Thousands of vehicles and hundreds of fleets will struggle to meet incoming stringent emissions legislation and pay the price, a survey shows. Around 5.3% of company cars and vans being operated by customers of FleetCheck only meet the Euro 4 emissions standard or older, according to a new analysis. A further 18.2% of vehicles from the total sample of 85,792 also fall behind the latest Euro 6 … [Read more...]
Greens’ attack lobby groups over emissions bid
Environmentalists have criticised car makers and industry bodies for trying to stall EU plans to cut future exhaust emissions. Last week, all of the lobby groups of the European car industry - including manufacturers, suppliers, tyre-makers and dealers - wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pleading for a relaxation of cars CO2 targets. While the lobby associations … [Read more...]
Rail danger warning comes early
With the schools closed for the foreseeable future and parents seeking to fill their children’s time at home, British Transport Police and Network Rail are urging parents and carersto speak to their children and loved ones about the dangers posed by the railway and the importance of staying off the track. Every year, there is a rise in the number of trespass incidents ahead of the Easter school … [Read more...]
Fleets urged to take renewable fuels route
A new guide from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership for fleet operators shows how renewable fuels can immediately cut greenhouse gas emissions in road transport, particularly from commercial vehicles for which few low emission solutions are currently available. While the focus has been mainly on vehicle electrification for meeting the UK’s net zero target as it applies to road transport, … [Read more...]
Tradelines 25 March
Petrol prices crashed to an 18-year low this week. Falling oil wholesale cost saving are now reaching forecourts and Morrison’s has slashed 12ppl petrol and 8ppl diesel with prices at about 104ppl and 111ppl respectively, says the RAC, which is urging drivers to only go out if vital and support small independent retailers if they can. National Express timetables will be reduced today after which … [Read more...]
Aston Martin St Athan hit by virus fallout
Aston Martin Lagonda has suspended vehicle production at its plants in the UK, including at St Athan, home of its DBX crossover. The company, headquartered in Warwickshire, made the announcement today, and said the decision to halt production – for a scheduled four weeks – from tomorrow was in response to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Aston Martin’s President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 March
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will close from wednesday for at least a month due to the coronavirus with employees getting basic pay. "Due to the dramatic impact this ongoing crisis is having on the European market and the supplier industry, we have decided to bring forward part of the summer shutdown period for our UK operations to the Easter period," said a Ford statement. Car dealers want … [Read more...]
Breathing new life into Ford Bridgend Engine Plant
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant may be ordered to make components for medical ventilators in the UK Government's fight against the coronavirus. The 1.1 million sqft plant is due to close at the end of this year and it's stopped making Ford engines but continues assembling petrol engines for Jaguar Land Rover and the disease has hit already flagging car sales so there is a lot of production capacity … [Read more...]
Vauxhall temporarily shut UK plants
Vauxhall is closing its Ellesmere Port car plant tomorrow and Luton van assembly plant from thursday. They along with other PSA plants throughout Europe will be shut until 27 March and the 2,560 UK workers will get paid leave. It is part of the industry's response to the spread of Coronavirus around the world with many plants closing to protect workers as well as suppliers curtailing … [Read more...]
Home deliveries need health check
A protocol is needed to ensure that home delivery fleets do not place drivers or the public at additional risk from coronavirus, says FleetCheck. These fleets could serve an essential role in the next few months by ensuring that people who are self-isolating can easily access food and other essentials – but there is a possibility that drivers could be exposing themselves to risk as well as … [Read more...]