AXA Insurance and Burges Salmon have published the third and final Venturer report, creating the blueprint for bringing driverless cars to the UK’s roads by 2021. After just three years, Venturer has not only created a realistic environment where driverless simulations can be tested, but also provided suggestions for new legislation on Connected and … [Read more...]
New ‘steam-age’ opportunity in Wales
A new steam-age of "clean" hydrogen-powered trains has been suggested for the forthcoming Wales and Borders services, a Plaid Cymru AM has said. Simon Thomas made the call off the back of research he commissioned on the potential to developing hydrogen infrastructure for transport in Wales. Hydrogen-fuelled trains emit osteam and condensed water and are … [Read more...]
Automated vehicles will reduce and alter crashes
Serious crashes on inter-urban roads may be slashed by a quarter over the next 30-40 years with the introduction of automated vehicles. But the ride may be far from smooth, with a mixed fleet transition and vital need for roads that cars can read, according to a EuroRAP report. The report, the third in the “Roads that Cars Can Read” series, examines … [Read more...]
Investment growing in automotive sector
According to the latest data, annual EU investment into R&D by the automobile and parts sector has risen by 7.4% to reach an all-time high of €53.8 billion. This, and many other facts about the industry, were compiled by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) in its ‘Automobile Industry Pocket Guide’, published on the occasion of … [Read more...]
Hundreds of jobs go as Discovery production goes abroad
Hundreds of jobs will be shelved in the Midlands after Land Rover today announced plans to move Discovery production to its new Slovakian plant early next year. The Solihull plant employs 10,000 people and will be cleared out to make way for a new range of electric models in the early part of the next decade which will use a multi-mode platform for Range … [Read more...]
eRallyX enters the calendar from 2020
The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has approved plans for the FIA World Rallycross Championship to be an electric series from 2020. IMG has collaborated with the FIA and a number of car manufacturers on this project for the last eighteen months, whilst working hard to ensure privateers can also compete in the new Championship. It will continue to … [Read more...]
£5 Billion for Welsh rail services & passengers
About 600 staff will be recruited and 450 apprenticeships offered with a new 15-year £5 Billion investment in rail services by Welsh Government. The Wales and Borders services along with the proposed South Wales Metro regional service will be contracted to KeolisAmey, who run London Docklands and Manchester Metro, in partnership with … [Read more...]
Automechanika Birmingham: Future is almost here
Innovation will be at the forefront of the ‘new look’ agenda for Automechanika Birmingham when the doors open on the three-day show next week. Among the exciting initiatives set to drive this year’s event will be a raft of keynote presentations, panels, forums and seminars to name a few of the opportunities available, set to draw, inspire and motivate … [Read more...]
Circuit of Wales was a car crash for Welsh Government
Senior civil servants in Wales have been criticised by the Welsh Public Accounts Committee over their botched handling of financial affairs surrounding the failed £433M Circuit of Wales. The committee said the officials made "inexplicable decisions" about the spending and authorised £9M initial investment, but it’s unlikely to see £7.3M returned as the … [Read more...]
Safety call to Government and car-makers over braking
Britain’s leading accident research and safety centre called on the UK Government and car makers to rapidly introduce autonomous emergency braking. Thatcham Research welcomed European Commission announcement of proposals for the introduction of new road safety measures, some of the most significant in the past decade, and calls on the UK Government and … [Read more...]
