Five months after the introduction of Automotive Kitemark system, there are only three accredited workshops for consumers to choose from. So far the British Standards Institute says it has received fewer than 100 applications from the UK’s 25,000 garages.
According to What Car, numerous mystery shop reports have all shown motorists are routinely overcharged, told they need unnecessary work or left with cars in a dangerous, un-roadworthy condition.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has published its annual ‘Motor Industry of Great Britain’ for 2005. As usual, the 220-page report contains a wealth of information and statistics concerning the world automotive industry. If you want to know how many cars per 1,000 population there are in Bolivia, for example, then this is the publication for you. (The answer, by the way, is ‘three’.)
2005 saw the UK car market record the sharpest decline amongst the EU15 countries. While registrations were strong in December (158.866 units against 144,353 in December 2004), the 8.7 per cent increase disguised what was an undoubtedly tough year.
Germany, Europe’s largest car market, showed the opposite trend, recording an 8.8 per cent dip in December but 1.6 per cent growth over the year. 3,319, 825 new cars were registered in Germany in 2005. France showed the strongest growth in Europe with annual registrations increasing 2.7 per cent to 2,067,818 in 2005, despite slowing 1.4 per cent in December.
Commercial vehicle registrations are “on track,” according to SMMT statistics that have recorded 394,738 registrations for the rolling year to September. Last month’s figures were slightly down at 0.6 per cent, but the year to date is up by 1.6 per cent.
Newly released registration figures show that total European passenger car registrations in May dropped 1.7 per cent to 1,290,933, across the continent, with UK numbers falling 3.4 per cent to 187,900 units. The figure also show that in the UK diesels cars now occupy 36.8 per cent of the market, the highest point so far in 2005. Convertibles have also increased in popularity, with the sector now accounting for a record six per cent of May registrations.
The Commercial Vehicle and Automotive Trade Show held last month, comprised of over 600 exhibitors, spread over 90,000 square metres and 11 halls making this year’s event the largest show ever held in the UK. Home to the UK’s road transport and automotive aftermarket businesses there were more car, van, truck, trailer, bodywork and road transport suppliers at the exhibition than at any other business to business show in Europe over the last year.
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The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) has confirmed that 26,843 visitors attended the 2005 combined Commercial Vehicle Show and Automotive Trade Show in April.
Demographic data, provided by visitor registration company CTS, shows that those 26,843 visitors had more purchasing power this year than at any previous CV Show and ATS says the SMMT. A detailed breakdown of visitors showed that 72.3 per cent were at owner, director or senior manager level.
The SMMT believes that these figures confirm the informal feedback from exhibitors during and after the event, suggesting that visitors and business leads were of a very high quality. Visitors came from across the UK and Ireland, with a further 1,000 from overseas, finding the NEC an ideal place for a business-to-business event of this type.
The 2006 CV Show and ATS will be on 25, 26 and 27 April, in halls 1 to 5 of the NEC.
Provisional output data released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics shows that UK car production rose 10.6 per cent, or 13,689 units, in April.
This puts the year-to-date total above the 2004 level for first time this year.
Both output for home and export volumes rose by over 10 per cent last month.
“Despite problems at Longbridge, today’s figures show that the UK still has a strong vehicle manufacturing base”, said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan.
Roger Putnam, chairman of Ford of Britain, is to take up the position as president of the SMMT. He succeeds Tod Evans, former chairman, Peugeot Citroën Automobiles UK Ltd, in leading the motor industry trade association for the 12 months from June 2005.
Commenting on the announcement, Roger Putnam said: “I am proud and honoured to become SMMT president for 2005-06. The industry faces some significant challenges in balancing the needs of its customers, in coping with regulatory pressures, and in dealing with a challenging manufacturing environment. I want to play my part in ensuring that issues like skills, R&D and productivity are given the profile they deserve.”
179,457 new cars left showrooms last month, down 4.0 per cent on April 2004, according to figures released today by the SMMT. The diesel market rose 6.6 per cent in April, up 4.5 per cent over the year-to-date.
“On five of the last six occasions, new car registrations have received a boost immediately after a general election”, commented Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. “However, March figures showed that the market had already started to pick up after a disappointing start to the year. April’s dip has largely been dominated by MG Rover but it seems that the crisis has not had a significant effect on consumer confidence across the wider industry. The market remains healthy with registrations expected to hit 2.45 million units by the end of the year.”
On Saturday 16 July, BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund will, for one night only, transform the grounds of Lynwood, its residential centre near Ascot, into a traditional fairground with a difference.
The SMMT have described this years Commercial Vehicle Show and Automotive Trade Show as “an outstanding success.” Provisional figures show that almost 27,000 visitors attended the three-day event at the NEC last week.
“The CV Show and ATS is the most successful show of its type in Europe,” said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan. “Last week’s excellent event reinforced that market-leading position, delivering multi-million pound business opportunities to 632 exhibitors and thousands of trade visitors. We know that many exhibitors made good use of the opportunities we delivered and collectively announced billions of pounds worth of new business.”
The CV and Automotive Trade Show guides and fast track passes are arriving this week for pre-registered visitors, reports the SMMT. The show organisers are encouraging those who wish to register to do so by 30 March and visitors will get a free show guide and fast-track entry pass.
“Register this week, online,” says Bob Sockl of Crystal Communications, which markets the show on behalf of the SMMT and CV Show partnership. “But if you can’t, don’t worry, you’ll still be most welcome and will still get to see Europe’s biggest and most successful automotive, CV and road transport show.”
The UK’s February new car registrations are down 14,368 units or 15.7 per cent to 77,092. However the decrease was expected due to the twice-yearly plate change, reports the SMMT with February accounting for a mere 3.5 per cent of the annual market.
Commenting on the figures, SMMT chief executive, Christopher Macgowan, said, ‘February is traditionally a slow month as new car buyers and the motor industry prepare for the surge that accompanies the March plate change. After last year’s significant growth in the first quarter, we expect March registrations to fall by around six per cent. While this is lower than last year’s record total, it still represents a new car market in good shape.’
UK car production fell 3.7 per cent or 5,286 units in January 2005, reports the SMMT. At the same time output for the home market climbed 4.3 per cent. However, production for export markets fell by 7.5 per cent, compared to a growth of 12.4 per cent a year ago.
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