There are signs that the components supply problems may be easing for car makers and getting more models to dealerships after a boost in October registrations. Registrations among Welsh dealers rose 24.25% to hit 4,903. "The increase in new vehicle sales in October demonstrates the resilience of franchised dealers and their ability to find the right deal for their customers and the … [Read more...]
Newslines 2 November
Aston Martin expect to sell 10,000 cars, generate £2 billion in revenue and post £500m in pre-tax earnings by 2024/2025 and it anticipates that volumes will increase significantly from Q4 of 2022 helped by orders from the Welsh-made DBX707. The optimistic forecast comes after the three months to the end of September, showed Aston sold 1384 cars – up 3% on the same quarter last year – and … [Read more...]
End of the ICE age in 2035
Car makers have agreed to end petrol and diesel engine production throughout Europe by 2035. But they say tough emissions targets can be met only if there is a concerted Governments’ drive to strengthen the vehicle recharging network. Following the EU deal on CO2 targets for cars and vans, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association urged European policy makers to shift into higher gear … [Read more...]
Ford ‘fined’ for allegedly copying parts
Ford has lost a US court case and been ordered to pay multi-million dollar compensation for software it used and allegedly copied for “over the air updates”. A federal jury in Detroit ordered Ford to pay Versata Software Inc $104.6 million (£90 million) in damages for breaching a 2004 licensing contract and misappropriating trade secrets. Jurors deliberated over two days before finding against … [Read more...]
Newslines 31 October
S&P Global Ratings calculates it will be two years before the global car market picks up and blames weakening demand despite supply chain issues easing. The credit rating agency said worldwide car sales were likely to be flat this year, with Europe performing the worst of all regions and it’ll be late 2024 at the earliest before sales even get near 2019’s level of 90m. Volkswagen is holding … [Read more...]
The party’s over for the Ford Fiesta
It's the end of the road for the Ford Fiesta, the car maker announced this week. The highly popular baby Ford created in the wake of the early 1970s oil crisis to get Britons moving again will roll off the Cologne, Germany productions line for the last time next June, after 46 years of sales. But before then, the axe will also fall on the sibling Ford S-Max and Galaxy SUV and MPV models in … [Read more...]
Audi in F1 from 2026
Audi will take a stake in Swiss-based Sauber Group, whose team will become the German car manufacturer's works entry in Formula One from 2026. Sauber has been involved in Formula One since 1993 and currently competes with Ferrari engines, under the name of Alfa Romeo, a Stellantis brand and this will continue for the next three seasons. From 2026 new engine and fuel rules come in allowing … [Read more...]
Deeside is pearl in Toyota production
Toyota Deeside is one of the last remaining internal combustion engine plants in Britain and there are hopes it will be the chosen site to build a new generation of eletric motors in the 2030s. Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK marked 30 years of production at its engine plant in Deeside, this month and a celebration was held by the company who invited guests to the plant for a showcase of its … [Read more...]
Safety gradings revealed
The latest Euro NCAP safety results have been released today, including seven vehicles that went through rigorous impact protection and crash avoidance testing and a separate Assisted Driving Grading for the Mercedes-Benz EQE. The Mercedes-Benz EQE’s Assisted Driving or ‘L2’ system has been rated ‘very good’, achieving the best overall score in testing to date. The Assisted Driving Gradings … [Read more...]
Newslines 17 October
Not only are there an insufficient number of electric charging points along the road networks in most EU countries, but the vast majority of these do not charge quickly enough, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). ACEA is alerting policy makers to this double problem – which risks stalling market uptake of electric cars – a week ahead of the European … [Read more...]