A new £1.8m fund to encourage businesses to move beyond manufacturing internal combustion engines to producing low carbon vehicle technologies, helping to stimulate innovative economic growth in Wales, is being established by Ford and the Welsh Government. The Ford Low Carbon Vehicle Transition Fund, administered by the Welsh Government as part of Ford’s legacy in Wales after … [Read more...]
Looking back at historic Welsh racer
Unlike best-selling blockbuster novels, specialized books on niche subjects tend to trickle off bookshop shelves over a far longer period of time, so it was perhaps not unusual to receive a fresh new copy of Cyril Kieft’s definitive racing biography some sixteen years after it was first launched in 2005. Despite the delay, this authorized biography, proved a thoroughly absorbing read which … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 February
Wales has some of the best drivers in Britain. Rooster Insurance looked at driving records and found just 12% of Welsh drivers had committed offences compared to 34% of Londoners in five years. The FIA has paved the way to a promising co-operation with the World Rally Championship Promoter Group for the promotion of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. The FIA and WRC Promoter will work … [Read more...]
Tradelines 20 January
Ineos Cars' boss Tom Crotty has denied it was forced to change its mind over building an assembly plant in Bridgend because of Brexit costs, despite being in favour of the split from the EU. He has said there was a ready made assembly plant offered by Mercedes as the German company had revised its plans for using its assembly plant on the French/ German border. The Massive growth in driver-owned … [Read more...]
Ford secure loan guarantees for Dagenham engine plant
As Ford prepare to close their Bridgend Engine Plant this year with the loss of about 1,200 jobs, the company has secured a UK Government underwritten £500M loan to support its Dagenham engine plant. The guarantee covers 80 percent of a £625M loan from commercial banks to support the automaker’s substantial exports of engines and transmissions from Britain. The guarantee will help Ford to … [Read more...]
Welsh rugby internationals tackle with Wranglers
Two Wales rugby internationals well-versed in tough tackling on the pitch are now able to take the toughest terrain off it after taking delivery of their new Jeep Wrangler SUVs. Cardiff Blues and WRU tighthead, Dillon Lewis and former WRU and current Worcester Warriors centre, Ashley Beck, both chose the iconic SUV – the ultimate go-anywhere 4x4 – as their daily drives … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: INEOS U-turn on Welsh car plant
Ineos has suspended plans to build its new 4x4 Grenadier in Wales. The company is now talking to Daimler about taking over a car plant it's vacating in France. In a blow to Welsh automotive manufacturing which promised up to 500 jobs at Brocastle, Bridgend, it said today, “INEOS Automotive can confirm that it is reviewing its manufacturing strategy for the new Grenadier in light of the … [Read more...]
Wales’ Ineos Grenadier 4×4 unwrapped
This is the new Ineos Grenadier. INEOS Automotive today reveals the exterior design of the Grenadier, its forthcoming, no-nonsense 4x4 vehicle for the world, as another step on the road towards start of production. Heavily influenced by the previous Land Rover Defender loved by Ineos boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe, it will be built in a new factory at Brocastle Industrial Estate, Bridgend as … [Read more...]
Nissan Sunderland future revealed by June
The future of Nissan Sunderland is expected to be outlined at the end of May. The UK plant builds cars for the UK and Europe and the Japanese car maker is preparing a new global production plan which will see a 20% reduction in capacity and that is expected to see it concentrate on the Far East and USA. There was a report this week that it is about to announce the closure of its pickup and ev … [Read more...]
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant still working – for now
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will continue producing contracted petrol V6 and V8 units for Jaguar Land Rover for as long as it can, the company has told media. JLR said it had enough parts in stock to build cars until the end of this week at least, possibly longer. It also uses petrol and diesel engines from its own plant in the West Midlands. Nissan has announced today it is suspending … [Read more...]