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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

“As an engine supplier in F1, Honda is an embarrassment”
Opinion - McLaren Honda F1

“As an engine supplier in F1, Honda is an embarrassment”

Mike Rutherford thinks Honda need to exit F1 and instead spend its billions more wisely
Opinion
28 Jul 2017
‘Donald Trump’s domestic auto firms are increasingly weak’

‘Donald Trump’s domestic auto firms are increasingly weak’

European and Asian car makers could soon outperform GM, Ford and Chrysler in the US, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
23 Jul 2017
‘Britain is the best place for premium and luxury cars'

‘Britain is the best place for premium and luxury cars'

Mike Rutherford believes nowhere else in the world beats the UK for cool and innovative design
Opinion
15 Jul 2017
‘A new JLR Apple group building cars might work’
Opinion - Apple car

‘A new JLR Apple group building cars might work’

Mike Rutherford thinks Apple can forget about making its own car, and should instead look at teaming up with an established manufacturer
Opinion
9 Jul 2017
Associations are too polite to say how safety is policed
Opinion - potholes

Associations are too polite to say how safety is policed

Mike Rutherford looks at what should be done to improve road safety in the UK
Opinion
2 Jul 2017
“London’s Mayor must see that some diesels are clean"

“London’s Mayor must see that some diesels are clean"

Mike Rutherford argues that clean diesel cars should be recognised as such
Opinion
25 Jun 2017
We need to remind the new Government what it should be doing
Opinion - electric charging points

We need to remind the new Government what it should be doing

Mike Rutherford looks at the fallout from the General Election and what the Government should be doing for the motorist between now and 2022
Opinion
18 Jun 2017
Ms Snow is urging motorists to not pay when wrongly accused
Opinion - parking fine

Ms Snow is urging motorists to not pay when wrongly accused

Mike Rutherford thinks motorists need better protection from potential scammers
Opinion
10 Jun 2017
It’s almost as if drivers don’t exist in the eyes of leaders
Opinion - motorways

It’s almost as if drivers don’t exist in the eyes of leaders

Mike Rutherford says it's about time political parties realised that cars are here to stay
Opinion
4 Jun 2017
“I know people who’ve borrowed money to buy cars”
Opinion - buying car

“I know people who’ve borrowed money to buy cars”

Mike Rutherford thinks the process for buying a new car on finance is too confusing for most, and needs to be simplified
Opinion
29 May 2017
'Tesla’s Elon Musk seems scary, but that's imperative'

'Tesla’s Elon Musk seems scary, but that's imperative'

Mike Rutherford praises Tesla boss Elon Musk, but thinks tougher times may be ahead for the American company
Opinion
21 May 2017
“There are easier ways to make money than new car brands"
Opinion - Tesla superchargers

“There are easier ways to make money than new car brands"

Mike Rutherford thinks there are far easier ways for car entrepreneurs to make money than starting new brands and building new factories
Opinion
13 May 2017
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All parties must clearly itemise their proposals for drivers
Opinion - David Cameron

All parties must clearly itemise their proposals for drivers

Mike Rutherford thinks parties need to clarify their views on cars, and not until then should you decide which one wins your vote
Opinion
6 May 2017
Our typical customer might move to suburbia and find that
Opinion - Koenigsegg Regera

Our typical customer might move to suburbia and find that

Mike Rutherford is in the US and finds that sales of Koenigsegg, Spyker and Rimac cars are booming as customers try to stand out
Opinion
30 Apr 2017
“At the minute, JLR is the world’s hottest car firm”
Opinion - Jaguar F-Pace

“At the minute, JLR is the world’s hottest car firm”

Mike Rutherford thinks JLR are leading the way after witnessing the Jaguar F-Pace win the 2017 World Car of the Year award
Opinion
23 Apr 2017
‘Diesel is under attack like never before'
Opinion - traffic

‘Diesel is under attack like never before'

Are diesel cars are being unfairly demonised? Mike Rutherford thinks it's time the car industry fought back before it's too late
Opinion
17 Apr 2017
Driver Power has improved car retail and service
Driver Power opinion

Driver Power has improved car retail and service

Mike Rutherford extols the virtues of the Driver Power survey, and the forum it creates for motorists to have their say.
Opinion
8 Apr 2017
Britain clung to its position as 10th largest auto producer
Opinion - manufacturing

Britain clung to its position as 10th largest auto producer

Mike Rutherford looks at the UK manufacturing industry, and where it sits in relation to the rest of the world
Opinion
25 Mar 2017
Car manufacturing wage gap: what do car plant workers earn?
GM factory

Car manufacturing wage gap: what do car plant workers earn?

Our exclusive investigation shows how salaries vary wildly in the world’s top car-making nations
Features
22 Mar 2017
'Why did the Chancellor make taxpayers fund battery tech?'

'Why did the Chancellor make taxpayers fund battery tech?'

Instead of forcing taxpayers to fund EV battery tech, Mike Rutherford asks why the battery industry isn't paying for it itself
Opinion
19 Mar 2017
'Why no Government advice on cars it recommends?'

'Why no Government advice on cars it recommends?'

Mike Rutherford questions why the Government is so vague on the future of diesel cars
Opinion
12 Mar 2017
“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
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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
'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