Nick Gibbs
@nickgibbs.bsky.social
Staring into the future of automotive. Writing for Automotive News Europe, Autocar and other quality outlets.
Jack Barclay in series 1 Minder! Still in Berkeley Square today, now Bentley only. Salesman tells Arthur the waiting period for a Rolls is ‘rather longer than the gestation period of an elephant’
Arthur: "Yes well, we're all not zoological experts, how long is that?"
"About 3 years I’m afraid sir"
Arthur: "Yes well, we're all not zoological experts, how long is that?"
"About 3 years I’m afraid sir"
January 29, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Jack Barclay in series 1 Minder! Still in Berkeley Square today, now Bentley only. Salesman tells Arthur the waiting period for a Rolls is ‘rather longer than the gestation period of an elephant’
Arthur: "Yes well, we're all not zoological experts, how long is that?"
"About 3 years I’m afraid sir"
Arthur: "Yes well, we're all not zoological experts, how long is that?"
"About 3 years I’m afraid sir"
Thank you Google News for keeping me up to date with the important car stories from the alternative reality universe
January 27, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Thank you Google News for keeping me up to date with the important car stories from the alternative reality universe
Vauxhall no longer posting on X
January 20, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Vauxhall no longer posting on X
UK - no punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs, but excluded from incentives.
Germany - punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs (via EU) but included in new EV and PHEV incentives!
Should add…
France - punitive tariffs and excluded from incentives
Germany - punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs (via EU) but included in new EV and PHEV incentives!
Should add…
France - punitive tariffs and excluded from incentives
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said the program will help households that could not afford an EV without support and also boost the domestic auto industry.
www.autonews.com/ev/ane-germa...
www.autonews.com/ev/ane-germa...
Germany includes cars with range extenders, plug-in hybrids in EV subsidies program
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said the program will help households that could not afford an EV without support and also boost the domestic auto industry.
www.autonews.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:58 AM
UK - no punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs, but excluded from incentives.
Germany - punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs (via EU) but included in new EV and PHEV incentives!
Should add…
France - punitive tariffs and excluded from incentives
Germany - punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs (via EU) but included in new EV and PHEV incentives!
Should add…
France - punitive tariffs and excluded from incentives
Scariest stories on the web are posted on Polestar owner Facebook groups
January 12, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Scariest stories on the web are posted on Polestar owner Facebook groups
Got badly waylaid at the Brussels show by the Fiat Tris three wheeler. An electric Ape basically. Built in the same plant as the Citroen Ami and used the same battery for a 90km range. Extras include a water tank with soap dispense to wash hands. A modern barista’s dream ride
January 12, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Got badly waylaid at the Brussels show by the Fiat Tris three wheeler. An electric Ape basically. Built in the same plant as the Citroen Ami and used the same battery for a 90km range. Extras include a water tank with soap dispense to wash hands. A modern barista’s dream ride
Reposted by Nick Gibbs
Won’t do anything because he - probably correctly - believes doing so would raise the ire of Musk and Trump to the point it threatens Range Rover assembly line workers. What a shitty situation.
Keir Starmer's spokesman tells me that X and Grok's creation of sexual deepfakes of children is "completely unacceptable" but again won't commit to taking direct action against them, or to stop posting there.
Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government
Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government
January 7, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Won’t do anything because he - probably correctly - believes doing so would raise the ire of Musk and Trump to the point it threatens Range Rover assembly line workers. What a shitty situation.
Tremendous Mk1 Discovery three-door spotted lurking in the depths of Cornwall, complete with original decals rumoured to hide dodgy initial panel fit (is that true?)
January 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Tremendous Mk1 Discovery three-door spotted lurking in the depths of Cornwall, complete with original decals rumoured to hide dodgy initial panel fit (is that true?)
