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Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988 and remains the title's longest-serving journalist. 

He has served time as the motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. And from the 1990s-2010s he was a weekly columnist on several broadsheet papers - Daily Telegraph, The Independent/Independent on Sunday and The Sunday Times. 

The Economist Intelligence Unit and International Herald Tribune have used him as a motor industry consultant/author. And he has presented over 1,000 motoring, sports or current affairs programmes for LBC, talkRADIO, talkSPORT and ITV. 

Currently, he is: the Chief Columnist at Auto Express where he still writes a weekly column; Judge (& Founding Director) at Europe/Asia-based BestCarsOfTheYear.com - The New Car World Champions; Chairman Emeritus of North America’s World Car Awards; and President of The British Motor Show.  

Additionally, Mike remains a contributor to the BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, talkRADIO and other national and international stations such as CBS.

His claims to fame are that he has interviewed four British Prime Ministers, worked as a ghostwriter for Martin Brundle & Stirling Moss, and driven thousands of road, concept and racing cars including a Tyrrell F1 Car and world-record-breaking Bugatti. 

In recognition of his 40-year full-time career in the media and automotive worlds, he was presented with the coveted Newspress Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Away from cars, Mike has repeatedly travelled to Zambia, Botswana and other counties in central southern Africa where he helped establish libraries and personally delivered thousands of books and writing materials to schools and orphanages.  

He also serves as a proud Trustee at the Marcus Rutherford Foundation/Young Adult Cancer Trust which now incorporates and safeguards The Forest of Marcus.

E-mail: mike.rutherford@carwow.co.uk

“Car factory staff in the UK shouldn’t price themselves out"
Opinion - UK factory worker

“Car factory staff in the UK shouldn’t price themselves out"

Mike Rutherford praises those working on the UK car production line, but also has a warning for them
Opinion
5 Mar 2017
'Sadiq Khan wants to scrap diesels that he put on the road'
Opinion - diesel exhausts

'Sadiq Khan wants to scrap diesels that he put on the road'

Mike Rutherford looks at the bleak future for diesel cars on the UK's roads
Opinion
26 Feb 2017
‘The price VW will pay for its mess is immeasurable’
Opinion - VW Group

‘The price VW will pay for its mess is immeasurable’

Mike Rutherford looks at how the VW Group is performing as the emissions scandal rumbles on
Opinion
19 Feb 2017
With intentionally low production, Ferrari needn’t try hard
Opinion - Ferrari

With intentionally low production, Ferrari needn’t try hard

Mike Rutherford looks at Ferrari's future plans as the manufacturer celebrates its 70th birthday this year
Opinion
12 Feb 2017
'Is internet shopping the future for car buyers?'

'Is internet shopping the future for car buyers?'

Asda experimented with selling cars in the 1980s - but could the internet shopping era herald a return of supermarkets becoming car dealers?
Opinion
5 Feb 2017
"Lack of recharging infrastructure is holding back EVs"
Opinion - electric charging points

"Lack of recharging infrastructure is holding back EVs"

Mike Rutherford finds EVs reliable, fun, and satisfying to drive - so why aren't people flocking to buy them?
Opinion
29 Jan 2017
"Trump is keen to preserve vehicle production in the US"

"Trump is keen to preserve vehicle production in the US"

Donald Trump has been very outspoken about the US car industry - but what does it mean for manufacturers in America?
Opinion
20 Jan 2017
'Buyers have demanded more cars ‘made in Britain''
JLR opinion

'Buyers have demanded more cars ‘made in Britain''

Mike Rutherford is proud to be British after looking at the official car sales figures from 2016
Opinion
13 Jan 2017
'Commuters need reminding that cars are strike-free'

'Commuters need reminding that cars are strike-free'

Strikes involving rail conductors, postal workers and Argos staff brewed a season of badwill, but Mike Rutherford has a suggestion
Opinion
8 Jan 2017
Crazy Jaguar 1+1 hints at brand’s EV future
Jaguar 1+1 - front (watermarked)

Crazy Jaguar 1+1 hints at brand’s EV future

Exclusive images of slimline premium Jaguar 1+1 electric car for crowded cities, which could arrive in the 2020s
News
6 Jan 2017
'Fat discounts on new cars are obligatory'

'Fat discounts on new cars are obligatory'

You, the consumer, owe it to yourself and your family not to pay full list price on a new car, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
5 Jan 2017
'Thought of having your say on motoring crimes? Now you can'

'Thought of having your say on motoring crimes? Now you can'

The Ministry of Justice has asked for your views on motoring offences; Mike Rutherford is urging you to do so right here
Opinion
21 Dec 2016
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'The UK's car retail trade lags behind other sectors'
Opinion article lead image of cars

'The UK's car retail trade lags behind other sectors'

Britain's car sales sector in the automotive industry is way behind the likes of the US, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
13 Dec 2016
'Philip Hammond's £1.3bn road fund buys us next to nothing'

'Philip Hammond's £1.3bn road fund buys us next to nothing'

The Chancellor's 2016 Autumn Statement promised little for motorists, but delivered even less, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
3 Dec 2016
"Is increasingly insular America losing its touch?"

