The 2018 Paris Motor Show this week comes at a time when the European automotive industry is facing three major challenges: the introduction of WLTP, trade tensions in the US, and the outcome of Brexit negotiations. How quickly the market continues to grow will depend on how quickly it adapts to the knock-on effects caused by these factors. In the face of these challenges, car makers have … [Read more...]
Buyers seriously considering ev and fuel cell cars
Green-group Transport & Environment say 40% of car buyers across Europe will buy or lease an electric or fuel cell powered, but manufacturers are slow to meet demand. A considerable 5-12% of citizens across the countries surveyed say it is very likely they'll buy an electric next and their MORI survey shows there is an immediate opportunity to grow the 2% of sales that presently can be … [Read more...]
Newslines 2 October
Volvo has demonstrated the strength in depth of its SUV range with the XC40 and XC60 together winning four honours in the 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Competition. The honours, including the overall Towcar of the Year award for the XC60, were presented at a ceremony held at the RAC Club in London. The Audi SQ2 is a 300ps compact SUV being unveiled at the Paris Motor … [Read more...]
Sports stars shine experience on JLR
Ahead of October’s Invictus Games Sydney 2018, Presenting Partner Jaguar Land Rover invited wounded, injured and sick warriors to experience a self-driving Range Rover Sport on some of the UK’s most complicated roads. Team UK Captain Mark ‘Dot’ Perkins and Italian team member Simone Careddu joined former competitors Jamie Weller and JJ Chalmers to ride in the level 4 autonomous SUV on public … [Read more...]
Car makers poorly prepared for new law
The European car market saw spectacular growth in August, recording the highest August result in the last twenty years. But this strong growth was artificial as registrations were boosted by stock clearances ahead of the introduction of tougher new emissions tests under the World Light Car Test Programme, or WLTP, on the 1 September. This is evidenced by unusual results in typically slow … [Read more...]
7.3 M UK cars branded “dirty diesels”
There are now 43 million dirty diesels on Europe’s roads, and their numbers continue to grow three years after the 'Dieselgate scandal' was exposed, a new report concludes. Even a diesel car that passed the EU’s new on-road test emits nine times the legal amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) when driven in a way more representative of typical driving, new testing shows. Non-governmental … [Read more...]
Warranty worries over technology and responsibility
New technology and parts sharing is posing a tough challenge for vehicle makers to decide on warranty cover. Warranty and quality specialists from automotive suppliers met at the 2018 CLEPA Warranty Conference in Frankfurt, to discuss the future challenges in managing warranty in the future and the headline of the conference was “Warranty in a digital world”. Partners from Strategy&, a … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 September
Aston Martin is planning to add a third hypercar to its planned range. It announced the 1,000hp £2.3M Valkyrie and £4.0M Valkyrie AMR Pro models but now wants to add another cheaper coupe (right sketch) into the range, which could be under £1.0M.. JLR is reportedly struggling to find UK parts makers willing to supply components to them. Production requires massive investment and the … [Read more...]
Classic pick-up carries off 40 years
It’s 1978, and the world is changing as Space Invaders spreads to arcades across the globe and launches the video game industry, writes David Miles. The first automated cellular phone network is being built in Japan and Superman takes off in cinemas. Another product is launched which, over the next four decades, will bring mobility to 4.7 million people – the Mitsubishi 1-ton … [Read more...]
Jaguar completes trans-Channel crossing
The Jaguar I-PACE has demonstrated its real-world usability by driving 229 miles from London to Brussels on a single charge. The all-electric performance SUV began its intercity trip on London’s South Bank, with its 90kWh battery fully charged, before heading to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone. But unlike the 80 million vehicles that have made the crossing by train since the … [Read more...]