Family London light tour and Dad got distracted by one of the rarest/most obscure cars in the UK: a Dubai registered Rox 01 (aka Polestones) plug in hybrid SUV from China. Pininfarina-designed after a good long hard look at a Defender
December 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Family London light tour and Dad got distracted by one of the rarest/most obscure cars in the UK: a Dubai registered Rox 01 (aka Polestones) plug in hybrid SUV from China. Pininfarina-designed after a good long hard look at a Defender
DHL’s enquiry system defeats all comers including corporate megaclient John Lewis. ‘Sorry can’t get through, have a refund’
December 19, 2025 at 9:26 AM
DHL’s enquiry system defeats all comers including corporate megaclient John Lewis. ‘Sorry can’t get through, have a refund’
If the UK govnt is going to follow this it should announce VERY SOON to avoid dragging out the debates and a second round of ‘EVs will never work’ debates that the EU’s decision will inevitably spark.
The EU's new proposal reduces tailpipe CO2 emissions by 90 percent versus 2021. The remaining 10 percent of emissions will have to be offset by sustainable fuels and low-carbon green steel
www.autonews.com www.autonews.com/manufacturin...
www.autonews.com www.autonews.com/manufacturin...
EU alters 2035 zero-emission target, extending life of combustion engines in Europe
The EU's new proposal reduces tailpipe CO2 emissions by 90 percent versus 2021. The remaining 10 percent of emissions will have to be offset by sustainable biofuels or e-fuels and low-carbon green ste...
www.autonews.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
If the UK govnt is going to follow this it should announce VERY SOON to avoid dragging out the debates and a second round of ‘EVs will never work’ debates that the EU’s decision will inevitably spark.
Bloke on Facebook advertising ‘freemined’ coal. Forest of Dean
December 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Bloke on Facebook advertising ‘freemined’ coal. Forest of Dean
Bye bye Duo (Twizy mk2) will be a curious automotive footnote and million-point car spot like the Mk2 version of the Ford Th!nk
Renault is discontinuing Mobilize's car-sharing services and Duo microcar production, and scaling back charging-station ambitions as automakers' hopes for mobility revenue streams fade industrywide.
www.autonews.com/renault/ane-...
www.autonews.com/renault/ane-...
Renault halts Mobilize car-sharing and microcar operations after mobility bets fall short
Renault is discontinuing Mobilize's car-sharing services and Duo microcar production, and scaling back charging-station ambitions as automakers' hopes for mobility revenue streams fade industrywide.
www.autonews.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Bye bye Duo (Twizy mk2) will be a curious automotive footnote and million-point car spot like the Mk2 version of the Ford Th!nk
It’d be a climb down but PHEVs/EREVs are a compromise that everyone will love except for green groups (with reason). Suppliers, car-makers, users, dealers. Lots of content, flexibility, premiumness, things to service. Only problem is that the Chinese also love a PHEV and getting rather good at them!
The European Commission could allow sales of plug-in hybrid cars and extended-range EVs until 2040 if they use sustainable fuels or green steel.
www.autonews.com/regulation-s...
www.autonews.com/regulation-s...
EU weighs five-year reprieve for hybrid cars from 2035 zero-emission target
The European Commission could allow sales of plug-in hybrid cars and extended-range EVs until 2040 if they use sustainable fuels or green steel.
www.autonews.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
It’d be a climb down but PHEVs/EREVs are a compromise that everyone will love except for green groups (with reason). Suppliers, car-makers, users, dealers. Lots of content, flexibility, premiumness, things to service. Only problem is that the Chinese also love a PHEV and getting rather good at them!
Saw one of these 70s US wagons randomly on a Hertfordshire walk recently. Estates we Brits call them and it was definitely bigger than many London gardens
December 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Saw one of these 70s US wagons randomly on a Hertfordshire walk recently. Estates we Brits call them and it was definitely bigger than many London gardens
There’s an unedifying picture of US automotive. CEOs Farley and Filosa (not Barra though) meekly standing behind Trump while he spouts racist garbage after rolling back climate change regulations to allow them to carry on selling $80k 15mpg petrol pickups
Trump, continued: "What the Somalian people have done to Minnesota is not even believable. It’s not even believable. And a lot of it starts with the governor. A lot of it starts with Barack HUSSEIN Obama, because that’s when people started coming in... They want to kiss our country good night."
