Contact us for full library access on: 0330 0020 227 or click here
News
THE UK'S BIKE THEFT HOTSPOTS REVEALED
15 Apr 2024 16:39:27
Are you the owner of a motorcycle? If so, we hope you've got sufficient security measures in place. In the UK between June 2022 and May 2023 for instance, there were 18,361 motorcycles registered as stolen to the DVLA by police. But where are the UK's hotspots for bike theft? And which bike owners should be on high alert? Using a FOI request to the DVLA, Anglo Scottish Finance found which bike models are most often registered as stolen, and which areas are home to the most stolen bikes. Astoundingly, the entire top 10 list of the most-stolen bike models in the UK comprises bikes from just two manufacturers - Yamaha and Honda. Two Japanese manufacturers which share a whole lot of racing pedigree, both Yamaha and Honda are known for building some of the finest bikes around. However, many of the bikes listed on the most-stolen rankings during this time are not the supercharged, modified or rare vehicles you might expect. In fact, all of the most-stolen bikes on this list are “commuter scooters” with engines of 125cc or under! The Yamaha GPD125-A NMAX 125 ABS (it's a bit of a mouthful, we know) tops the list of the most-stolen motorbikes in the UK between June 2022 and May 2023, with 512 models listed as stolen during that time! Honda's competitor, the WW 125-A, comes in second on the list, with 450 models stolen in the same 12-month window. Other variations of the WW 125 also appear in the top 10. The EX2-H variant was stolen 306 times, whilst the EX2-F and EX2-A models were stolen 227 and 190 times respectively. With Honda accounting for seven of the top 10, it's safe to say their bikes are incredibly popular amongst the UK's bike thieves. Two variants of their 110cc model, the NSC 110 E-E and NSC 110 MPDH, also featured in the top 10. The bike theft dataset also included information on which UK cities have reported the highest number of stolen bikes over the last 12 months. By pure numbers of reported motorbike theft, London of course topped the list. With 2,975 bikes reported stolen by London owners, the capital city dwarfs the rest of the cities in the top 10 combined! It was followed by Bristol (482), Birmingham (309), Manchester (308), and Leeds (64). However, when the stolen bike figures are adjusted for each city's size, the results are a little more surprising. In fact, Cambridge had the dubious honour of topping the list of bike theft, with 99 reported thefts per 100,000 people. Southampton came in second place, with 82 thefts per 100,000 people in the city. Manchester and Bristol were tied with 78 thefts per 100,000 people, whilst Nottingham ranked fifth, with 76 thefts per 100,000 people.
THE COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN EV SALES
15 Apr 2024 16:38:58
The countries with the highest growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales have been revealed - with Brazil topping the list. Experts at confused.com compared the annual change in EV sales since 2017 globally, to reveal the following top 10 countries with the biggest increase. Brazil tops the list with a staggering 285.5% annual growth in EV sales. Israel and India follow closely, with 281.8% and 183.4%, respectively. The research also revealed: - The average annual change in EV sales in the UK is 91.2% since 2017. While that's a solid number, the country ranks 12th globally (for countries with sales data). - Turkey and Greece stand out with annual growth rates of 165% and 140.1%, even though they began with smaller EV markets. - China still leads the way for total EVs, with 4.4 million sold but an annual growth of just 68.6% since 2017. - The US has an annual growth rate of 62.1% - trailing behind many smaller nations. Louise Thomas of confused.com says; “Many are drawn to electric vehicles, but switching to an EV comes with its own set of challenges. The initial cost of the vehicle, along with the cost of insurance, are the main barriers. While EV prices have been dropping, they're often still more expensive than diesel and petrol cars. And even though you might save on fuel and maintenance in the long run, EV insurance can be an expensive initial cost.”
CINCH REVEALS 20 CARS DESTINED TO BECOME 'FUTURE CLASSICS'
15 Apr 2024 16:37:52
The demand for cult classic cars continues to grow, as seen by the number of high-end car auctions and prices paid for the most sought-after models. cinch has compiled a list of readily available used cars that look destined to become future classics. Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, has compiled a list of 20 cars that look destined to become desirable classics of the future: BMW i8, Volkswagen Golf GTI, BMW M2, Honda e, Tesla Model X, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Hyundai i20 N, Maserati GranTurismo, Mazda MX-5, Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Porsche Taycan, Ford Fiesta ST, Abarth 124 Spider, Ford Mustang, BMW i3, Fiat Panda 4x4, Suzuki Swift Sport, Jaguar XE S, Range Rover Evoque These 'Future Classics' were spoken about by classic car enthusiast Chris Evans, as part of the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio. Chris said, “As a lover of classic cars, I'm always on the lookout for current models that stand out from the crowd and look likely to stand the test of time. The cars on this list all have lots going for them, but I particularly like the Mercedes AMG GT and the Mazda MX-5. Three other cars I predict to become future classics are the Jeep Wrangler, Fiat's 595 and the small-but-perfectly-formed Volkswagen up! GTI.”
