Nissan plans for a major expansion to renewable energy generation at its record-breaking plant in Sunderland. Complementing the plant’s existing wind turbines and solar farm, the proposed 20MW solar farm extension represents a further step in Nissan’s path to carbon neutrality and the 37,000-panel extension would result in 20% of the plant’s energy coming from all onsite renewables, enough to … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Ellesmere Port future balanced
Media reports suggest Stellantis will decide on the future of its Vauxhall Ellesmere Port plant in the next few days. A decision on future investment is imminent, a spokesman for the automaker has told Automotive News Europe. The factory employs about 1,000 workers making Astra cars and about a third of them commute from Wales. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said some months ago that he had to … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 January
Bus and train services through Wales have been reduced. The effects of Covid-19 on staffing and a decline in passenger numbers have combined to hit them while more users have also resorted to private transport to make journeys, and people have been urged to check service details before travelling. Ford UK prices have risen and now reflect increases following the exit from the EU and the end of … [Read more...]
Ghosn in French tax probe
French tax authorities have reportedly seized funds from Carlos Ghosn and his wife. He is under investigation in France for possible tax evasion during his last three years heading Renault and Nissan, according to media reports. Lawyers for Ghosn and French tax authorities have been discussing since the middle of 2019 whether the former CEO was a French resident during 2016, 2017 and 2018 after … [Read more...]
Newslines 13 November
A Honda Legend brimming with sensors will be able to use busy motorways without driver assistance from April 2021, the company has told Reuters. The Level 3 autonomous car will be the world’s first with this new technology approved by Japan’s safety regulatory body. Renault is considering using the Alpine name to promote its high performance versions of mainstream cars. There has been … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 October
Hyundai will supply 180 Kona Electric 64kWh vehicles to Police Scotland. The agreement supports Police Scotland’s ambition to establish the first blue light, ultra-low emission vehicle fleet in the UK while making a significant contribution towards the Scottish Government's legally binding target to cut greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2045. Big holding areas for lorries leaving and entering … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 September
The new era 630hp Maserati MC20 sports car has been unveiled with its 3.0V6 engine to follow the success of the MC12 supercar. Its 1,500kg weight gives it a 2.9 secs time to 60mph and maximum close to 190mph, and there will be racing versions after it goes into production at the end of 2020. Ex-VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn and other senior executives are facing serious commercial fraud … [Read more...]
Tradelines 9 September
Seventy years after the original, a new Land Rover Defender Hardtop has been added to the latest model range with diesel engines and automatic transmission only. Seating three people up-front, the rear seats have been replaced by a lengthened loadbed with side access and a side-hinged rear door providing 1,355 and 2,059 litres of cargo space in short or long wheelbases from £35,820 OTR (ex. VAT) … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 September
Dacia unveils the All-New Sandero, All-New Sandero Stepway and All-New Logan, third generation models with completely new, reinvented designs at the end of this month. They new series based on a modern Renault platform will be more striking in appearance and offer new equipment and trim. Vauxhall Motors’ famous Heritage Collection is selling 11 of its vehicles due to space constraints, prior to … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: The French rEVolution by Renault
While other manufacturers have used the Hybrid and plug-in hybrid paths to full electric mobility, Renault took a different route 10-years ago, writes David Miles. Their first all-electric model, the Twizy, was an oddball tandem two seater city car and on the electrification path followed the compact hatchback Renault Zoe - the best selling electric car in the EU. Renault say they are … [Read more...]