Strong demand for British-built cars abroad has resulted in UK production in April outstripping the number made a year ago by nearly 10 per cent.

Traders say the new figures show that the UK – where almost 500,000 cars were built in the first four months of this year, more than four-fifths for export – is still one of the most competitive countries for manufacturers of cars, engines and commercial vehicles.

The figures show that 94,352 cars were made in the UK in April, 9.3 per cent more than in the same month in 2011 and driving up figures by 11.8 per cent for the first four months of 2012 leaving more motorists than ever needing
breakdown cover for their new vehicles.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “Sustained investment is delivering desirable products to markets around the world and efforts by employees, trades unions and government are helping ensure the UK remains one of the most competitive locations for global automotive companies.”

Figures also show the number of British-build engines rose 1.2 per cent in April to 192,408 with production of commercial vehicles up 3.2 per cent to nearly 9,000.

Some of the rarest Aston Martins ever produced are to go under the hammer at a special auction in the luxury carmaker’s home town, according to reports.

On May 19 auction specialist Bonhams will offer 50 of the most sought after Aston Martins ever made for bidders to fight over, including some cars with particularly unusual histories.

Lot 205 is a 1971 DBS estate, and is the only version of the car ever made. The unique vehicle, which was tailor made for a Scottish laird who wanted to use it for fishing trips, is expected to fetch up to £70,000 at auction.

Several of the lots are best known for their previous owners, including a convertible 1994 Virage Volante, formerly owned by the Prince of Wales, but perhaps the most significant lot of all is a 1991 DB4GT Zagato, which was formerly the property of rock legend Phil Collins’ manager Tony Smith. The car is expected to fetch around £1.3m at auction.

People attending the auction are reminded that while classic cars are reliably beautiful, they enjoy a less positive reputation on the road, and that
breakdown cover is a vital part of classic car ownership.

Copyright Press Association 2012

The UK motor industry has received a massive boost with the news that Vauxhall’s Merseyside plant will build the next generation of the Astra model.

It comes after workers at the firm’s Ellesmere Port site voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new pay and conditions deal.

Unite union members at the plant backed the new terms by 94% after several days of voting.

The decision to build the Astra in the UK could boost demand for Vauxhall models, which could have wider implications for firms supplying car insurance and
breakdown cover .

Vauxhall said the move would also create hundreds of new jobs at Ellesmere Port, which already employs 2,100 people.

Following the announcement, Business Secretary Vince Cable praised Vauxhall’s “committed” employees for their willingness to embrace flexible working arrangements.

The 50-year-old Ellesmere Port site was first used to build the Vauxhall Viva in the 1960s. It currently produces the Astra Sports Tourer, making 140,000 models last year.

The construction of the Kingskerswell bypass in Devon has been given the green light after the Government approved funding for the project.

Costing a total of £109.2 million, the new dual carriageway bypass will stretch more than three miles, linking Newton Abbott and Torbay. It will also include a flyover section at Penn Inn.

Transport secretary Justine Greening said: “The people of Kingskerswell will no longer have to put up with endless traffic jams, exhaust fumes and trucks thundering through the village.

“The road will really open up Torbay for tourism, creating jobs while providing a more pleasant drive for locals and visitors alike.”

Initial work will start later this month, with the main construction scheduled for the autumn.

Developers claim the bypass will reduce 90% of the traffic flow through the village, which might bode well for drivers who are concerned about
breaking down on a small but busy road.

Many motorists in Britain are considering giving up driving to counteract the increasing costs of running a vehicle.

According to research by Glass.co.uk, a car valuation company, 85% of drivers could adopt a different way of living, while 38% may contemplate giving up driving if prices continue to rise at the same level as they have done in the last 12 months.

A staggering 75% of the 2,000 drivers asked said that fuel prices were “out of control” or worse while only 2% said they were happy with the current prices.

As fuel prices continue to rise the need to save money on comprehensive
breakdown cover and car insurance is high.

Drivers now spend on average £102 per month on fuel, while the survey also revealed that an increase in the cost of fuel of 14p to 15p would mean 7% buying less clothes and 11% spending less on socialising.

Vehicle production on British shores is booming with news that the UK exported £6.1 billion worth of cars over the first three months of the year.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal this exceeded the value of imports by £561 million – a 20% rise on the previous quarter.

