Chinese cars to be built in the UK - at a Japanese car factory
A deal between Japanese car makers Nissan and Chinese manufacturer Chery means that models from Chery's brands Jaecoo and Omoda are likely to be built in the UK at Nissan's Sunderland factory.
Spare capacity at the Nissan plant will be made available to Chery as Nissan seeks to increase the efficiency of its facility. However, manufacturing of Jaecoo and Omoda cars is not imminent, and talks between the two automotive giants continue as they discuss outstanding details, including which models will be made in the Tyne and Wear factory. The deal between Nissan and Chery means that Chinese cars will be manufactured in Britain for the first time.
Nissan's Sunderland plant opened in 1986. The first models produced there were the Bluebird and the Primera. The latter was the first Nissan vehicle to be wholly UK-built. The factory has the capacity to make 500,000 cars a year, but reduced demand has meant that Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK has recently been using only about half of that available capacity.
Chery Automobile Co. Ltd was established in 1997 and has become China's third largest car manufacturing group, selling 2.8 million cars in 2025.
A spokesman for Chery said, “The UK remains a strategically important market for Chery Automobile Group, and the company will continue to explore opportunities that support its long-term ambitions while creating value for customers, retailer partners and the local industry.”
Union leaders at the Nissan plant have described the deal as "very good news".
Self-driving "robo taxis" to begin operating in the UK in 2026
On 22nd May, the government opened applications for operators to run autonomous cars across Great Britain. The applications will initially be to participate in a pilot scheme to trial fully self-driving taxis, private hire cars and what the government refers to as "bus-style" vehicles.
The government's press release said,
"Self-driving technology could transform roads, with human error currently contributing to 88% of collisions on UK roads.
Safety will be central to the pilot scheme, which will gather real-world evidence on how self-driving vehicles operate on everyday roads, from navigating busy urban streets to interacting with traffic and carrying passengers safely.
Services will be subject to rigorous approval checks by government, including strict safety assessments to ensure the technology is protected against cyber and security threats."
American companies Waymo and Uber are amongst those the government has been consulting with. Both have expressed excitement and eagerness to provide services in the UK this year.
Although the pilot is trialling fully self-driving services, it is expected that human drivers will be present in the vehicles during the trial until confidence is established in all safety aspects of autonomous vehicles.
Self-driving vehicles have been operational in a number of American cities for some time, but the services have not been without their teething troubles. Autonomous taxis have been involved in accidents and have caused traffic delays by freezing when their on-board software has proved unable to cope with certain situations.
DVLA delays causing anxiety for older drivers in Wales
The DVLA has admitted that it is failing to meet its target of 50 working days to process drivers' medical licensing applications and make a licensing decision. In cases requiring investigation of a medical condition, the average waiting time during the 2025/26 financial year was 56.66 working days.
Many older drivers in Wales have complained that delays in renewing their driving licences are causing them anxiety and frustration.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) says many straightforward licence renewals can be completed within days. However, a Freedom of Information request made by ITV Wales shows that applications requiring medical assessments are often taking longer than expected.
By contrast, the DVLA processed more than 5.18 million non-medical driving licence renewal applications during the same 2025/2026 period. The overwhelming majority of those were completed within three working days in the case of online applications and 10 working days for postal applications.
A DVLA spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the delays some customers have experienced. We are currently seeing exceptionally high demand for applications from customers with medical conditions, which has regrettably impacted some processing times.
"When we have the information we need, we always aim to make a decision as quickly as possible. Our staff are working hard to reduce delays, and we have introduced a new casework system which is expected to deliver significant improvements as more customers transact via our new online system."
New driving test booking restrictions affect learner drivers
New measures introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) mean that learner drivers face new limitations and restrictions when they book their driving tests.
The new rules are intended to address the problems caused by unofficial booking services, driving test appointment reselling and booking bots, which have been responsible for genuine driving students experiencing a shortage of available test slots.
In 2025, 64,500 driving test appointments were no-shows, meaning no one turned up to take the test at the booked time and so the test slot was wasted. It is believed that bots and appointment resellers were responsible for a significant number of these wasted appointments.
Amongst the measures coming into force are the following.
As of 9 June 2026, learner drivers may only move their practical driving test to one of their three nearest test centres. Previously, test candidates were allowed to transfer bookings to any test centre with test slots available, even if the centre was not local to them. The intention is to prevent people from booking tests in locations where they do not intend to take them - something often done by resellers.
Since 31 March 2026, learners have only been permitted to change their driving test booking twice. If they wish to change more than twice then they must cancel and rebook. Previously, they were allowed to change appointments up to six times.
From 8 April 2026, learner drivers have had to book and manage their own practical driving tests. Previously, other people and software applications were allowed to make appointments on driving students' behalf. Now only the learner can book, change, swap or cancel their driving test with the DVSA's booking service.
The DVSA's chief executive, Beverley Warmington, said the agency intended to stop learners being exploited while also making the booking process fairer.
The DVSA is also recruiting and training more driving examiners to further reduce waiting times for learners wishing to take their practical driving test.
Event in Hull will allow people to test drive electric vehicles
An event planned for 20th June 2026 will offer Hull's residents free test drives of electric vehicles. The event, entitled Let's Go Electric, will be held at Priory Way Park & Ride. Several electric car brands will be represented, giving people a range of vehicles to test. e-bikes and electric buses will also be demonstrated.
Let's Go Electric is being organised by Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The event aims to educate the public about the benefits of electric cars and the importance of sustainable transport. A similar event held last year was hailed a success, and the councils are planning to make Let's Go Electric a regular event.
A spokesman for Hull City Council said, "Whether you're curious about running costs, charging, or simply want to see what's out there, it's a chance to explore the latest technology in one place and speak directly with experts.
"But we also know that people's circumstances vary - and for many residents, the most important thing is understanding what options are available and what genuinely works for them."
In addition to enabling people to drive electric cars, the event will include charging demonstrations and rides on electric buses.
Let's Go Electric will take place from 10:00 to 15:00 BST. People who want to test drive an electric car will need to produce their driving licence and other appropriate documentation. Further details can be found on the Travel Hull website.
