Ford's revolutionary new manufacturing approach aims to cut EV costs and speed up production

Fleet Alliance reports a record-breaking first half of 2025, with electric and hybrid vehicles making up 81% of new orders, signalling a rapid shift towards greener corporate fleets driven by favourable tax policies and increasing environmental commitments.Fleet Alliance has had quite a remarkable first half of 2025, breaking records mainly because electric and hybrid vehicles are now leading the charge in new vehicle orders. This shift in fleet makeup is pretty clear—more and more businesses are choosing alternative powertrains. In fact, electric cars and hybrids together made up a staggering 81% of all new orders, highlighting just how fast electrification is catching on among corporate fleets. Specifically, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for about 45%, while hybrids took around 36%. Those numbers are the highest market shares the fleet management company has seen so far. Interestingly, the order pipeline suggests this trend isn't slowing down—orders for electrified vehicles are actually pushing even higher, with 83% of future orders pointing to continued demand from fleet clients. When it comes to funding these vehicles, contract hire remains the top choice for businesses, with roughly 70% of BEVs being financed this way. Also, salary sacrifice schemes are gaining ground—they now make up about 29% of BEV orders over the past six months, showing a rising interest in employee benefits linked to electric vehicle adoption. Personal contract hire, on the other hand, only accounts for about 1% of BEV funding. That tiny figure just further underscores how much the corporate sector is driving the electrification movement within the vehicle market. Andy Bruce, Fleet Alliance’s CEO, pointed out that there’s a mix of strategic and financial reasons behind this push toward electric. He mentioned how companies are actively strengthening their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments, with electrification being a key part of reaching sustainability goals. Bruce also noted that the friendly tax environment is a big motivator for fleet operators and corporate buyers alike. For example, the company car tax on electric vehicles is set at just 5% for the 2027/8 tax year. This creates stability over the long term and offers cost savings, making electric fleet strategies even more appealing. In terms of specific models, Tesla’s Model Y continues to dominate in new orders, but it’s now joined by the Polestar 4—an interesting competitor challenging Tesla’s long-held lead. The Polestar 2 keeps its strong presence too, ranking eighth among Fleet Alliance’s top ten BEVs. This shows a broader diversification in the electric vehicle market—companies like Volvo’s Polestar are making waves alongside established brands like BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes. Additionally, BYD’s Seal model is making a mark in the UK, ranking sixth in popularity and claiming a 354-mile range. BYD, which is based in China with a sizable global footprint, seems to reflect how international the EV sector has become. In July alone, it sold over 3,000 units in the UK—pretty impressive. On the hybrid side, including plug-in and self-charging options, vehicles like the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid are doing really well. This particular model features a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a 19.7kWh battery. Together, they deliver between 204 and 272 horsepower, and it can go up to 77 miles on electric alone. Other popular hybrid models include the BMW 3-Series, Volvo XC90, and Toyota Corolla—each appealing to different parts of the business world that want efficient, lower-emission vehicles without fully switching to electric just yet. The variety of available electric and hybrid options is definitely helping boost adoption. Fleet Alliance emphasizes that EVs and hybrids come in many price ranges and body styles, making them accessible for different types of businesses. Plus, government incentives like a new electric car grant—offering between £1,500 to £3,750 off the price of new electric cars costing up to £37,000—are expected to push EV penetration even further into business fleets. All in all, this evolving landscape offers a real opportunity for fleet managers, vehicle manufacturers, and logistics providers to tap into the growing trend toward cleaner, greener vehicles. As companies become more focused on sustainability and saving costs, it’s clear that electric vehicles are set to play an even bigger role in fleet composition in the upcoming years. Honestly, it’s pretty exciting to see this kind of rapid change, isn’t it? Source: Noah Wire Services

