lockdown

New car sales fall 26.5% on back of latest lockdown

By Michael J. Moody 4 months ago

New car sales were down 26.5 per cent over the first 10 days of this year, hit by Covid restrictions and delays due to the administration of new Brexit rules.

In what is traditionally the busiest sales month of the year, 9,765 new cars were registered in the Republic by January 10th, down 3,523 on the same period last year.

The latest Covid-19 lockdown means dealer showrooms are closed, with sales restricted to click-and-deliver operations, although servicing departments remain open. Most of the new cars registered would have been on order by customers from the end of last year.

On top of the Covid restrictions, increased administration due to Brexit has caused some delays in deliveries. In particular, dealers are reporting that parts supplies have been impacted, though many had built up stock levels prior to January 1st.

According to Robert Guy, director aftersales for Volkswagen Group Ireland, their planning

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UK car sales fall 40 per cent in January as dealers shut in lockdown

By Michael J. Moody 4 months ago

New car sales in the UK fell by 40 per cent last month after showrooms were shut as part of the coronavirus lockdown, in the worst start to a year since 1970, figures published on Thursday show.

Some 90,000 cars were registered during January, compared with 149,000 a year earlier, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, an industry body.

While electric and plug-in hybrid cars experienced strong growth, sales of petrol and diesel-only models more than halved.

Showrooms were closed for almost all of the month after the lockdown began in England on January 5 but online sales and “click and collect” services were permitted.

The SMMT warned that the industry would be damaged if lockdown was extended until March, the UK’s busiest car-selling month.

In a typical year, March accounts for one in five vehicles sold in the UK, because of the new registration plate.

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UK new car sales fall 40% in January as lockdown bites

By Michael J. Moody 4 months ago

Just over 90,000 new cars were sold in the UK in the slowest January for more than 50 years, according to industry figures released on Thursday.



a car parked in a parking lot: Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

© Provided by The Guardian
Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Sales fell 40% compared with January 2020 to 90,249, as the closure of car showrooms under lockdown compounded the economic gloom.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the uptake of “click and collect” sales had prevented an even greater fall, but could not avert the worst start to a year since 1970.

The SMMT forecasts that 2021 sales will rebound slightly from the depths of 2020, but said the industry would face a very subdued and challenging year, with showroom closures depressing demand and manufacturing output. New car sales fell by 29% last year to 1.63m vehicles, the lowest level since 1992.

Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s chief executive, said: “Following

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Stationary bikes and indoor cycles for lockdown fitness

By Michael J. Moody 4 months ago

Looking for the best exercise bikes that money can buy in time for the Christmas period? Now that the worst of lockdown is behind us and demand isn’t quite so high, it’s much easier to grab yourself a static cycling machine if you’d still prefer to workout at home. 



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And with erratic weather – from too hot or cold to too wet and windy – posing a problem when it comes to riding outside, an exercise bike can be all you need to get in shape without braving the elements outdoors. 

However, buying an exercise bike is not a task to take lightly. It’s a significant investment, so you need to know you’re getting a decent machine before parting with your cash. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best exercise bikes to buy for a low impact, home cardio workout.

Our top pick is the

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