Monster pickup trucks accelerate into Europe as sales rise despite safety fears

A Dodge Ram 1500 is bigger than a Panzer I tank and campaigners say heavy trucks are ‘lethal’ in collisions

The engines rev, the guitars thrum and a gruff narrator lays out why the vehicle occupying the driveway is more than just a machine. “A truck is a tool,” he says, “but a Ram – a Ram is life.”

So begins an advert for the Ram 1500, a pickup truck slightly bigger than the Panzer I tanks of Nazi Germany and almost as heavy. It is growing in popularity in Europe, with the number of Rams arriving on the continent up 20% in 2023 from the year before, according to registration data from the European Environment Agency. Road safety and environmental campaigners in the UK and Europe are aghast as the latest, most extreme cases of North American car bloat – giant pickup trucks – are increasingly crossing the Atlantic.

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One in four cars sold in May in Australia was an EV or hybrid vehicle, data shows

Automative industry findings show Australians have purchased double the number of hybrid vehicles this year compared to the same period last year Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast Australian drivers bought a record number of new vehicles in May, with many choosing to reduce their fuel costs by choosing hybrid and electric models. Almost one in four new cars bought in Australia is a low-emission vehicle, as hybrid and electric models claim a bigger share of the market. But Australia’s love for large vehicles is still on the rise, with SUVs dominating and ute sales continuing to grow. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

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