Will Rimell

Will Rimell
Title: Deputy news editor

Will is a journalist with more than eight years experience in roles that range from news reporter to editor. He joined Autocar in 2022 as deputy news editor, moving from a local news background where he cut his teeth editing and writing for newspapers.

His most recent role was as website editor at the Daily Echo newspaper in his hometown of Southampton. He’s also worked as a local democracy reporter for the BBC, and was head of news for the Salisbury Journal.

In his current role, Will’s focus is on working with the magazine editor and news editor to set the news agenda in Autocar’s weekly magazine, helping to run the autocar.co.uk website, and writing stories. He also writes for Autocar Business and Haymarket's aftermarket publication CAT Mag.

These stories come in many forms, from interviewing top executives, reporting from car launches, and unearthing exclusives.

He graduated from Highbury College in Portsmouth in 2015 and holds a NCTJ Level 5 National Qualification in Journalism with 100wpm shorthand.

Will is an expert in:

  • News writing, especially new car news
  • Sourcing exclusive stories
  • Interviewing, from car dealers to top executives
  • Automotive business and industry news
  • Electric car news
  • New car reviews

Will Rimell Q&A

What was your biggest news story?

I just really enjoy talking to people and asking questions. This has led me to a number of big stories, but the one that’s had the most attention lately was Seat’s boss confirming the car maker may no longer make cars come 2030. A great scoop, and something that came from a rather simple question: “Will you still be a car maker in 2035?”.

What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?

A car journalist’s most hated question. But for the ease of “depends what you define as ‘best’”, it would have to be the Alpine A110. That’s the one that sticks in the brain: 248bhp, 1125kg, nippy, agile, light, sounds incredible for a four-pot and leaves a smile on the face like no other. This truly could be the only car you need, if you didn’t need space for things, or more than two seats, that is…

What will the car industry look like in 20 years?

A question whose answer changes by the week. Electric is clearly the chosen route forward, and the quality of machines currently rolling off production lines is staggering given we’ve still got over 10 years until the ICE ban takes effect. But will it be the only power source in use come 2043? For me, no. Hydrogen has a big part to play – maybe only for HGVs and those vehicles too heavy for pure-electric batteries to truly make a difference – as does combustion power. But, in what form the latter will take, be it similar to the much anticipated synthetic fuels, remains to be seen. 

vauxhall city car concept render front three quarter
The new city car will have a ‘Vauxhall 2.0’ look, like the Experimental concept
News

Vauxhall plots £22,000 urban electric car as entry model

Supermini will sit below Corsa Electric in line-up as cheap EVs become a "big pull" in industry

Vauxhall plots £22,000 urban electric car as entry model
technician (1)
Diversity leads to more innovative solutions, says the Royal Academy of Engineering
News

Lack of diversity threatens future of automotive engineering

Royal Academy of Engineering calls for diversity boost as figures reveal just 16% of workforce are women

Lack of diversity threatens future of automotive engineering
Leapmotor Co1
The Leapmotor C01 EV is one of the cars expected to come to Europe
News

Stellantis to sell Leapmotor cars in Europe after £1.3bn deal

Tech-focused car maker is one of the fastest-growing brands in China, with 111,000 sales in 2022

Stellantis to sell Leapmotor cars in Europe after £1.3bn deal
JLR Nitra factory production
The Nitra plant currently produces the Defender and Discovery
News

Jaguar Land Rover to electrify Nitra plant as part of EV push

Slovakian site opened in 2018 and has made more than 365,000 Defender and Discovery models

Jaguar Land Rover to electrify Nitra plant as part of EV push
Toyota FT SE front 3 4
The FT-Se concept was unveiled at the Tokyo motor show
News

Toyota sports car concept imagines electric MR2 successor

New FT-Se concept previews the first electric sports car from Toyota's GR sub-brand

Toyota sports car concept imagines electric MR2 successor
Cars
Mass adoption of EVs needs to be backed by "asset sharing" Coastr boss Biswajit Kundu Roy told Autocar
News

Vehicle sharing 'more key' than EV adoption in climate battle

British automotive tech firm Coastr claims that just 6% of the world’s 2.4 billion cars are fully utilised

Vehicle sharing 'more key' than EV adoption in climate battle
Volvo car charging
From 2024, car makers will need to show that 45% of an EV's value originated in the UK or EU to remain tariff free
News

Government to create own rules of origin laws if EU's 'don't work'

Upcoming legislation limits where parts for an electric car may be sourced, with a heavy focus on batteries

Government to create own rules of origin laws if EU's 'don't work'
Horiba Mira self driving cars
UK-based Horiba Mira will lead the technical development of the project
News

UK-led project will slash self-driving tech costs by 40%

Certus aims to cut production times and increase safety of next-generation autonomous systems

UK-led project will slash self-driving tech costs by 40%
Volta tucks 2
The Swedish firm had a base in the UK
News

UK-based Volta Trucks goes bust

Electric truck start-up blames funding difficulties and supplier problems

UK-based Volta Trucks goes bust
Long-Term Review

Lexus RZ 2023 long-term test

Upmarket electric family SUV arrives with plenty to prove, especially to its keeper

Lexus RZ 2023 long-term test
EV batteries
Batteries will be developed for an array of sectors, including passenger EVs
News

WAE will create electric car batteries at new £20m Oxford factory

Site opened today, will create 300 jobs and predominantly supply the heavy plant sector

WAE will create electric car batteries at new £20m Oxford factory

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