planned to replace their car before now. Younger people and those buying or leasing new cars are most likely to be delaying their purchase. An underlying level of delay is to be expected, as changes in personal circumstances often get in the way of new car buying decisions. But one in four of those surveyed attributed the delay to the effects (potential or already felt) of Brexit, and 39% cited general economic concerns as a reason. A mix of uncertainty about the future of diesel and confusion over which powertrain to buy are the reasons mentioned by 27% of those sampled. Both Brexit and powertrain concerns have hit the new car market harder than the used, according to the data, with both factors cited by a majority of those intending to get a new car the next time they do upgrade. The premium car category is most badly hit: around a third who mentioned the two factors intend to buy more expensive cars. The hiatus seems likely to continue until the Brexit uncertainty is resolved. Almost a third claim they will put off their purchase until the effects become clear, with those aged 25-44 and those intending to buy in the next two years most likely to delay their decision. Conversely, two-thirds claim their next car purchase won’t be affected. Brexit appears to be affecting people’s choice of brand, too. One in five say they are more or less likely to buy certain marques as a result of Brexit, with German brands such as BMW, Volkswagen and Audi and French brands such as Renault, Peugeot and Citroën all most likely to be dropped from consideration. More people are likely to buy Fords and Toyotas, although Nissan loses slightly more than it gains – possibly as a result of the decision not to build the X-Trail in Sunderland. Tom Simpson, managing director of Simpson Carpenter, said: “New car sales are clearly being damaged by a political failure to provide clarity – firstly over the future of diesel and then the seemingly neverending Brexit negotiations. “The new car market is unlikely to recover until these uncertainties are resolved. And in these circumstances, it’s difficult to criticise car manufacturers if they delay decisions to invest in the UK.”
Origin: Brexit and diesel fears stall car sales, says new research
Ford Ranger sales off to a slow start in Canada and the U.S.
Although its F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in Canada, Ford isn’t having quite as much luck with the midsize Ranger. All-new in Canada for 2019, the Ranger sold only 755 copies in the first three months of 2019—beating out only the SUV-based Honda Ridgeline in sales, and by only 23 trucks at that. All-new models usually do well in their first year, and with the nameplate’s history and its previous popularity, it was expected the Ranger would clean up on its introduction. Instead, the Toyota Tacoma rang up the highest sales numbers in the first quarter of 2019, with 2,640 copies sold. The Chevrolet Colorado was second at 1,788, while its GMC Canyon mechanical twin racked up 1,288 sales. Even the Frontier, the oldest design on the market, outdid the Ranger with 959 sold. While Ranger sales are also slow in the U.S., it’s doing slightly better there. According to Car and Driver, Ford sold 15,169 units in the first three months, outselling the GMC Canyon at 9,374 copies, and the Ridgeline at 9,606 units. But it couldn’t touch the Tacoma at 78,558, or the Colorado at 45,149 units. The Frontier also outsold the Ranger, with 24,479 copies. Ford reported Ranger production ramped up early, according to Car and Driver, and says trucks are spending just 20 days on U.S. dealer lots, much shorter than average. However, it’s also possible the supply isn’t yet getting from the factory to dealers as quickly as it should. In Canada, Ranger sales were 201 units in January, dropping to 173 in February and staying flat in March. However, sales climbed to 381 units in April, which could indicate that either supply, or customer demand, or both are picking up—although Ranger’s April sales still trailed all but the Ridgeline, with Tacoma leading the pack at 1,055 sold for the
Origin: Ford Ranger sales off to a slow start in Canada and the U.S.
UK pureEV sales on the up despite overall market decline
UK pure-EV sales on the up despite overall market decline Sales of pure-electric vehicles continued to rise in April 2019, despite the UK car market as a whole down 4% on the previous year. Pure-EVs were up more than 63%, with 1,517 registrations in April, though plug-in hybrid vehicles didn’t fare as well. PHEV registrations were down more than a third compared to 2018, with almost 2,000 units sold. The downward trend for PHEV registrations has been going on since the start of 2019 – barring a slight lift in February. With the effective removal of the Plug-in Car Grant for PHEVs from October 2018, it looks as though the support may have been withdrawn too soon for the market. Although hoped that the PHEV market was performing strongly and capable of standing up despite the withdrawal of the grant, a combination of an uncertain UK car market in general, plus no company car BIK rates beyond the next financial year, look to have made the sector a little shaky. The corresponding upturn in EV sales is to be welcomed, and the past two month’s figures have seen the EV/PHEV market split at around 44% against 56% respectively. To compare, in August last year, the split was 17:83. The combined electric vehicle market was down 11% compared to last year, unusually worse off than the overall UK car market. Registration of EVs have usually bucked the trend in recent months, with growth despite an overall dip in sales. Table courtesy of SMMT One of the key choke-points in electric vehicles hitting UK roads is not the lack of demand, if feedback to NGC is anything to go by, rather it is a lack of vehicles. The demand far outstrips supply for a number of the best EVs available, so the future is not bleak as manufacturers up the number of plug-in models leaving the production line. Likewise, new models are coming along all the time, with the Kia e-Niro going on sale for last month’s registration figures, the Audi e-tron set to be included in the next set of results, plus new mass-market models from the likes of VW, Kia, Mini, and Honda all due within the 9-12 months. Diesel sales continue to perform poorly, down to less than 30% of market share, and -9% against an already troublesome 2018 figure. Petrol sales continue to rise and are approaching 65% of market share, while alternatively fuelled vehicles – which bundle together EVs, PHEVs, and hybrids – increased to 6.4% market share for April 2019.
