AUTOLOCKSMITHING
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INCREASED CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
BOOSTS UK NEW CAR SALES
Cheaper credit deals
and stronger consumer
confidence have helped make
UK car sales in 2013 the best
year since 2007, industry
figures have shown.
The Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders
(SMMT) said that 2.26 million
vehicles were registered in
2013, a 10.8% rise on 2012,
although the figure is 6% lower
than 2007’s 2.4 million figure.
The UK overtook France to
become Europe’s secondbiggest car market, after
Germany.
Economic data indicates
increased consumers
confidence. Analysts also say
that refunds from mis-sold
PPI policies are helping drive
sales.
The 2013 total was boosted
by a 23.76% rise in sales in
December, the 22nd successive
month of increases.
The UK’s best-sellers in 2013
were: Ford Fiesta; Ford Focus;
Vauxhall Corsa; Vauxhall
Astra; Volkswagen Golf; Nissan
Qashqai.
The UK figures contrast
sharply with the rest of Europe,
where sales have plummeted
in recent years.
According to the European
Automobile Manufacturers’
Association, figures for the 11
months to November show
that sales across the region
fell 2.8% to 11.4 million cars,
putting it on track for a sixth
straight annual decline.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief
executive, said: “While the
European market is only now
showing signs of improvement,
the UK has consistently
outperformed the rest of
Europe, with 22 consecutive
months of growth.”
The SMMT also said that one
in seven of the cars bought
last year was built in the UK.
Most cars built in the UK are
exported.
Last month, the SMMT said
that car production in 2013
was likely to be at a six-year
high with more than more
than 1.5 million vehicles
built. Growth was driven by
the rollout of new models,
including the third-generation
Mini, the SMMT said.
Both Jaguar Land Rover
and Bentley expanded their
operations in the UK creating
Mike Hawes
thousands of new jobs, and
Rolls-Royce Motor is to
create 100 jobs at its base in
Goodwood, Sussex.
The SMMT also reports that
the 2013 van and truck market
has hit a five year high, with
2013 total commercial vehicle
registrations growing 14.7% to
327,291 units.
IATTI UPDATE
Dr Elaine Hardy, President reports on a
busy 2013 and events lined up for this year.
IAATI had a very busy
schedule in the second half
of 2013, not only here in
the UK but in Rimini where
the IAATI Europe Branch
hosted the 2013 International
Training Seminar. I would
like to thank to Raffaele
Chianca and his team for the
warm welcome given to the
delegates. It was a vibrant,
well attended five days with
so much information to
digest and with meetings to
attend, it required focus and
commitment.
Equally as important for
IAATI UK was our Training
Day (the Investigator’s Tool
Box) held at Portishead at the
beginning of November. We
managed to fill the hall and our
62
team of experts provided a day
of information and knowledge
for the attending participants.
Following on the tail of this
event, IAATI UK’s training
team is now preparing another
training day – to be held in
the North West of England
– towards the beginning of
March.
The end of November 2013
saw the Interpol conference
in Lyon, France with a large
contingency of IAATI members
from both the UK and Europe
branches attending.
Members will see when
renewing their membership,
that there has been a slight
increase in fees. This is owing
to the fact that International
had increased its fees, thus
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membership fees are now £35.
We have, however, have tried
to balance this increase for this
year by offering more services
and better communication
through our e-magazine, New
Alliance.
Leaving the best for last – we
have set the dates and venue
for our 2014 National Vehicle
Crime Seminar for the 11th
and 12th June at the Tally Ho
Conference Centre, Edgbaston,
Birmingham. Tally Ho was
once the West Midlands Police
Training Centre.
We aim to make this seminar
special by offering two parallel
events. A main event in the
conference hall for senior
practitioners as well as for
key players from the plant,
agricultural, haulage, leisure,
law enforcement , salvage,
I.T., insurance and motor
manufacturers’ industries.
We also aim to provide
training sessions for vehicle
examiners and those keen to
develop their skills in vehicle
identification issues.
This year sees two new
directors, both from a Police
background. Simon Ashton
from the Metropolitan Police
Vehicle Crime Unit and Simon
Ingham, from Lancashire
Police who will join us in the
New Year. Simon Ingham
is also part of our Training
Team.
www.iaati.org.uk
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