Trod a tightrope - 9 December 2025

FOLLOW UP: MOTOR FINANCE CLAIMS TO RESTARTThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is restarting finance mis-selling claims on 31 May 2026, which is earlier than previously announced. The FCA states this should be enough time for companies to ready their compensation schemes. You can find out more, by clicking this Motor Trade article link here. NOVEMBER 2025 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURESThe SMMT has released the new car registration figures for November 2025. The overall market dropped 1.6%, year on year. Battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid numbers all rose, with petrol and diesel dropping. Fleet once again is the major market, at 61% of all registrations, whilst Private and Business make up the rest. Click this link to see more, from SMMT. VAUXHALL LOSE THEIR MD Steve Catlin has left his role as managing director of Vauxhall, after only eight months in charge. Citing “personal reasons”, his seat will be taken over by Stellantis UK managing director Eurig Druce. If you wish to find out more, click this Motor Trader article link here. ZIPCAR PAUSES UK OPERATIONS DUE TO LOSSESZipcar, a car sharing company operating in the UK but is US based, is pausing all operations in this country due to £11.7 million loss in 2024. Blaming charging costs, insurance and larger than expected depreciation the company has opened a consultation with employees. Additionally, from 2 January 2026 EVs will be liable for the Congestion Charge in central London. To read more, click this Autocar article here. BEE NETWORK SPEEDS UP EV FLEET SIZETransport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is investing £65 million to enable more of the bus fleet to be electric as well as move the train-tram development for one particular corridor. If you would like to find out more, click this Sustainable Bus article link here. ROYAL MAIL GAINS ELECTRIC HGVS FOR MIDLANDS AND NORTH WESTRoyal Mail is going to use electric HGVs at their North West and Midlands hubs, delivering between the hubs and mail centres. They will be utilising eight vehicles which will replace diesel versions. You can read more, by clicking this edie article link here. NEW ‘WOMEN IN AUTOMOTIVE’ JOURNAL LAUNCHEDRygor Group, a car retail company, has launched a ‘Women in Automotive’ journal, to help inspire, inform and empower women and girls where they hopefully pursue a career in the automotive world. Women from across the company, as well as partners such as Ben, The Automotive Charity and Motor Trader, have had their advice published. If you want to find out more, click this Motor Trader article link here. If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Mercedes-Benz GLBMercedes has released information about their new GLB SUV that will come with the option of EV or hybrid petrol powertrains. Utilising the MMA compact cars architecture, even though it is a seven seat vehicle. Prices are expected to be around £41,000 for the hybrid and around £50,000 for the EV. Click this Autocar article link to find out more. Toyota GR GTToyota surprised us all with the unveiling of ‘a race car for the road’, which they back up by also showing off an FIA GT3 spec version. Power comes from a new V8 combined with a hybrid powertrain that will give a boost rather than any electric only running. This large two seater coupe’s design is all about function rather than form. Click this EVO article link here for more information. Hyundai Crater conceptHyundai revealed a rugged off-road concept, from their XRT range, at the LA Mobility Show. This is a small SUV that is designed for adventure and looks great. There is no indication as to how much will make it to future models but we’d love to see this in production. Click this Top Gear article link for more. DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: GERRY MCGOVERN LEAVES JLRLast week shocking reports started to swirl around the internet, that Gerry McGovern had been unceremoniously kicked out of JLR. A week later we are none the wiser as to what has actually gone on and why. The silence is a worry as it is allowing the rumour mill to come up with a variety of possible stories. If you wish to find out more, click this Autocar article link here. LUNCHTIME READ: UNFINISHEDNew to us outlet, Alloy, is where we are linking you to this week as Tim Stevens discusses how what he saw previously in software and gaming is being mirrored by software in cars and this is not a good thing. To read our recommendation, click this link here. LIST OF THE WEEK: TOP 10 MISUNDERSTOOD CLASSICSHagerty provides the thought provoking list, this week. Possibly challenging you to reconsider your opinion on ten classics. Click this link here to see your options. AND FINALLY: AUTO DIDAKT MERCEDES SL REVIEWAuto Didakt reviews the Mercedes-Benz SL (R129). Always an enjoyable and educational event, click this YouTube link to enjoy.