Words to watch out for

Two words have migrated into constant news use over the last few years – since Covid.

Unprecedented and also Existential.

And since they became used daily – in every bulletin, we seem to have become desensitised to their use – and seemingly their concepts too.

What do I mean?

Ever since Jaguar stopped making new cars in 2024 this started a downward spiral for UK, European and US car manufacturing.

The UK made a peak of 1.72m in 2016 and there has been a steady decline.  The lowest was 0.78 in 2022 – nearly one million fewer cars made – every year.

That has one hell of an effect on car makers, suppliers, component manufacturers and all the towns nearby as well.

Dealers suffer too, but they have the choice to switch to other car makes that are actually being sold – and of course that is Chinese.

The Chinese manufacturers have run rings around all that we used to know.

It is truly an ‘existential’ threat to UK manufacturing.

Take this fact for example:

The Jaecoo 7 was the UK’s best-selling new car in March, overtaking established favourites including the Ford Puma, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

A total of 10,064 Jaecoo 7 models were registered during the month, ahead of the Puma (9,193), Qashqai (8,718) and Kia Sportage (7,310).

And BYD has taken top spot before now and has 125 dealers in the UK.

A man who sees this happening is Nathan Coe – head of Auto Trader.  In a recent BBC interview he highlights the rapid rise of Chinese manufacturers in the UK market, describing their growth as “mind-boggling”.

Firms such as BYD, he says, have scaled in a year what took Tesla six to seven, helped by competitive pricing and a shift in consumer behaviour – with EV buyers showing less loyalty to traditional brands.

This speed of change is truly ‘unprecedented’.

Yes, we’ll just buy anything cheap – and no tariffs helps them too.

What a terrible mess.

Do I have an answer, well no  – apart from buy Peak Cars now while they are still cheap.

The best cars ever made from mid 90s to 2015 or so.  No speed limiters or lane change nonsense.

Just unspoilt driving joy.  Your grandkids will thank you.

Thanks,
Neil @ Carrosserie
Tel: 01833 630 011

PS.  Please contact us about your classic.