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Alex Hughes, FCA Automotive Services UK MD (left) and Drew Heddart, CAKE UK MD

Have your Cake and PCP it

AUTOMOTIVE CONSUMER finance provider FCA Automotive Services has signed up as the official finance provider for the Swedish electric bike maker Cake. FCA is set to offer HP and PCP deals on the full range of Cake machines at all the firm's retailers and its main Shoreditch showroom.

And the icing on the, er, cake, is that FCA also has the option to expand to other European markets where its parent firm FCA Bank is already operating.

Christian Gorton, senior marketing manager at FCA Automotive Services, said: “Our financing solutions are designed to simplify the purchase process for customers, and our range of Hire Purchase (HP) and Personal Contract Plan (PCP) terms will make the latest range of Cake electric motorbikes even more accessible – for work or pleasure.”

Disappointment as council ends trial

The UK government’s failure to resolve the legal position of e-scooters continues to have an effect as another one of the temporary rental trials closes down. Sandwell Council in Birmingham has refused to extend a local scheme run by Swedish e-scooter rental firm Voi, which ended on 25 November. The council hasn’t given a reason for ending the scheme.

Voi said it was “disappointed” the West Bromwich service hadn’t been extended. A Voi spokesman told the Birmingham Live website, “We’re proud of the safe and convenient service we have delivered to the people of Sandwell, so it’s disappointing to announce the sad closure of our operations in the town. We’ve been delighted to have played our part in helping riders ditch nearly 7000 petrol-powered car journeys since launching two years ago.” Similar Voi schemes nearby in Birmingham and Coventry are not affected by the decision.

Legislation to normalise the legal status of e-scooters was expected in a transport bill before last summer, but the chaotic state of the UK government at the time scuppered the transport bill, leaving e-scooters in a curious limbo state: legal to sell but not to use on public roads, yet available in various areas as part of trial hire schemes, which are now being extended or closed down, seemingly at the whim of local government.

Energica opens direct web store for bike accessories

Italian premium electric bike maker Energica has opened a new online store where owners can buy bolt-on OE accessories for their machines. Backed with web store specialist E-tailor technology, the Modena firm offers parts like hard luggage, windscreens, carbon body panels, paddock stands, and much more. The site also provides a new bike configurator service to spec up your own custom build.

“We are very pleased to provide customers with a new tool that will further expand our sales capability,” said sales director Giacomo Stefano Leone. “This is an important step for Energica, which further proves our commitment to meet the needs of our customers.” shop.energicamotor.com/en