PSA has cancelled all Vauxhall and Opel dealership contracts with two year’s notice. As expected since the new owners acquired the struggling former GM subsidiaries, PSA will only reappoint the best dealers which sell most cars and have high customer ratings experiences, which means over 500 could be dropped and those 1,100 who remain could sell all brands inc. Peugeot, Citroen and DS. The … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 April
Citroën’s partnership with the brand ELLE sees the addition of the elegant, trendy and connected C1 ELLE at £12,705. The more adventurous and laid-back, C1 Urban Ride evokes a sense of escape via dynamic lines reinforced with wing protectors at £12,225 and they will be available to order from May 2018. New VW Polo comes with free insurance until the end of May. There are also wide ranging … [Read more...]
£170M Vauxhall Luton van plant investment
Vauxhall Luton van plant will build the next generation Vivaro from next year, and probably some Peugeot and Citroen models which will use the same platform in the group. The news today secures about 1,400 jobs beyond 2030 and represents up to £170m investment in the plant said the Unite union, including about £9M from the Government. It is also expected to be good news for the UK supply chain … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 March
A year before Brexit kicks in, it is essential that both industry and government do all they can to secure new model production in Britain, said the SMMT. Thousands of jobs depend on a good deal for the auto sector, it said, as new figures from the Production Outlook, predict there will be modest fall in UK vehicle production to 1.729 million in 2018 and 1.713 million in 2019 before production … [Read more...]
Newslines 29 January
Ford will slim down its model ranges and plans to build more SUVs and crossover models, the company said as it announced last quarter results. Profits pretax fell nearly 20% last year with a 66% decline in the last quarter in Europe, and it’s analyzing what it needs to axe and what it can expand in its range to gain most profitability to catch up with rivals. PSA has indicated it may move … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 January
Unite union has met PSA over plans for Ellesmere Port Vauxhall plant, which assembles Astra models. Discussions followed a 250 jobs cut announced this month on top of 400 jobs going since last autumn but the company has said it is twice as expensive to run as the French equivalent plants. UK industrialist Sanjeev Gupta is bidding to build electric vehicles in a factory GM Australia closed … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 January
UK drivers are now paying £827 on average for their car insurance, according to Confused.com . The company’s index reveals prices have accelerated by a whopping £60 (+8%) since 2016 (Q4) when premiums were comparatively cheaper at £767 and expects them to exceed £900 by the end of this year. Suzuki will supply a eight V-Strom 1000 marshal bikes for this year’s Welsh Road Race, which takes … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 January
A new 542bhp 4.0V8 petrol engine has been fitted in the luxurious Bentley Bentayga SUV. It gives the premium model a 0-60mph time of 4.4 sec and max 180mph and it can be ordered with the world’s largest carbon-ceramic brakes, has standard dynamic programmes with optional electric ride control, high quality interior including polished carbon inserts from £136,200. A German court has ordered … [Read more...]
Changes at the top of Vauxhall
Vauxhall director Rory Harvey has been replaced by sales and marketing vice-president Stephen Norman in Britain. The change comes after a 22% fall in Vauxhall sales last year and over 650 jobs announced to be cut at Ellesmere Port, which must put up a strong case to win new models and business development under the new owners, PSA Group, of France. PSA boss Carlos Tavares will meet UK … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 November
Cardiff city centre could host a cycling event on Sunday 13 May 2018. It is one of the cities being considered and councilors will be expected to directly contribute £100,000 to the event or “value in kind”, and they will discuss on Thursday, after a cycling lobby has called for more roadspace to protect them. BMW has lost an appeal to a Swiss court over a £139 M fine after it blocked sales … [Read more...]