THE LATEST UK CAR NEWS | AUGUST 2024

EV Channels Review

This August 2024 UK car news roundup covers a range of significant updates and industry trends. The departure of the Peugeot 508 with its internal combustion engine is lamented, though it will continue as a plug-in hybrid GT trim until year-end. A concerning report highlights that nearly 3 million cars failed their MOTs incorrectly, with tires, brakes, and suspension being the most common areas of misdiagnosis, raising questions about testing standards. The revenue generated by Low Emission Zones (LEZs) is scrutinized, with findings that over half of the income comes from fines rather than daily charges, prompting criticism of councils' reliance on penalty notices. Labor's potential reversal on fuel duty promises is noted, with HM Treasury indicating difficult decisions ahead regarding spending and taxation to address public finances. First images of the Tesla Model Y 'Juniper' facelift have surfaced, featuring a rear light bar and interior ambient lighting, with an expected announcement in October. The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is praised for its powerful V8 engine. EV charging infrastructure rollout is progressing, but regional inequalities persist, particularly in the Southwest and parts of the North, with local council planning permission cited as a bottleneck. JLR is increasing its EV investment to £18 billion, hedging against slower EV uptake by extending the parallel production of ICE vehicles. Fiat will integrate charging cables into the Panda's fascia, and a trial exploring Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology for EV fleets to power local grids is underway. Finally, Uber is partnering with BYD to offer discounted EVs to drivers, addressing purchase price and finance availability as key barriers to EV adoption.