A new business drive into the corporate fleet market is being planned in 2019 by medium-term rental specialist Meridian Vehicle Solutions. So far, the company has worked almost entirely through leasing and fleet management companies as intermediaries, white labelling their product for more well-known brands. Phil Jerome, managing director, explained, “While we expect that working these … [Read more...]
Skills and stability needed to build on ‘can-do’ Britain
Urgent action is needed to address skills shortages and restore necessary political conditions to maintain competitiveness and attract future investment in Britain's automotive industry, says the Automotive Council. Britain’s automotive talent is among the world’s most adaptable, with the industry’s long history of engineering excellence and strong labour relations the envy of competing … [Read more...]
Used car sales steady after new cars collapse
Britain’s used car market remained near recent record highs in the third quarter of 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Despite a sales dip of -2.1% compared with the same period in 2017, there were 2,057,457 used transactions in Q3, with August the quarter’s best-selling month and the Ford Fiesta was most popular with 93,260 sold. Buyers continued flocking to … [Read more...]
Newslines 16 November
Cardiff Council is expected to get tough on illegally parked or untaxed vehicles abandoned on the streets, and it could be removing 20 a week. It already has powers to clamp and remove illegally parked vehicles but does not always use them and the additional powers would see them taking over duties from the DVLA with abandoned cars early in 2019. Wales First Minister intends to decide on the … [Read more...]
Tradelines 31 October
An additional £7.5m to help Welsh businesses including the automotive sector build resilience in order to cope with the challenges of Brexit was announced by Economy Secretary, Ken Skates. The £7.5m, which is part of the Welsh Government’s £50m EU Transition Fund, will be used over the next three years to help companies develop the new expertise and processes they will need in order to thrive, … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 October
Production of the Ford GT supercar will be extended approximately two years, to meet overwhelming customer demand. Ford will re-open the application window to customers in selected markets, including the UK, for one month beginning Nov. 8, delivering approximately 1,350 Ford GTs for customers worldwide. Car makers in the UK said they were “hugely disappointed” by the diplomatic traffic jam … [Read more...]
Auto-industry on brink of disaster without deal
Ahead of this evening’s Brexit summit, Europe’s auto manufacturers and suppliers have come together to issue a stark warning on the potentially far-reaching impacts of a no-deal scenario on their sector, which would threaten their very business model. Automobile production plants – be they in the EU27 or the UK – receive and fit millions of parts into vehicles every day. All manufacturers rely … [Read more...]
Tradelines 17 October
Following on from the first silhouette images, ŠKODA reveals the name of its new model – the ŠKODA Scala. The name derives from the Latin word ‘scala’ which means ‘stairs’ and is a step forward for the Czech car manufacturer in the compact hatch segment when it launches before 2019 and replaces the Rapid. Audi has been fined the equivalent of £702.54M by German prosecutors for violations … [Read more...]
Fleets unprepared for Brexit fallout
The fleet industry needs to start encouraging a sector-wide conversation about Brexit in order to make preparations, says Meridian Vehicle Solutions. Phil Jerome, managing director at the medium term rental specialist, said that he understood the current lack of dialogue given the ongoing absence of clarity about exactly what form leaving the EU would take. However, with only a few months … [Read more...]
Ford warn over “no-deal Brexit” future for Bridgend plant
A no-deal Brexit "would be pretty disastrous" for British industry and could affect the future of Ford Bridgend Engine Plant, the company’s European boss has told the BBC. Steven Armstrong told the BBC he was "still confident" a tariff-free frictionless trade deal would be done but a no-deal outcome would "force us to think about what our future investment strategy for the UK would … [Read more...]