Chinese automaker BYD is making significant inroads in South Africa’s used EV scene, with sales soaring by 673% in the first half of 2025 and plans to triple its dealership network by 2026, signalling a disruptive shift in the local electric vehicle market.Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is quickly gaining ground in South Africa’s used car scene, showing strong early signs of success—even though official new vehicle sales figures haven’t been released yet. According to Autotrader’s Mid-Year Car Industry Report, sales of used BYD models shot up by a remarkable 673% in the first half of 2025. This kind of growth outstrips several other Chinese automotive brands active in the area, like Chery, GWM, Jaecoo, and Omoda, which suggests that BYD’s footprint in the local EV market is steadily expanding. Now, if you take a look at some other numbers—they’re pretty telling too. The number of views on BYD listings jumped a whopping 744% year-on-year, and customer inquiries about BYD vehicles increased by an incredible 1,369%. Such figures clearly indicate that more and more South African consumers are showing interest and demand at the used vehicle level. It’s like they’re curious or even eager to get their hands on this brand’s offerings. Still, it’s worth noting that BYD’s market share is, at this point, still growing—its models haven’t yet cracked the top 10 most sold used EVs in the country. Getting into specifics, BYD began its South African adventure with just one EV model—the Atto 3 SUV—and four dealerships. Since then, the company has expanded its local lineup to include four more vehicles: the Seal, which is a fully electric, pretty upscale sedan; the Sealion 7 SUV; and two plug-in hybrids, the Sealion 6 and Shark 6. These latter three models were only introduced during the period the report covers, so their impact on used sales up to June 2025 is still quite limited. By mid-2025, BYD's local lineup grew to six models. What’s more, the Dolphin and Atto 3 ranked as the eighth and ninth most-listed EVs on Autotrader for the first half of 2025. BYD’s strategy seems solid; it kicked off modestly in 2023, with just one EV and only four dealerships. Fast forward to mid-2025, and the company now offers six different models and operates through 15 dealerships—showing quite an aggressive push for growth. Looking ahead, BYD has some quite ambitious plans: they aim to expand their dealer network to between 30 and 35 locations by the end of 2026. That’s roughly a tripling of their current presence, which is around 13 to 15 outlets. This move definitely demonstrates a dedicated effort to carve out a stronger space in South Africa’s competitive automotive scene. Industry experts also note that this expansion fits well with the rising local demand for new energy vehicles—sales increased from about 7,800 units in 2023 to over 15,600 in 2024. Pretty impressive, right? One upcoming model to watch is the Dolphin Surf (also called the Seagull or Dolphin Mini, depending on the market). It’s set to launch locally on September 14, 2025. This compact hatchback aims at the more budget-conscious end of the EV market, with insiders suggesting a price tag close to R350,000. That’s quite a bit lower than the R400,000—sometimes more—seen for some used Dolphin models. By introducing a competitively priced option, BYD seems to be making strides toward making EV ownership more accessible to a broader range of South Africans, which could really help boost its market penetration. Even with all these promising signs, BYD has yet to release official sales numbers for new vehicles in South Africa. That makes it tricky to nail down exactly what share of the market they hold or how new sales compare to used vehicle trends. Interestingly enough, the entire South African EV scene shows a bit of a paradox: while sales of fully electric cars on platforms like Autotrader went up by 65% in the first half of 2025 compared to last year, official registration data shows a 24% dip in new EV sales over the same period. It’s a peculiar situation, possibly hinting at a shift toward buying used EVs or maybe delays in data reporting. Looking at the used EVs bought through Autotrader, premium European brands like Volvo and BMW still rule the roost. The Volvo EX30 was the top seller during the first half of 2025, with 64 units, followed by the Volvo XC40 and the BMW i3. But, with BYD’s growing dealer network and diverse range of models, it’s starting to challenge these established players more seriously. All in all, BYD’s impressive performance in South Africa’s used EV market, along with their plans to expand and a new affordable model on the horizon, indicate a significant shake-up in the country’s electric vehicle scene. Although they’re still not reporting official new car sales figures, their rapid dealership growth and surging consumer interest strongly suggest that BYD is positioning itself to be a serious contender—maybe even a rival to the likes of Tesla—as South Africa moves further into its electric future. Source: Noah Wire Services