Exports to non-EU countries – up 28.5% – was one of the main factors for this increase, with the US, China and Russia exhibiting high demand.

The value of cars exported to EU countries also rose by 9.5%.

It indicates a remarkable turnaround for the industry, which has received £4 billion worth of investment from car manufacturers in the past 18 months, including contracts to build new models and improve facilities.

Such is the demand from overseas for British-built vehicles that there is now a trade surplus in cars for the first time in the UK since 1976. This suggests that vehicle-related industries are currently enjoying the glut, such as car insurance and
breakdown cover firms.

A Treasury spokesman commented: “This is very good news for the car manufacturing sector and for the British economy, and all the more impressive given the tough economic conditions we’re seeing across world markets at the moment.”

Police have spent over £60,000 on fixing police cars which have been filled with an incorrect type of fuel.

The most spent by any force was by Strathclyde, Scotland’s biggest force, which spent more than £22,000 in five years. There were 185 occasions when its cars were filled with the wrong fuel.

Fife Constabulary were responsible for costlier individual mishaps, with two incidents in 2008 costing over £5,000 each to repair. The force reported that these had been the only such accidents since 2007.

Grampian Police has made 76 mis-fuelling mistakes since 2007, costing £9,936. In addition, Lothian and Borders and Tayside forces paid bills of around £5,600 each for seven and 26 incidents respectively.

People filling their car with the wrong type of fuel can face all kinds of problems, making
breakdown cover more essential than ever.

Technicians would argue that polishing, regular maintenance and breakdown cover are only relevant if car owners remember to use the right type of fuel.

Mis-fuelling a BMW five years ago cost Lothian and Borders force £5,221.53. The car had been driven after it was wrongly fuelled, resulting in the need for a new fuel system, tank, fuel lines and injectors.

A spokeswoman said: “The job was carried out at a BMW dealer to keep the warranty valid, and therefore there were high labour costs as well.”

Car sellers are shifting more cars than ever with extended loan deals, but new research suggests that poor planning could be causing them to lose business.

In data provided by the Finance and Leasing Association, the proportion of buyers who take on a new car on a credit deal has hit record highs of 65%, meaning two in three people prefer not to pay up front for a new vehicle.

However, information from a separate survey by management firm GForce shows that less than two in five of the UK’s top 200 car dealer websites host tools needed by people looking for showroom credit.

Commenting on the news, commercial director at GForce Tim Smith said: “Most dealer websites have no facility for visitors to generate simple finance quotations. Dealers routinely offer low-cost finance, but many fail to deploy the simple online tools to help them secure a sale.”

The popularity of showroom finance has soared in recent years, as people searching for efficient ways to
break down the cost of a new car look to spread the cost of buying alongside car insurance premiums and road tax.

Copyright Press Association 2012

Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister has proposed changes which could lead to a reduction of the age limit for learner drivers by one year to 16.

Those who are starting to learn to drive may also be permitted to hit the motorways for the first time if proposals by Alex Attwood, a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), are accepted.

According to Mr Attwood, it is vital that learner drivers get accustomed to driving at the national speed limit of 70mph in preparation for taking their practical test. Addressing the Assembly, he said the legislation they have at the moment which forbids provisional licence holders to drive on the motorways is not “very sensible.

“In all of those ways I think we can create opportunities for young drivers to drive, to have a better training regime in preparation for qualification and in a way that can work its way through to reduce insurance costs,” he added.

As soon as learners pass their driving test it is advised they invest in car insurance should their vehicle
break down as they continue getting to grips with becoming a qualified driver.

Motorists have been urged to take extra care when driving on rural roads in the countryside.

Driver training specialist IAM Drive Survive wants to promote a safe approach to driving and has issued guidance from its head of training, Simon Elstow.

Talking about driving in the countryside, Mr Elstow has warned drivers to be aware that vulnerable road users, including cyclists and horses, are more likely to use rural roads and to give them plenty of room when passing them.

The training head also wants drivers to slow down when approaching sharp bends in the road, in order to provide a safe stopping distance should a car or animal stand in a driver’s way.

Mr Elstow said: “Driving on rural roads requires different skills than driving on urban roads. The unexpected hazards, twisty roads and high speed limits make rural roads tricky, so take extra care and adjust your speed to match how far down the road you can see.”

If you happen to be driving in the countryside a lot this summer, cost effective
breakdown cover might prove a useful investment.