Origin: UK pureEV sales on the up despite overall market decline
News Roundup: Tesla sales stall, a Model S catches fire, and what to make of Rivian
A Tesla car arrives at a service center in Los Angeles, California on March 4, 2019.Mark Ralston / Getty via AP Dismal Q1 earnings and explosion reports from Tesla, the saga of John Cena’s GT and more fiery auto news from around the world Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam. Here’s what you missed while you were away. The first quarter of 2019 has not been kind to Tesla The Tesla Model 3 Performance Handout / Tesla Tesla is reporting net losses of US$702 million in the first three months of 2019, which is almost six times the profits earned in Q4 of 2018. Ouch! This despite Elon Musk doing what CEOs are wont to do and calling for profits throughout the year. The source of the leaking funds? Delivery woes that have seen a 31 per cent decline in cars actually getting to their owners. Now reports are surfacing that Tesla is trying to stop the bleeding by shuttering stores, cutting staff and shifting sales online. What if the value of a used car depends not on brand but on its owners? Does maintenance trump brand? Handout / Fotolia Driving’s Justin Pritchard has been asked the question, “So what’s the best used car to buy?” many times over his years as an auto journalist. Today, his answer has nothing to do with brand. Instead, he encourages used car shoppers to look for responsible owners with good maintenance rather than nameplates. Finding an owner who was religious in his execution of the vehicle’s ‘maintenance schedule’ is arguably more important than mileage, interior condition or any of the other metrics by which we often measure used cars. As Pritchard puts it, “It’s all about how well you take care of things.” Watch as a Tesla spontaneously combusts in a parking garage in China When will videos of Teslas going up in flames get old? Maybe after this one, but certainly not before. The clip shows the Model S quickly going from smoky to fully engulfed in the crowded parking garage. Video was pulled from the lot’s closed-circuit feed and Tweeted out by @ShanghaiJayin, some sort of self-appointed watchdog to the Chinese EV market who went on to share another video, this time of a NIO ES8 going up in flames at a repair centre in Xi’an, China. Environmentally unfriendly: These are the biggest gas guzzlers of all time Lamborghini Countach Brendan McAleer / Driving As governments and automakers alike set their sites on the electric future, we’re looking back at those vehicles that make gas station owners smile and environmental advocates shudder. Using the Environmental Protection Agency’s records dating back to 1984, we’ve rounded up the most gas-guzzling vehicles of all time, featuring such thirsty beasts as the 7-mpg 1986 Lamborghini Countach, the small but insatiable 1995 Saab 9000 sedan, and the 1,000-horsepower Bugatti Veyron. Rivian’s proposed electric pickup’s numbers don’t really add up Rivian R1T There were many highlights at the recent New York Auto Show, but perhaps none shone brighter than the Rivian R1T electric pickup truck. As one of the main belles at the ball, it also raised a lot of questions. This week, Motor Mouth David Booth pulled out his calculator and green accounting visor to see if he could make sense of the promised 640-km range, advertised weight and what we already know about how EVs function. In short. He couldn’t, saying that “dissecting the numbers, the battery-powered R1T makes a great case for a hydrogen fuel cell.” Slip inside the 10 finest car interiors of 2019 Jeep Gladiator Jeep People make a lot of fuss about tires and engines and paint colours, but the majority of the time spent in cars is spent, well, in them. That’s why ranking their interiors, as WardsAuto recently did, is a worthwhile exercise. The Michigan-based brand tested 32 nominated vehicles, scoring them on design, comfort, ergonomics, materials, fit and finish, and user-friendliness. The top ten includes the Bentley Continental GT, Genesis G70, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Rav 4. Check out the full piece to see if your car made the cut. We built a visual timeline of the saga of John Cena’s 2017 Ford GT John Cena’s 2017 Ford GT crossing the Mecum Auctions block in Dallas in October 2018 Mecum Auctions When John Cena was hand selected to take order of a liquid blue 2017 Ford GT back in fall of 2017, he was instructed by the brand not to sell it for two years, or until late 2019. And considering that said GT was auctioned in February, changing hands for the fifth time, it’s safe to say the big guy didn’t follow the rules. In fact, since Cena sold it just a month after he’d received it, the GT has been the centre of an ongoing scandal. Then there’s the silver GT that’s also being sold against Ford’s wishes. Confused? Our timeline of the Ford-defying GTs should clear things
