Wales-based insurer Confused.com will be the main sponsor of the London Motor Show next year at ExCel. The Cardiff company first backed the event this year when 25,000 people attended and tickets are already on sale for next May’s four-day event. British car production fell again in August, reflecting the impact of uncertainties about Brexit on Europe’s second-largest car market, SMMT said … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 September
Aston Martin St Athan plant will play a key role in the company’s £500M business deal with Japan over the next few years, said president and chief executive Andy Palmer. He was speaking during a British trade mission to the Far East and outlined the new models being made in Wales and its Gaydon HQs in future years. Parents at an Anglesey school have called for more flexibility over increases … [Read more...]
Welsh bus services get £2.8m boost
Wales' economy and transport secretary Ken Skates has announced £2.8m local transport network funding to help boost bus travel. Over a third will be spent on wide range improvements in the Swansea area as the city centre is redeveloped. Flintshire, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Torfaen will all see funding through this year’s Local Transport Network Fund, Economy … [Read more...]
Tradelines 16 August
The Honda Jazz will raise the tempo in the UK next year. It gets a new 130ps petrol engine and sporting looks together with a sharper automatic box for those who want it. Heavy truck sales are up 6.3% in Q2 this year with three-axle artics soaring nearly 12%, reports the SMMT. After a year of growth, double-deck bus sales fell nearly 37% and mini-buses declined nearly 19% while … [Read more...]
Special feature: UK Automotive opportunities & challenges
Britain’s exit from the EU raises questions on the competitiveness of UK auto manufacturing in the long run given the intertwined nature of both the outbound and inbound logistics supporting the UK automotive industry. With the UK triggering Article 50, IHS Markit Supplier Solutions team has completed an assessment of the impact on OEM sourcing strategies and possible trade policies … [Read more...]
Sum of parts adds up to boost Britain
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders will bring the UK automotive industry together at a special event in Birmingham this summer as part of efforts to boost supply chain reshoring and make British cars more British. UK vehicle manufacturing output has continued to grow over recent years, driven by record export demand, which has led to further growth and opportunities for supply … [Read more...]
Government must look at all aspects of connected vehicles
The Government must broaden its work on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles across all sectors and not focus so heavily on road vehicles, say a House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. Early benefits are likely to come in sectors such as marine and agriculture therefore the Government must not allow media attention around driverless cars to cause it to lose sight of the many potential … [Read more...]
Bus commuters save enough to heat homes
New national research has found that people who use the bus to commute are on average £1,000 better off than those travelling to work by car. Despite lower fuel prices, bus travel costs are around 55% cheaper than the same commute by car, saving passengers an average of around £95 a month, according to the study. The average annual savings of £1095 would be enough to cover the entire annual … [Read more...]
Briefly 14 February
The T9 bus service linking Cardiff with Cardiff Airport has experienced its best year on record, suggest figures by Welsh Government. Quarterly figures up to September 2016 show an average of over 13,200 passengers a month used the service in the last year, with month on month growth every month since June 2014. Plans for a new off-road 4x4 in the spirit of Land Rover's discontinued Defender … [Read more...]
Ministers & planners move along in bus summit
Key players from Wales’ bus industry will come together for the first time today in a summit arranged by Welsh Government. The summit formed part of Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates’ 5 point plan to support the bus industry , an intervention which has helped stabilise the industry after a difficult start to 2016. The aim of this summit is to look at longer term solutions for … [Read more...]