The Welsh Government will be investing £1m to create a network of car clubs to connect rural communities, says outgoing Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters. The move comes as part of plans to meet ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions with aims for public transport, walking and cycling trips to account for 45% of journeys by 2040 and the clubs will provide an easy and … [Read more...]
£4 Billion ev battery plant confirmed for West Country
Tata has finally confirmed its Agratas subsidiary will build a six-million sq foot car battery plant at a cost of £4 Billion near Bridgewater. The parent company of JLR aims to get it into production inside two years and to eventually build power packs for about 500,000 vehicles annually and provide 4,000 jobs on the lines. It will take up about half the area previously occupied by a Royal … [Read more...]
SMMT gets new president
The 83rd President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) will be Mick Flanagan, Vice President for Volvo, JLR, Toyota, Nissan at Adient. He will assume office from 1 January 2024, replacing Alison Jones, Senior Vice President Global Circular Economy at Stellantis, who steps down after completing her two-year tenure. Mick draws experience from a long career in the automotive … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 October
The RAV4 Plug-in, Toyota’s flagship hybrid model, has been named as the most satisfying new car to own in a survey of more than 50,000 motorists by consumer champion, Which?. The survey, conducted annually, lists the nation’s favourite and least favourite cars, based on customer satisfaction scores and the likelihood of an owner recommending their car model to a friend. Transport for Wales is … [Read more...]
Government damaging confusion over cleaner vehicles
This week’s government ambivalence over the longstanding 2030 EV sales deadline is potentially “damaging for fleets” who are committed to electrification, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding (below), managing director at the leading fleet software provider, said that prime minister Rishi Sunak’s equivocation when asked about the deadline by an interviewer had set alarm bells ringing across the … [Read more...]
Massive car battery plant going to Bridgewater
Jaguar Land Rover parent Tata today confirmed it will build a £4 Billion battery plant outside Bridgewater, Somerset to open by 2026. On the eve of a by-election in the county tomorrow, the Government said it would be supporting the Indian company’s investment with grants, training and energy costs but has not confirmed a specific figure thought to be about £500 Million. The development was … [Read more...]
Tradelines 31 May
The latest hybrid London Black Cabs have been fitted with bigger traction batteries to increase range and lower emissions. EV range is up to 78 miles from 64 miles and total range rises from 318 miles to 333 miles. A super-car dealer living in Wales has appeared in a Yorkshire court accused of more than a £1M of fraud by his classic Porsche business over three years. Andrew Mearns, 54, of … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 April
At the Shanghai Auto Show this week, HiPhi of China revealed the third member of its advanced model line-up, alongside its initial plans for global expansion. The new HiPhi Y will join the dual flagship models, X and Z, with plans for the first HiPhi customer cars on European roads within 2023, to be followed by the Middle East soon thereafter. Jaguar Land Rover will increase its investments … [Read more...]
KIA is king say dealers but PSA are pitiful
Kia is the highest rated marque by dealers in their annual showroom and business survey while PSA Group companies were among the lowest. The all-important question ‘how would you rate your manufacturer overall on a scale of 1 to 10?’ returned an average of 6.5, on par with six months ago. Kia (9.3), Lexus (9.2), and Mini (8.8) were the top performers whilst Vauxhall (3.7), Jaguar (3.7), and … [Read more...]
Tradelines 22 February
Fleets could consider increased support of UK-produced vehicles, FleetCheck is suggesting, as Nissan questioned the future of its Sunderland plant. Peter Golding, managing director at the leading fleet management software specialist said businesses that bought vehicles could have an impact on local manufacturing saying, "UK motor manufacturing has already lost Honda in recent years, electric MINI … [Read more...]