RAY MASSEY: Auto industry’s response to government decrees mirrors Oasis ticket furore
The commotion over the price increases for Oasis concerts should teach government ministers that their interventions can have unintended consequences.
Because when there is a lot of demand for a product that is in limited supply – for example, fans who want to see Noel and Liam Gallagher – prices go up.
Under the government’s ‘ZEV mandate’ for zero-emission vehicles, carmakers must make 22 per cent of cars sold electric this year, rising to 80 per cent by 2030 or face a fine of £15,000 per car.
Crazy about: The outcry over Oasis concert ticket hikes should teach government ministers how their interventions can have unintended consequences
As a result, automakers are now limiting or rationing the supply of popular gasoline and hybrid cars.
Vertu Motors CEO Robert Forrester said this week: “It’s almost as if we can’t deliver the cars that people want.”
Renault 5 crowned
Meanwhile, the new, all-electric Renault 5 has been crowned world champion at the annual Best Car of the Year awards (bestcarsoftheyear.com).
Ahead of its launch at the Paris Motor Show next month, the car was also named best electric car by an international jury and votes from visitors to the recent British Motor Show in Farnborough, where the contenders were on display.
CARS & DRIVING: ON TEST
-
This £100,000 Volvo Drove Me Insane: EX90 SUV Driven -
The VW Touareg is a luxury SUV at a lower price – why is it so unpopular? -
We test the new MG HS – Britain’s favourite budget family SUV -
We test the £15,000 Dacia Spring – the UK’s CHEAPEST new electric car -
Suitable for the UK climate: you can enjoy the Mercedes CLE Cabrio all year round -
Kia’s affordable Picanto offers a fun and smooth ride in the big city -
MG Cyberster review – Convertible EV costs £60k and is fun to drive -
‘Euros’-winning Renault Scenic E-Tech gets voice from Ray Massey -
Ford Explorer: Is the £40,000 electric SUV a good buy for British drivers? -
Polestar 3: Does the Tesla Model Y really have a fight on its hands? -
Lotus Eletre is an EV Lamborghini Urus rival: the hyper-SUV tested -
Dacia’s new Duster is here: has it lost its value for money? -
Alfa Romeo Tonale review: Can this SUV deliver sporty excitement? -
In a world of SUVs, can the VW Passat breathe new life into the station wagon market? -
Ineos Quartermaster review: the new premium pick-up truck in the city -
The Peugeot e-3008 is attractive, lively and has a range of 326 miles -
New £165,000 Aston Martin Vantage tested: Is it better than a Ferrari? -
Can BMW translate the magic of the original Mini into an electric car from China? -
Is this the ultimate open-top super tourer? Aston Martin DB12 Volante -
The new Fiat 600e EV family car is here, but should we wait for the hybrid? -
VW Tiguan review: The brand’s best-selling SUV is back – but is it better? -
Should you consider the Mini Countryman EV over the petrol engine? -
Another BMW goes electric – we test the new iX2 versus its petrol rival X2 -
The 2024 Range Rover Evoque plug-in hybrid is a homegrown winner -
Britain’s favourite car DRIVEN – we review the best-selling Ford Puma -
BMW’s i5 EV offers supercar performance in a luxury sedan package -
We drive the £76,000 Kia EV9 – Korea’s all-electric Range Rover rival -
Was the BMW M3 Touring worth the three-decade wait? Our review -
Britain’s most popular small car just got a lot better? New Corsa -
Volvo EX30 review: Sweden’s new ‘green’ pocket-rocket SUV rivals Tesla -
Is Renault’s new Austral E-Tech SUV the complete package? We drive it -
The Audi Q8 is annoyingly good for a ‘sporty’ coupe-style SUV -
Ferrari Roma Spider costs £210k – this is what you get for your money -
China’s all-electric BYD Dolphin lands on land – we test it on UK roads -
Our epic road test through Denmark and Sweden in the new Polestar 2 -
New Abarth 500e convertible is a rare treat – it’s electric and sporty -
Honda’s new CR-V is bigger than its predecessor – but is it better? -
We beat the new Bond to test his new car: Aston Martin DB12 review -
Behind the wheel of Rolls-Royce’s Spectre: We test the new EV Roller -
The crowning glory of Skoda’s work: Beautiful L&K 4×4 Estate driven with extras -
Maserati Grecale test – the SUV with 50% of sales expected to be for women -
Dacia’s budget family car with seven seats! The £18,000 Jogger tested -
This Q8 is simply awesome: We take Audi’s new Sportback e-tron for a spin -
Meet the dragon! BYD Atto EV is the Chinese company’s first British model -
Ferrari’s first four-door family car: New £313,000 Purosangue driven -
Excitement without the fuss: £31,000 MG5 is one of the cheapest family EVs -
Renault’s Arkana meets all the requirements of British car buyers -
Can Peugeot’s posh 408 hybrid crossover be a hit in the UK? We test it -
We drive the Civic Type R – the rebellious bad boy in Honda’s line-up -
Rolls Royce Spectre: What’s it like to drive the first ELECTRIC Roller? -
Ineos Grenadier driven: Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £69,000 Defender -
Can You Really Live With a Little Citroen Ami? Seven Tasks in Seven Days -
Don’t make me too big! Is the ‘smaller’ Volvo XC60 the only SUV you need? -
We treat some passengers in the new £211k Bentley Bentayga -
New kind of Buzz! VW’s electric MPV still feels like a hippie campervan -
A car for all seasons: a 600-mile tour in the Peugeot 3008 GT PHEV -
Cat fun: Funky Cat is the new fully electric car from the Chinese brand Ora -
Skoda’s zero-emissions hero: the Enyaq IV vRS is its hot electric SUV -
Toyota’s modern marvel: the GR86 sports coupe is here – and it’s brilliant -
Perfect for power outages: Kia’s new Niro EV can power your freezer -
Retrobus: We test VW’s new ID Buzz bus on British roads -
Want an electric family car that doesn’t cost the earth? £24k MG4 EV review -
The new 11th generation of the Honda Civic is released on the market -
French luxury: Sleek Peugeot 308 SW station wagon draws admiring glances -
Vauxhall reaches for the stars with the latest Astra: we drove it -
Cool ride: we test the new Citroën C5X on the hottest day of the year -
Choices, choices – there are three types of Kia Niro – we test the PHEV -
Pininfarina’s £2m Battista accelerates faster than a fighter jet -
Grand Juke of torque: Nissan’s new British-built hybrid compact SUV -
A supercar with ultra-green features: Hybrid McLaren Artura test -
Subaru’s cautious comeback: we test the new Outback with four-wheel drive -
Sporty Cupra Born offers a taste of Spain. We drive the electric hatchback -
Driving the world’s fastest luxury SUV: Aston Martin DBX 707 -
Royal Range Rover hits the road: We test drive the new £100,000 luxury SUV -
We head to the Arctic Circle to test drive the £400k Rolls-Royce Spectre EV -
BMW goes for snapshots: 2 Series Active Tourer has a built-in selfie camera -
It may be red, but the Ferrari 296 GTB is definitely a green supercar -
Testing a pre-production VW ID Buzz ahead of the electric camper launch -
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s all-terrain vehicle POWERED: We test the new Ineos Grenadier