6:50 am, June 18, 2026
JLR looks to luxury and hybrid demand in US to propel growth
Jaguar Land Rover is hoping luxury car buyers in the US can propel growth for the business as it aims to cut costs by £1.7bn in the ongoing recovery after last year’s cyber attack.
The British maker of car brands including Range Rover and Defender said it was focusing on North America as a priority region.
The US is already JLR’s biggest global market, while it has key markets in the UK, Europe and China and said it was also setting its sights on investment in regions including India and the Middle East.
Inflation holds steady at 2.8% as food price rises ease
UK inflation unexpectedly flatlined last month as a slowdown in food price rises offset pressure from airfares, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation was recorded at 2.8% in May, the same rate as in April.
It was lower than expected by economists, who had predicted an uptick in inflation to 3%. It means the price of goods and services is still increasing, but at the same speed as in April.
Rolls-Royce’s Black Badge Ghost Tourist Trophy celebrates historic victory
Rolls-Royce is commemorating one of its historic motorsport victories with a special-edition Ghost.
The Black Badge Ghost Tourist Trophy has been inspired by Charles Rolls’ victory at the 1906 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, which saw the racing driver, balloonist, aviator and engineer come in first place behind the wheel of a Light 20 H.P Rolls-Royce.
Held over four laps of the Isle of Man Highroads course, the Tourist Trophy covered 40.38 miles and was designed to push the cars of the time to the limit.
The markets
Stocks posted modest gains on Wednesday after better-than-hoped inflation data, and as investors eye interest rate decisions in the US and UK.
The British-based stock index closed up 14.40 points, 0.1%, at 10,508.61.
In European equity markets on Wednesday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended down 0.2%, and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt edged 0.1% higher.
Wednesday on Car Dealer
Car buyers still prefer dealerships as online-only purchases decline
Most car buyers still prefer dealerships, with 72% wanting to see, test drive and buy vehicles in person, according to Cazoo research. Buyers also favour speaking to real staff over AI assistants, highlighting the continued importance of trust and personal interaction.
Car thief jailed after using Dacia Duster to smash his way out of Evans Halshaw dealership
A serial burglar has been jailed for 18 months after stealing a Dacia Duster from an Evans Halshaw Ford dealership in Middlesbrough and using it to smash through a roller shutter. Thomas Nixon was also banned from driving until 2030.
Football’s coming home in an expensive car: Autotrader reveals Three Lions’ wheels
Ahead of England’s winning World Cup opener, Autotrader revealed Marcus Rashford has the squad’s most valuable car collection, worth £1.56m. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Reece James also own impressive vehicle fleets.
Ron Brooks to open flagship Chery car dealership after signing landmark deal with Chinese brand
Ron Brooks will open a flagship Chery showroom in Chilwell, Nottingham, marking its first representation of the brand. The new site strengthens the dealer group’s ties with Chery and expands its growing East Midlands presence.
New car finance volumes jump by more than a fifth in April, but used car lending slips
Consumer car finance volumes rose 3% year-on-year in April, driven by strong demand for new cars. New car finance volumes jumped 21%, while used car finance volumes fell 3%, according to the Finance & Leasing Association.
England fans celebrate after win against Croatia in World Cup opener
England earned a commanding 4-2 victory against Croatia in a statement World Cup opener on Wednesday evening.
Three Lions fans from across the globe had their eyes on the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium as Thomas Tuchel’s team got their campaign up and running.
It was all square at half time after a blockbuster first 45 minutes, as a Harry Kane brace was matched by goals from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa.
Jeremy Clarkson reveals prostate cancer diagnosis in Clarkson’s Farm
Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The former Top Gear host shared the news in the latest episodes of the fifth season of his series Clarkson’s Farm, saying the disease is ‘aggressive’ but had been discovered early.
‘I’ve got cancer,’ Clarkson told farm manager Kaleb Cooper and land agent Charlie Ireland during discussions about harvest planning.
Heatwave forecast for parts of UK as some areas could be hotter than Barbados
Heatwave conditions are forecast for parts of the UK this weekend as temperatures rise, with some areas set to be hotter than Barbados.
Temperatures are expected to climb steadily into the high 20s across the country later this week, and 30C could be reached in southern parts of England by Friday, the Met Office said.
Some areas in the south and south-east of England are likely to see heatwave criteria met by Saturday and more widely on Sunday, as 32C could be hit in the warmest locations.