"Is increasingly insular America losing its touch?"

Are mainstream American cars ready to go global? Fat chance, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
27 Nov 2016
“The BBC suggested cars are a major source of air pollution”
diesel OPINION

“The BBC suggested cars are a major source of air pollution”

Mike Rutherford thinks the car is getting a bad reputation when it comes to air pollution
Opinion
19 Nov 2016
'Exactly how lucrative are car buyers to manufacturers?'

'Exactly how lucrative are car buyers to manufacturers?'

Mike Rutherford digs through the profit reports to see who gets the most from punters, and the results are "boringly reliable"
Opinion
4 Nov 2016
“Congestion could cost the UK £307bn"
Opinion traffic

“Congestion could cost the UK £307bn"

Mike Rutherford looks at the UK's growing congestion problems, and he thinks he has the solution
Opinion
30 Oct 2016
"Britain is unproductive? I don't believe it for a second"

"Britain is unproductive? I don't believe it for a second"

The Office for National Statistics suggests that British workers aren't as productive as others. Mike Rutherford thinks that's rubbish
Opinion
23 Oct 2016
"The WCA shortlist shows that Germany and Japan still rule"

"The WCA shortlist shows that Germany and Japan still rule"

Mike Rutherford has been scrutinising the shortlist for the 2017 World Car Awards - and it's clear to him who the real global players are
Opinion
16 Oct 2016
"McLaren is a hungry minnow; Apple is a bloated whale"
Mike Opinion McLaren

"McLaren is a hungry minnow; Apple is a bloated whale"

Mike Rutherford's not happy about losing the headphone jack from the iPhone, but he's even less impressed by rumours of a McLaren takeover
Opinion
9 Oct 2016
"Is it worth buying a used luxury, performance or supercar?"

"Is it worth buying a used luxury, performance or supercar?"

Prices for used cars in the classifieds can be tempting. But it could also be a financial time-bomb, as Mike Rutherford's been investigating
Opinion
2 Oct 2016
“The drive to the Paris Motor Show is a relaxed stroll”

“The drive to the Paris Motor Show is a relaxed stroll”

Mike Rutherford wonders why more Brits are not crossing the Channel to visit the 2016 Paris Motor Show
Opinion
25 Sep 2016
"The dashboard camera is moving in as a sort of squatter"
Opinion - dash cams

"The dashboard camera is moving in as a sort of squatter"

Mike Rutherford laments the loss of non-essential tech as standard and looks at the growing demand for dash cams
Opinion
18 Sep 2016
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"Affordable mobility is what's needed in Africa and Asia"

"Affordable mobility is what's needed in Africa and Asia"

The GVT OX is an affordable, easy-to-build and rugged vehicle for developing countries - and Mike Rutherford's pretty excited about it
Opinion
11 Sep 2016
Flat-pack truck to bring mobility to developing nations
Global Vehicle Trust OX - front below

Flat-pack truck to bring mobility to developing nations

Meet the OX, a rugged multi-purpose vehicle its creators hope will bring transport to millions
News
6 Sep 2016
'The plan now for Lotus is profit'

'The plan now for Lotus is profit'

Mike Rutherford sits down with Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Lotus, to talk about the brand's future
Opinion
4 Sep 2016
"What's the average age of our cars?"
Scrapyard

"What's the average age of our cars?"

Armed with data from the SMMT and CAP, Mike Rutherford's been looking into our car-buying habits
Opinion
27 Aug 2016
"High revenues don't always translate into profits"

"High revenues don't always translate into profits"

Mike Rutherford's been examining the books of some of the world's largest car companies - and the figures make for staggering reading
Opinion
21 Aug 2016
"We're rearranging what Kia is for buyers in Europe"

"We're rearranging what Kia is for buyers in Europe"

Mike Rutherford chats with Albert Biermann, the man behind some legendary BMW M cars - who's now turning his talents to Kias product range
Opinion
14 Aug 2016
"Without investment, transport systems could crash and burn"
Mike Opinion Travel

"Without investment, transport systems could crash and burn"

Mike Rutherford has had a hellish week's journey, and he knows exactly where to point the blame
Opinion
7 Aug 2016
"Louise Ellman is the great ally drivers have in Parliament"
Mike Opinion Louise Ellman

"Louise Ellman is the great ally drivers have in Parliament"

Fed up of dealing with the DfT, Mike Rutherford's been in touch with Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Select Committee
Opinion
31 Jul 2016
"Gerry McGovern - the man behind the best cars on earth"

"Gerry McGovern - the man behind the best cars on earth"

Mike Rutherford's been talking to Gerry McGovern, design director at Land Rover, about the future of the brand
Opinion
24 Jul 2016
"The motor industry has destroyed bigger men than Elon Musk"

"The motor industry has destroyed bigger men than Elon Musk"

Despite the hype surrounding Tesla, Mike Rutherford wonders if the American electric car manufacturer's bubble is about to burst
Opinion
16 Jul 2016