A survey commissioned by Apollo Tyres has found that only six per cent of motorists in the UK are able to correctly identify a tyre’s load rating. Worse still, it turns out we’re only half as good at accomplishing this task as the Germans are. Thankfully, younger Brits give hope that this may change in future.
In the run-up to the launch of its first Vredestein tyre developed specifically for electric vehicles (EV), Apollo Tyres asked 1,000 motorists if they were aware that such products even exist. The response wasn’t encouraging, with the results suggesting that 82 per cent of UK motorists are unaware it is possible to purchase specifically-developed EV tyres.
“It is disappointing to see that motorcycle and scooter dealers’ average satisfaction levels with their respective manufacturers have fallen across the board”, said Stephen Latham, interim head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) commenting on the results of the latest, recently-published NMDA Spring 2022 Dealer Attitude Survey (DAS).
Goodyear has published the results of its first Sustainable Reality Survey, an investigation into what actions truck fleets and transport companies are taking to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as the sustainability plans they have in place and the obstacles still standing in their way. The tyre maker says the results proved encouraging.
This year, Goodyear asked fleet operators in Europe for their views on issues related to sustainability and what they’re doing to reduce carbon footprint. A total of 985 fleets from 36 European countries responded during August and September 2021, and the results of this 2021 Goodyear Sustainable Reality Survey are now out and available from Goodyear upon request. Responses suggest that sustainability has a significant prominence for operators in the transportation industry.
With the fuel shortage appearing to ease in most regions and the situation back to normal in many locations – excepting London and the South East – new figures reveal how many drivers have been affected since the crisis began.
Goodyear is inviting transport and logistics companies based in Europe to participate in its Sustainable Reality Survey and share their insights regarding more sustainable transportation. To encourage participation, the tyre maker will plant a tree for each fleet respondent completing the survey in collaboration with non-profit reforestation organisation Tree-Nation.
The car industry faces strong resistance from much of the British public in its drive to persuade us to buy electric vehicles, a nationally representative survey has found. Digital pollsters Findoutnow.co.uk asked nearly 5,500 people: Would you consider an electric car for your next purchase/lease? Fewer than 2 per cent said they owned one already, while more than 38 per cent offered a flat “no”. Less than half (45.5 per cent) answered “yes”.
Surging demand for new hybrid cars is also being reflected in the used market, with the online car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk reporting its highest-ever proportion of hybrid customers. But a gap is emerging between brands when it comes to the popularity of hybrid as a consumer choice over diesel or petrol, BuyaCar analysts say.
More than half of European drivers with all-season tyres choose them for their convenience as all-season tyres do not need to be changed twice a year. Another reason, according to the survey conducted by Nokian Tyres in the past year, is the safety aspect. 50 per cent believe that all-season tyres are safe enough to use throughout the whole year in central Europe and they meet all the regulatory requirements for winter tyres. The survey was conducted in four countries: Germany, France, Italy and Poland. The new Nokian Seasonproof all-season tyre is designed for drivers who need reliability and first-class safety for snowy and slushy winter days but who also want top-notch performance and effortless driving feel in the summer.
Read our sister site WhatTyre’s most recommended all-season tyres for 2021, the winner of the inaugural WhatTyre All-Season Tyre of the Year, and why an all-season tyre was WhatTyre’s pick for the overall 2021 Tyre of the Year.
Uswitch, the comparison website, recently commissioned a survey among UK motorists to test their knowledge of the rules concerning when headlights should be switched on. Says Joel Kempson, Personal Finance Writer and car insurance expert at Uswitch; “With the days getting longer, and restrictions easing, we’ll soon be hopping back into our cars for the first time in months. And although they say driving is like riding a bike – you never forget – there are some things that do slip our minds.”
Almost one in seven (14 per cent) UK drivers have considered getting rid of their car because of the pandemic (17 per cent men and 11 per cent women), rising to one in three (35 per cent) of under 34s. According to a new survey of 2,000 UK drivers by InsuretheGap, a provider of Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance, over half (56 per cent) say they do not need a car as much as they did before the pandemic (53 per cent men and 59 per cent women).
Fresh evidence has emerged of the rapidly-growing appeal of electric vehicles for drivers, with a majority of motorists now saying they will consider one ‘in the near future’. That’s according to research by the online car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk, which is tracking the attitude of motorists to electric vehicle adoption. It’s the first time a majority of car buyers have signalled that their switch to an EV is imminent.
More motorists are booking joint MOT and service procedures and MOT failures rates are expected to increase, according to service and repair shops. Indeed, demand for combined MOT and service procedures increased almost 50 per cent last month (48%), according to BookMyGarage.com. Meanwhile, MOT-only bookings were down in February compared with February 2020
Despite growing competition by manufacturers and retailers in promoting their electric vehicle offerings, a recent survey of 200 drivers by Venson Automotive Solutions confirms that the most important factors for people when considering an electric vehicle (EV) remain battery and price, closely followed by the vehicle’s safety rating. With EV sales predicted to rocket in the next couple of years, marketing brand lifestyle and experience may fall short when compared to pushing the practicalities of owning and driving an emissions free vehicle.
Rathaphon Nanthapreecha; Pexels
Nokian
The Motor Ombudsman