OMODA&JAECOO has officially announced the appointment of Gary Lan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the UK, effective immediately. In his new role, Lan will be responsible for steering the company’s operations across the United Kingdom, overseeing the expansion of the OMODA and JAECOO brands, and strengthening their presence in one of Europe’s key automotive markets. Lan’s appointment marks a crucial milestone for the company, coinciding with the official UK debut of the JAECOO brand and the start of JAECOO 7 customer deliveries at the end of January 2025. This follows closely on the heels of OMODA’s launch in September…

The leading all-electric parcel delivery company HIVED has placed an order for 11 Mercedes-Benz eActros, recently voted International Truck of the Year 2025, as it expands the UK’s only end-to-end electric delivery network, covering middle and final mile. HIVED has ordered nine eActros 600 and two eActros 400 from Mercedes-Benz Dealer partner, Motus Truck & Van. They will operate across HIVED’s nationwide middle mile network, collecting from retailer warehouses for delivery to end customers. The eActros 600 is the perfect choice for HIVED’s middle mile deliveries as its large battery capacity of over 600 kWh1 means it can travel at…

The UK’s used car market grew by 5.5% to 7,643,180 transactions in 2024, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Marking eight quarters of continuous growth, the year saw 400,488 more vehicles change hands than in 2023, with growth in the new car market fuelling availability and wider choice within the used sector.1 Transactions rose in every month in 2024, as they did in 2023, with Q4 up 4.0% to 1,746,051 units. The top three popular body types remained the same for another year, with superminis taking the top spot,…

New 2024 eBay data reveals residents of Romford, East London, continue to be the UK’s most security- conscious car owners, purchasing the highest number of vehicle security accessories per capita. Following Romford, Llandudno, Conwy, and Redhill in Surrey rank second and third, while Dorchester, Dorset, and Truro, Cornwall, round out the top five. eBay’s analysis, based on vehicle security product purchases throughout 2024, highlights a growing shift towards traditional, non-electronic car security solutions. Security Trends: A Return to Traditional Protection In 2024, searches for traditional security accessories—such as Faraday pouches and steering wheel locks—increased by 2.75% compared to 2023. Most…

Goldilock, the network segmentation and isolation specialist backed by NATO, has announced the expansion of its West Midlands headquarters to support its rapid growth trajectory. The company behind network isolation tool, FireBreak, has expanded its manufacturing and testing facilities in the University of Wolverhampton Science Park to help deliver on increasing numbers of large orders coming in from its growing global customer base. Goldilock is a UK based cyber security scaleup which has developed a unique network isolation and segmentation device that ringfences networks away from the internet to make them inaccessible to hackers. Over the past year, FireBreak has…

Installing a dashcam is an investment in road safety, says breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist. According to GEM, a dashcam can provide crucial evidence in case of collisions or incidents, helping to determine fault and protect against false claims. That’s why a number of insurers offer discounts for drivers who use them. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “If you’re a safe, conscientious driver, a dashcam helps protect your no-claims bonus, as well as allowing you to play your part in reporting offences, road rage incidents and ‘crash-for-cash’ scams.” Price drops in recent years have made dashcams much…

During this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, Volkswagen Group UK is not only celebrating with a visit to the Houses of Parliament to showcase network skills, but also launching a number of new head office apprenticeship roles. On Monday, our National Learning Centre apprenticeship team and seven learners took part in a Society of Manufacturers and Traders event at the Houses of Parliament. They had the chance to showcase their learnings and share their passion for working in the automotive industry with sector leaders and politicians, as well as to undertake an unforgettable guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. Volkswagen…

Top employers in the UK automotive sector are investing in a major skills drive to grow apprenticeship numbers by almost a sixth in 2025, according to a new survey by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), as manufacturers embark on a ‘green growth decade’. With the UK celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (10-16 February), there are few more exciting places for apprentices to be than automotive, as the sector innovates to deliver a new generation of zero emission vehicles. More than £20 billion of investment has been committed to Britain’s EV transition in the past two years alone1 –…

In 1977 West Germany, women did not have the right to work unless they had their husband’s permission. This meant that women who were the heir to their family business could not necessarily be one if they did not have their husband’s permission. Japan has an unusual way of dealing with the so-called ‘problem’ of running a family business without a male successor- they simply adopt a son. Kazunori Kaneko of the consultancy Business Succession Center says that about 10% of the family businesses that do not have a male heir adopt a son. In more recent times, the 2016…

Ferrari North Europe has been invited to join the “National Apprenticeship Week Supporters Club,” which highlights organisations dedicated to continuous professional development through diverse and impactful apprenticeship programmes. Between 10 – 16 February, all 15 UK-based Ferrari Dealerships will open their workshop doors to host a range of events, giving young people a chance to learn about potential opportunities through the “Ferrari North Europe Apprenticeship Programme”, now in its 15th year. The 15 Ferrari dealerships taking part in this activity are as follows: Dealership Date of Activity Carrs, Exeter Friday 14 February Charles Hurst, Belfast Saturday 15 February Dick Lovett,…