Car News

Ford Australia has announced it will offer free home pick up and drop off of vehicles for customers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The service is available for routine servicing and warranty repairs from now until 30 June 2020 – to be initially offered at selected dealerships. Supplementing the service, Ford will also take extra measures to disinfect ‘major touch points’ of vehicles.

New vehicle sales took a hit in March, as you might expect, although it wasn't the cataclysmic drop some might have projected. VFACTS data compiled by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries released today shows that car sales fell by 17.9 per cent compared to March last year, to 81,690 sales. You have to return to 2009, at the height of the global financial crisis, to find a lower figure for March. That year there were 75,650 new cars sold.

The Suzuki Swift Sport pocket rocket will be getting a round of updates in May. The Series II model gets blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert safety systems, plus heated side mirrors. Outside there's a new hero orange/black two-tone paint option, and inside a digital speedo will be added. There are no mechanical changes, meaning the 103kW/230Nm 1.4-litre turbo engine continues, sending torque to the front wheels through six-speed manual or automatic transmission options.

South Korean car maker Kia has overtaken its sibling rival Hyundai in the monthly sales race for the first time – 24 years after arriving in Australia. According to preliminary figures for March – one of the slowest months in memory for new-car sales due to coronavirus lockdowns – Kia posted a sales increase to rank fourth outright behind market leader Toyota, Mazda in second and Mitsubishi in third.

German carmaker Volkswagen has claimed it is still spending €2 billion (AU$3.6 billion) per week during the coronavirus outbreak, despite having suspended European production last month. Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess told media that the business is still operational – however running at a loss, as reported by Automotive News. He put the business’s operational costs at approximately €2 billion (AU$3.6 billion) each week, however did not allude to net loss.