Origin: News Roundup: Tesla sales stall, a Model S catches fire, and what to make of Rivian
We plotted out the saga of John Cena’s Ford GT and its sales
John Cenas 2017 Ford GT crossing the Mecum Auctions block in Dallas in October 2018Mecum Auctions By the time Mecum Auctions announced February 2019 that it’d be selling John Cena’s 2017 Ford GT again, the car had already traded hands four times, and it was getting hard to keep track. Normally we wouldn’t care about how often the thing got passed between owners, but this is, after all, a model Ford had specifically told its buyers could not be sold for 24 months after purchase. That’s late 2019 at the earliest, in the case of Cena’s car. To complicate things, there is, of course, also that second GT crossing auction blocks against Ford’s wishes. We thought it was time to sort out both cars’ sordid sagas. To that end we’ve plotted them on this simple-to-follow timeline, along with major GT production milestones. But if you need a little background first, we can catch you up, too. The new GT is, to make an understatement, unlike any other Ford that’s come before it. From the performance specs to the manufacturing methods, the Blue Oval’s never put a car together like this. Getting your hands on one is different, too: Ford decided to, like Ferrari and other boutique automakers, hand-select the owner of each new GT built. You had to throw your application in with 6,505 other enthusiasts, and if you had the right stuff, you’d get a thumbs up and put on the list for one of the 500 cars Ford planned to build (after you forked over more than US$450,000, of course). Ford added a clause to its buyers’ contracts keeping them from selling the car for two years, so that people couldn’t flip the hard-to-get high-end supercars for their own profit. But then John Cena let his go. After just a few days with the car, the wrestler and entertainer sold the car for a little more than what he paid for, and suddenly this car you couldn’t just get—could be got, for the right price. Then a second silver GT hit the open market, and before long it and Cena’s car were on auction blocks around the U.S. selling for millions, and Ford was launching legal action against anyone involved in their sale. You can pick up the timeline from there.
Origin: We plotted out the saga of John Cena’s Ford GT and its sales
GM questions FCA sales practices as Ram numbers edge out Chevy
2019 Ram 1500 RebelFCA The North American truck sales wars are heating up, as the Ram 1500 settles into the second place position for the first quarter of 2019 and GM moans about it. The Ford F-150 remains king of the hill this year with 214,611 F-Series truck sales in Q1—no real surprise there. But there has been a shift in power below it, with FCA’s full-size pickup truck edging out the competition, thanks partly to aggressive sales and promotion tactics put in place by the brand. The Ram 1500 displaced the Chevy Silverado as the second most-purchased full-size pickup truck in the market, with FCA moving 120,026 Ram 1500s compared to Chevy’s 114,313 Silverados. But GM claims the turning point is due to FCA’s dirty tricks. GM spokesman Jim Cain told the Detroit Free Press “the Ram pickup’s first-quarter sales victory over Silverado amounted to a hollow chocolate Easter bunny because FCA has been pulling out all stops to win sales.” It’s a clever metaphor, but not clever enough to mask some obvious soreness. Of course FCA pulled out all the stops to win! In a competition as close as this, that’s what the runner-up should be expected to do. “All the stops” in this context refers to FCA’s offering US$8,500 bonuses to dealers that put Ram Classics into their courtesy fleets; providing up to US$18,000 discounts on Ram Classic in certain key markets like Texas; and pursuing short-term leases to Detroit employees and their families. And while those incentives may be aggressive, there’s nothing technically unethical about them. And they’re obviously working. Fiat Chrysler calls its strategy competitive, plain and simple. FCA is committed to providing competitive products at competitive prices in the marketplace,” the company said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press. “Our incentives constantly change, and vehicle prices can vary by dealership.” Your move,
Origin: GM questions FCA sales practices as Ram numbers edge out Chevy
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