December 4, 2025 at 7:04 AM
There’s an unedifying picture of US automotive. CEOs Farley and Filosa (not Barra though) meekly standing behind Trump while he spouts racist garbage after rolling back climate change regulations to allow them to carry on selling $80k 15mpg petrol pickups
Cropley on form here. “No one inside the business seemed to have the intestinal fortitude to take him on” www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/new-...
Abrupt departure of JLR's design boss is both shocking and long expected – but who will replace him? | Autocar
The British manufacturer has let go of its chief creative officer after 21 years
www.autocar.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Cropley on form here. “No one inside the business seemed to have the intestinal fortitude to take him on” www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/new-...
This is HUGE news in UK automotive. ‘Prof’ McGovern was a totemic figure at JLR with influence well beyond design, by dint of being rather good at it. But probably more a blocker than facilitator for a new CEO
Gerry McGovern's reported exit means he will not be at the company to see the launch of his most controversial project, the rebranding of Jaguar into a luxury electric rival to Bentley.
www.autonews.com/jaguar-land-...
www.autonews.com/jaguar-land-...
Jaguar Land Rover fires design boss Gerry McGovern, report says
Gerry McGovern's reported exit means he will not be at the company to see the launch of his most controversial project, the rebranding of Jaguar into a luxury electric rival to Bentley.
www.autonews.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This is HUGE news in UK automotive. ‘Prof’ McGovern was a totemic figure at JLR with influence well beyond design, by dint of being rather good at it. But probably more a blocker than facilitator for a new CEO
I tasked AI with mocking up a European-spec Bronco and Gemini did okay (after telling it about 15 times to get the spelling on the grille right. No, not a Bongo)
December 2, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I tasked AI with mocking up a European-spec Bronco and Gemini did okay (after telling it about 15 times to get the spelling on the grille right. No, not a Bongo)
Reposted by Nick Gibbs
If you're wondering how relations are between the govt and the OBR after this morning's budget leak, a govt source has just sent this out about the EV tax.
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
If you're wondering how relations are between the govt and the OBR after this morning's budget leak, a govt source has just sent this out about the EV tax.
Showing no understanding of the scheme!
“The Motability scheme was set up to protect the most vulnerable. Not to subsidise the lease on a Mercedes Benz,” Reeves says.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Showing no understanding of the scheme!
PHEVs hit in new electric mileage charge from April 2029. 0.03ppm intially for EVs, 0.015ppm for PHEVs. 8500 miles per year is £255. BUT expensive car tax on EVs increased from £40k to £50k. Suspect that won't mollify the car industry
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 PM
PHEVs hit in new electric mileage charge from April 2029. 0.03ppm intially for EVs, 0.015ppm for PHEVs. 8500 miles per year is £255. BUT expensive car tax on EVs increased from £40k to £50k. Suspect that won't mollify the car industry
Probably on 100g/wk week here. I make my own because shop-bought is meh so can’t do my bit to move the needle
I regret to inform you, but marmalade consumption continues to plummet in the UK.
Back in 1974 each adult, each week, ate on average 27g. It was a mere 4g in 2024 (down from 6g in 2023).
Honey, by contrast, has gone from 5g in 1974 to 9g last year.
Back in 1974 each adult, each week, ate on average 27g. It was a mere 4g in 2024 (down from 6g in 2023).
Honey, by contrast, has gone from 5g in 1974 to 9g last year.
a dog with a peanut butter and cheese sandwich on its head
ALT: a dog with a peanut butter and cheese sandwich on its head
media.tenor.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Probably on 100g/wk week here. I make my own because shop-bought is meh so can’t do my bit to move the needle
Woah. Electric buses took a quarter of all bus sales in Europe to the end of Sept (ACEA figs). Biggest market by far was the UK (28% of sales), followed by Germany. Some countries eg Romania, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark EVs well over half of sales. ACEA has no figs on China share but probably big!
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Woah. Electric buses took a quarter of all bus sales in Europe to the end of Sept (ACEA figs). Biggest market by far was the UK (28% of sales), followed by Germany. Some countries eg Romania, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark EVs well over half of sales. ACEA has no figs on China share but probably big!