UK fleets have been reassured that deliveries of new vehicles will be unaffected after a ship en-route to the UK sank with a cargo of 3,000 BMWs, Saabs and Volvos on board.

The Tricolor, was sailing from Zeebrugge to Southampton with its £60 million cargo when it was struck by a freighter, the Kariba, at the weekend. BMW, Saab and Volvo confirmed that all cars on board were for the US market. This week, while being protected by the French Navy, the capsized ship and its premium upper-medium cargo was struck by another ship, the Nicola.