Vospers: It’s all change in volatile world of motors

As the school holidays get underway, more and more UK residents will be visiting our area in August and, while it brings much needed benefits to our local economy, it also brings more traffic, more congestion and more difficulty finding a parking space.
You need to leave more time for your journey and use your local knowledge for less busy routes to make your daily car travel less stressful.
A combination of factors encouraged people, including families, to take their holidays in our beautiful islands and, more specifically, in our area. The weather over recent years has been warmer and more predictable, allowing holidaymakers to enjoy our beautiful beaches, countryside, and friendly hospitality.
At the same time, holidays abroad have become more expensive in proportion with seemingly less available flights and train journeys and more disruption from strikes and walkouts. The strength of the pound has weakened against many currencies and long road journeys in Europe can be more time consuming since we left the EU, as well as the issue of more expensive fuel costs. We are beginning to see inflation falling and it appears, looking forward, interest charges, important to us all, are likely to fall in the autumn.
Car manufacturers and their dealers have been struggling with supplies of vital parts and are pressurised with the government’s plans to increase the sales of electric cars, which require investment for changes to factory production and new technology.
However, it has taken too long and there have been decisions taken to phase out petrol and diesel before having alternative offers of similar-sized vehicles at competitive prices. This has led to shortages of used cars and increased prices, which are now beginning to return to more normal levels.
Some manufacturers are producing petrol hybrids of well-known models and there are some small and family-sized electric cars appearing, but at higher prices, which, in many cases, buyers are not prepared to pay. This is still compounded by higher energy prices and inadequate infrastructure.
Stocks of new vehicles are increasing and there are a number of attractive offers available, as manufacturers and their dealers want to keep sales moving back to pre-covid levels, as well as bringing in some vital used car stocks to satisfy demand.
The motor industry is accustomed to both change and volatility, which needs quick action and incentives to consumers to buy their products. There are still many orders to be satisfied, along with many frustrated and disappointed customers, who need to be fulfilled if brand loyalty is to remain high.
The announcement from the Prime Minister confirming a new energy policy, including new licences for North Sea oil fields will be commented on by the experts but it will mean less reliance on imports and will ease the route to net zero in terms of cost.
Hopefully this is good news and will help you enjoy your break.