Daimler has reached agreements costing nearly £2.3 Billion to settle civil investigations by US regulators and lawsuits from vehicle owners stemming from a probe into software to cheat diesel emissions tests. The settlements address civil and environmental claims tied to 250,000 U.S. diesel passenger cars and vans and include claims from the Environmental Protection Agency, Justice … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 August
Tough labour laws in France mean that Ineos stands to pick up an idling Daimler plant in Hamach in a distressed sale for €500 Million to build its forthcoming Grenadier 4x4 after suspending plans for a new factory outside Bridgend. If the sale falls through, Ineos may return to South Wales but there is another option on a struggling Nissan site in Spain as well. The Proton brand could resurface … [Read more...]
Newslines 8 July
Audi is ramping up its ev range with a coupe performance version of the Q4 e-tron. The Sportback will join the new comer next year when the range goes on sale in the UK. About 70,000 drivers a month search for when their MoT test is due, say comparethemarket. It’s the most searched term on their web portal, ahead of a price check on their model’s value and cost of car tax. Environmentalists … [Read more...]
Boost to fuel cell trucks
Daimler and Volvo will jointly develop new generation fuel cell trucks. The two big heavy goods vehicle makers have inked an agreement which is seen as a forerunner of future joint ventures in the industry struggling to cope with tougher emissions regulations and rising development costs. … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 September
Welsh Conservatives have called on Welsh Government to immediately cut delays, overcrowding and mismanagement of the rail network. Shadow minister for Transport Russell George said users wanted action now and not a policy which was looking 20 years ahead while ignoring issues hitting the services today and was responding to a Welsh Government report on the future of rail travel in Wales and … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 May
The Hyundai Ioniq has been upgraded and given new connectivity and wifi improvements. These come along with a new battery pack in the ev versions and subtle cosmetic changes inside and out. Smell and colour changes caused by smoking in a car could wipe off £2,000 at its trade in, says valuation specialists HPI. The cost is taken off the value because the car would have to be fully valeted … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 April
Lower prices, reassurances over battery life and more accessible charge points are among the things drivers claim would persuade them to switch to an electric car, it has emerged. But despite electric vehicles estimated to emit 50 per cent less greenhouse gas than diesel, just seven per cent of motorists have already made the switch and the study of 2,000 car owners found less than two fifths … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 July
About 150 BMW Oxford suppliers in Britain have attended a crash course in customs clearance procedures. They have not had to worry over this as Britain was in the EU but if it leaves the car maker says they will need this information. There’s a split developing in Europe over retaliation to US trade tariffs. Germany says it wants to negotiate a deal with America because its car industry … [Read more...]
Diesel-gate recall, executives questioned, sales slow
It has been a bad week for German car makers and it could get worse over coming months. German prosecutors this week widened an emissions cheating probe into Volkswagen’s luxury carmaker Audi and Chief Executive Rupert Stadler is among suspects accused of fraud and false advertising. In 2015,Volkswagen admitted falsifying U.S. diesel emissions tests. Munich public prosecutor’s office said it … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 April
The A40 will remain shut between Llandovery and Llanwrda over the weekend at least. It’s emergency closure follows the opening of a sink-hole in the carriageway on Wednesday evening and the diversions have caused chaos in surrounding villages struggling with HGVs on narrow sections. Plans to scrap the proposed electric rail line between Cardiff and Swansea have been defended by UK Transport … [Read more...]