Leasing.com, a leading UK leasing comparison platform, is entering the motorcycle and scooter market, initially targeting business clients with options spanning traditional and electric two-wheelers, in a move to meet rising demand for flexible, greener fleet solutions.Leasing.com, the well-known UK leasing comparison platform, has announced that it's branching out into motorcycle and scooter leasing, which is quite a move for the company. Essentially, this new service will initially concentrate on business leasing, giving fleet operators access to a pretty broad range of motorcycles from major manufacturers like Yamaha, BMW, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Zero. Interestingly enough, the platform will also support comparisons for all-terrain vehicles right from the start, with plans to add more vehicle categories down the line. This stride seems to be aimed at matching the rising demand for more flexible, budget-friendly alternatives to conventional fleet vehicles—especially in crowded urban areas where nimbleness, fuel savings, and sustainability are major concerns. Including electric options, such as those from Zero Motorcycles, aligns perfectly with the industry’s wider push toward greener transport solutions. It really emphasizes Leasing.com’s commitment to helping commercial clients get onboard with cleaner mobility choices. Mike Fazal, the CEO of Leasing.com, had this to say about the development—describing it as a pretty natural step for the company. He pointed out that this launch is in direct response to increased market interest in alternative mobility options. Plus, it makes Leasing.com the first UK platform to offer transparent, detailed comparison services for motorcycle leasing—similar to what they already do for cars, vans, and electric vehicles. It’s a smart move, considering how businesses are eager to diversify their fleets and promote more efficient ways to move their staff around. This new venture builds on recent innovations by Leasing.com, like the launch of re.Leasing.com, a dedicated site for re-leasing used electric cars. By teaming up with established firms such as Lex Autolease and tapping into the technology from loveelectric, re.Leasing.com targets the growing eco-friendly vehicle market. These efforts are all part of the company’s broader strategy to lead the UK leasing scene—by creating platforms that make accessing and affording sustainable transport options easier for everyone. The expansion into motorcycle leasing coincides with some leadership changes, too. Mike Fazal, who recently became CEO after the founder, Dave Timmis, shifted into more of an advisory and ambassador role, sounds pretty enthusiastic about guiding the company into its next growth chapter. Industry insiders think Fazal’s background in automotive finance will help drive more innovations and reinforce Leasing.com’s standing in the market. On top of product and leadership developments, Leasing.com has also teamed up with different partners to improve the overall leasing experience. For example, collaborations with businesses like MotorEasy give customers access to comprehensive vehicle protection and repair services—covering things like cosmetic and alloy wheel insurance, servicing, repairs, and MOTs. These partnerships are meant to make the entire leasing process smoother, ensuring fleet reliability and helping maintain asset value—important factors for fleet managers, no doubt. Similarly, their collaboration with content creator Tom Shorrock aims to simplify vehicle leasing for businesses and consumers, delivering straightforward, jargon-free guidance and current market insights through digital channels. It’s a smart move, especially given how fast the market changes and the rising interest in alternative mobility solutions. The gradual rollout of motorcycle and scooter leasing services, starting with business clients before opening up to personal leasing, shows Leasing.com is taking a practical approach. By focusing first on meeting immediate commercial needs and building robust comparison tools, they’re setting themselves up to help businesses improve operational efficiency, keep costs down, and reach sustainability goals through fleet diversification. And let’s be honest—considering the increasing regulatory and environmental pressures on commercial fleets to adopt cleaner, more efficient vehicles—this motorcycle leasing option could be a real strategic advantage. Also, bringing electric two-wheelers into the mix reflects a forward-thinking outlook, aligning with wider decarbonisation trends across the automotive aftermarket supply chain. It’s pretty interesting, right? Source: Noah Wire Services