The Chancellor of the Exchequer vowed to champion “the great British white van driver” with a review of VED rates and brought forward the business rates review in his Spring Statement 2018. In a speech in the Commons which laid out GDP growth and reducing debt levels predicted by the latest OBR reports, the Philip Hammond said that he aimed to “champion business” with the measures. Addressing the house, he said that a review of business rates would now take place in 2021 in a move that would also usher-in “triennial reviews from then on”. He said this came on top of a review of business rates, which resulted from the Autumn Budget, which he claimed would reduce rates for small business by over £10 billion. An £80 million fund was also announced to help small businesses in their recruitment of apprentices in light of the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy last year. Mr Hammond said that the move had come in recognition of the “changes the system represents”. In a move that the chancellor would “help the great British white van driver”, the Chancellor said that a review of VED road tax would look to bring in a reduction in expense for the greenest commercial vehicles. The OBR’s latest predictions for economic growth in the UK were revised up from 1.4% to 1.5% for 2018, with 1.3% growth in 2019 and 2020 before a rise to 1.4% in 2021 and 1.5% in 2022. Paul Johnson, at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, moved quickly to dispel any suggestion that the revised forecast was worthy of celebration, however. In a Tweet posted during the Chancellor’s speech, he said: “Against a long term trend of at least 2% a year growth, after poor growth since 2008, and compared with growth across rest of OECD, these are not encouraging forecasts.”
Two automotive retailers were named in the Government’s latest list to name and shame employers that failed to pay the legal minimum wage.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders have led calls for a change in government policy to help lower CO2 emissions after the total UK fleet recorded an increase of 0.8% during 2017.
The National Franchised Dealers Association is among automotive sector representatives who have given evidence to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee ahead of a publication of a report into EV adoption.
MPs have called for the return Motability scheme funds to the treasury after it emerged that the charity was holding on to £2.4 billion after “decades” of underspending to the tune of more than £200 million-per-year.
Car retailers face a £158.5 million tax rise over the next five years as “further increased liabilities if investing” place further pressure on an industry which has lost one-in-ten locations since 2009.
The UK government plans a law change which will hold vehicle importers and dealer-distributors to account if vehicles are sold with emissions defeat devices.
The Government has announced a £9.8 million investment in a Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging trial, led by Nissan.
The IMI has claimed that a combination of confusion surrounding the Apprenticeship Levy and the “increased administrative burden” it placed on employers could be to blame for a 26.5% decline in new apprentices.
A campaign by the National Franchised Retailers to promote a greater understanding of automotive retail saw the Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP step into the showroom at Inchcape Volkswagen in Twickenham.
The Department for Transport has ditched plans to extend the wait on a new car's initial MOT from three to four years due to concerns about road safety, following Government consultation period.
The development of connected and autonomous vehicles in the UK has received Government funding of almost £60 million as part of a new joint venture with automotive businesses.
The Institute of the Motor Industry is preparing for a meeting with the Minister of State at the Department for Transport to discuss the implementation of a Licence to Practice for technicians working on high-voltage AFVs.
Diesel car buyers could be put off a new purchase after new tax measures announced in Philip Hammond's 2017 Autumn Budget added upto £300 to the first year VED rate.
The NFDA has called on the government to boost EV adoption with grant funding, improve EV tax breaks and freeze fuel duty ahead of next week’s 2017 government budget.
Car manufacturing chiefs have told ministers that a no-deal Brexit would create a trading climate that could prove “semi-catastrophic” to their businesses.
Diesel vehicles' fate is sealed according to car retailers speaking ahead of a government budget which is likely to a strict new tax regime for vehicles powered by the fuel.
The Government has been urged to do more to drive the uptake of electric vehicles as manufacturers gear up to spend billions of pounds on their development.
More than half of UK drivers would not consider an incentive of less than £3,000 to scrap current their vehicle for a cleaner model, according to research carried out by Carwow.
If manufacturers or the government echo the 2009 scrappage scheme to get diesel cars off the road, the 2040 ban on new diesel sales could be a boon for the UK car industry and for investment.
