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Best new car sales in six years

RECORD new car sales achieved a six-year high in 2013, the motor industry has announced. A total of 2,264,737 new cars were registered in 2013 - a 10.8% rise on the 2012 figure and the best annual total since the pre-recession year of 2007, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. The 2013 total was boosted by a 23.76% rise, to nearly 153,000, in sales in December - the 22nd successive month of increases.

Beware valet parking insurance loophole

USING A VALET parking service could mean losing your car with no insurance cover. Drivers are being warned to check their insurance policies before handing over their car keys to valet parking attendants as more than half (51%) of the UK’s motor insurance policies do not cover this service. While valet parking companies provide insurance cover for their employees to drive your car, many insurance policies do not cover ‘damage to vehicle while in the control of valet parking staff.’ This means if your car is damaged or written off while it’s being parked or retrieved by valet parking staff, you could be left seriously out of pocket with no claim against the valet parking company.

Honda Fit EV cars being tested by Google, Stanford and California city

Honda dropped off a fleet of 2013 Fit EVs last week to Google, Stanford University and the City of Torrance, Calif., as part of the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program. All of the participants will conduct tests and log feedback for the company. “The goal of the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program is to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the advancement in battery-electric technology,” said Steve Center, vice president of the environmental business development office at American Honda.