Stellantis is expanding its new Light Commercial Vehicle Training Programme following the immediate success from its launch in April this year. Operated for Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroën retailers, the new Training Programme has 99 Master & Consultant Technicians trained and passed, with an improvement in first time fix rates and a decrease in diagnosis times. Following the initial … [Read more...]
Industry
Newslines 7 September
Councils in Cardiff and West Wales have started work to reopen roads closed or restricted during the Covid-19 pandemic. The moves were done to allow more pedestrian room on pavements and permit outdoor eating and drinking, but now the local authorities want the streets returned to private vehicles to ease congestion and lower emissions in surrounding roads Italy is discussing with the European … [Read more...]
Car production & sales stagnate on shortages
Car sales in Wales crashed over 26% last month, the worst of any part in the UK. Just 2,363 new models were registered and that's even below the 3,230 recorded in the pandemic hit showrooms of last year and the total for the country was a little over 68,000. It was a very dismal August for the motor trade across the country, the lowest figures recorded since 2013 and the overflow from … [Read more...]
Audi grandsphere jet for the road unveiled
The private jet for the road is how Audi is presenting its grandsphere concept study at the forthcoming German motor show in Munich. Like a first class flight, the 5.35 m (17.6 ft.) long grandsphere saloon combines the luxury of private travel in the greatest of comfort with a comprehensive onboard experience offering. Level 4 automated driving makes new dimensions of freedom … [Read more...]
Newslines 6 September
A new European specific Kia Sportage will be unveiled at the German Motor Show this week and in UK showrooms next spring. A new plug-in hybrid variant will be in the line up when it comes to Britain next year and it features a curved screen for instruments and features to be displayed to the driver. Hagerty research suggests Government information on the latest E10 petrol compatibility with … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Astra orders open this autumn
The forthcoming eighth generation Vauxhall Astra will be available with petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains when they get into dealerships early next year and a fully electric model will arrive in 2023. A Sport Tourer will go on sale in about 12 months time as Vauxhall ramp up their offensive and work towards a fully electric line up of all models by 2028. … [Read more...]
Dealers expect to recruit more staff
The percentage of dealers’ looking to recruit across all business areas is significantly up from Q2 this year, reports the National Franchised Dealers Association. In particular, 77.5% are seeking to recruit sales executives over the next three months and the same percentage intend to employ technicians. Additionally, 67.5% intend to hire service advisors. Employee engagement: all dealers who … [Read more...]
Free safety course for van operators from FleetCheck
A new, free online video safety course aimed at van operators was launched this week by fleet software specialist FleetCheck at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2021 in the NEC until 2 September. Called the 28-Day Fleet Confidence Challenge, it takes the form of four weekly episodes and is aimed at people whose fleet responsibility is only part of their role, who may not understand the full extent of … [Read more...]
AI checks if all’s well in the cell
Artificial intelligence has been developed to accurately predict when a traction battery will run out of charge. The work by Eatron Technologies and WMG was funded through the Faraday Battery Challenge and means the UK becomes a supplier of the most advanced Battery Management Systems in the world. The innovation of project COBRA as it’s called comes from combining advanced battery ageing models … [Read more...]
Car stock shortages looming, warn finance lender
Stock shortages emerge as the biggest worry for dealers in the year ahead, according to new research from Close Brothers Motor Finance. The Dealer Satisfaction Survey found that almost a third (31%) of motor dealers see the lack of stock availability as the biggest threat to their business, with the global semiconductor shortage having a significant ripple effect on the motor industry. Despite … [Read more...]