NEW STUDY REVEALS THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS F1 CIRCUITS
15 Apr 2024 16:36:38
A new study by Vegas Gems reveals that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit in the US is the most dangerous Formula One circuit. The study analysed the number of fatal accidents in Formula One in each of the circuits that are part of the calendar and those that are not anymore and compared them to the number of Grand Prix held at the venue to discover the percentage of fatal accidents. At the top of the list is US Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where there have been seven fatal accidents and 19 Grand Prix, resulting in a 36.84% rate of accidents registered. While the circuit is renowned for the Indianapolis 500, the Formula 1 races in the early 2000s raised concerns. Including a banked oval section led to unique challenges for F1 cars not designed for such tracks. The Brands Hatch Circuit in the United Kingdom, takes second place with 21.43% of accidents registered, as there have been three fatal accidents and 14 Grand Prix. Brands Hatch Circuit in the United Kingdom In third place comes the Nürburgring in Germany, where there has been an 11.9% accident rate, as there have been five accidents over 42 Grand Prix held. The most recent accident was in 1969 when Gerhard Mitter crashed his BMW 269 during a practice race. Further down on the list, three circuits are in fourth place with a 10% accident rate: the Circuit Zolder in Belgium, the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa and the Watkins Glen International circuit in the United States. There has been one fatal accident over 10 Grand Prix in Belgian circuit and two accidents over 20 Grand Prix in South Africa and the US circuits. The top five closes with Circuit Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, where three drivers lost their lives over 33 Grand Prix held, making the accident rate 9.09%.
THE UK REGIONS MOST AFFECTED BY CAR INSURANCE INCREASES
15 Apr 2024 16:35:36
A new study has identified which region is home to the households with the most cars or vans, with Birmingham ranking first. Conducted by Howden Insurance, the research utilised data from the 2021 census. The analysis focussed on the number of available cars per household across the top 25 largest regions in England and Wales. Of the 423,456 households in Birmingham, 6.3% have at least three cars or vans (26,683), while almost a third (31.7%) of households don't have any cars or vans. Birmingham also has the most households with one and two cars or vans at 176,325 and 86,325, respectively (0.7% and 0.3% of the total number of households in England and Wales). Birmingham City Council aims to reduce transport's impact on the environment, supporting the city's commitment to becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030. With 142,676 households having one car or van, Leeds reflects a pattern similar to Birmingham, with many relying on one vehicle (41.8% of the city's total households). Leeds also reports 98,083 households without any cars or vans, suggesting a strong public transportation network or urban layout conducive to non-vehicle travel. Each city shows varying degrees of reliance on personal vehicles. Sheffield, for example, has 67,843 households without any cars or vans and 14,381 households with three or more cars or vans (29.2% and 6.2% respectively). In Manchester, 7,084 households have three or more cars and vans (3.3%), and 83,770 households have no cars or vans. The city places fourth in the ranking for households with just a single vehicle, with 92,267 (43%). Overall, the total number of households in the study with three or more cars or vans stands at 246,315, further illustrating the diversity in vehicle ownership. The total number with no cars or vans amounts to 1,100,905. The City of London, known for its dense commercial and financial districts, makes car ownership less practical than in more residential areas. Therefore, the results are not surprising with no households having three or more cars or vans. 123 households in the City of London own one car or van and 43 households own two cars or vans. When analysing the data there are many determining factors to consider the ease of multi-vehicle ownership, including the public transport infrastructure of each city and the number of households. For example, with its comprehensive network of buses, trains, and the Underground, residents and workers in London have access to efficient public transportation options that reduce the necessity for personal vehicles. The cost of motor insurance in high-risk areas could also be taken into consideration when analysing the number of cars or vans per household, especially in areas with the highest populations where more cars would be expected. According to the ONS, vehicle crime accounts for 4.7% of all main crime types with 397,264 vehicle crimes in the year ending September 2023 - an increase of 2% from the previous year.
UK'S MOST VALUABLE CLASSIC CARS REVEALED
15 Apr 2024 16:31:16
A new study has revealed the most valuable classic cars & most profitable manufacturers, with Porsche and Jaguar coming out on top. The classic car insurance industry has risen dramatically over the last two decades, peaking in 2019 and now valued at £747 million. Uswitch have analysed industry statistics to reveal the most profitable car manufacturers and most valuable classic cars for 2024. Porsche classic cars generate the most revenue in the UK, with the total stock of its 911 model worth £911 million. This figure represents a 146% lead on the second most profitable car, the Jaguar E Type, and holds more value than the combined value of the final six cars on the list. The Jaguar E Type has a combined stock worth £370.8 million, which is almost two and a half times less than the Porsche 911. Despite the E Type having an average valuation of more than double that of the 911 (£90,000 vs £39,551), there are only 4,120 E Types in existence so its combined value is far less. Similarly, although the Austin/Rover Mini has the highest number of classic cars in circulation within the top 10 (56,650), its average value of just £5,495 meant that its combined worth (£309.2 million) was 66% less than that of the Porsche 911. Porsche is the manufacturer generating the most revenue in the UK, with the combined value of its classic cars worth nearly £1.2 billion. This figure was 61% higher than any other brand, accounting for 14% of the overall industry revenue. With just under 44,000 classic Porsches in the UK, the German manufacturer was found to have an average classic car valuation of £27,010. Jaguar is the manufacturer coming in second with an overall value of £723.3m. The average value of a classic Jaguar comes in at £15,136 and although placing second overall, the manufacturer has more cars in circulation than first placed Porsche. Despite having the highest average value of any classic car manufacturer in the top 10 (£92,510), third-placed Aston Martin had a significantly lower total of classic cars (6,622), meaning its overall revenue was 14% lower than Jaguar and 47% lower than Porsche. Further insights: • Ferraris are the most expensive classic cars to insure. With an average annual total of £829, insurance for Ferrari is around 36% higher than any other car manufacturer. • The West Midlands is the UK's classic car hotspot, with an estimated share of 9.6% of classic cars, estimated to generate around £1.8 billion in turnover.