Welsh Government will be asked to help struggling rural fuel stations. Brian Madderson, Chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association says they are often a hub of a community life, provide more than just fuel and are a village shop or post office. He has already written again to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling for an extension to business rates relief in the Spring Budget in Engand due next … [Read more...]
Industry
Vauxhall Ellesmere Port future balanced
Media reports suggest Stellantis will decide on the future of its Vauxhall Ellesmere Port plant in the next few days. A decision on future investment is imminent, a spokesman for the automaker has told Automotive News Europe. The factory employs about 1,000 workers making Astra cars and about a third of them commute from Wales. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said some months ago that he had to … [Read more...]
Lamborghinis making record prices despite lockdowns
Two of Automobili Lamborghini's most iconic historic cars have been auctioned at record prices. The models sold in RM-Sotheby's Paris auction were a 1971 Miura SV chassis number #4840 and a 1977 Countach LP 400 chassis #1120262. Both cars have had a troubled history, with several mechanical and aesthetic changes over the years. The brand’s top experts have recently restored them … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 February
British Gas is going all-electric with its vehicle fleet after announcing it’s not buying another petrol or diesel engined vehicle. It has placed an order for 2,000 Vauxhall Vivaro-e vans in the largest commercial fleet order ever in the UK for BEVs and follows 1,000 ordered last summer. Volkswagen is struggling to obtain enough battery cells for its hybrid Golf models. The success of the car … [Read more...]
Newslines 19 February
Ford will sell only pure electric vehicles in Europe by 2030. In five years it will offer hybrid cars across its range as it transforms, two years after its vans, and it will use Volkswagen platforms but assemble models in Cologne. MG electric car owners can subscribe to a £6 monthly service plan if they do under 10,000 miles annually. Petrol models cost from £14 and selected used models can … [Read more...]
Range Rovers are tops with thieves
Analysis by Tracker reveals that Range Rovers and Land Rovers take six of the ten places in the 2020 list of Tracker’s most commonly stolen and recovered vehicles. The three top spots in the 2020 league table are all Range Rover models - the Sport, the Vogue and the Autobiography. The Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Defender also make the top ten. These six models alone … [Read more...]
High fleet returns pose problems for businesses
With the volume of lease extensions coming to an end, voluntary terminations and repossessions expected to substantially increase as lockdown eases. Now MJB Automotive is warning fleet and remarketing decision-makers to prepare for the reality that completing vehicle repairs before resale may not be achievable. According to MJB Automotive if the support chain has not returned to 100% operational … [Read more...]
Tradelines 17 February
The implementation of border controls between the German and the Czech and Austrian border crossings risk disturbances in automotive industry production plants soon. Sigrid de Vries, CLEPA Secretary General highlights, “Europe’s automotive suppliers are concerned about recent announcements on border closures and intensified inspections. These measures result in disruption at Europe’s internal … [Read more...]
Most would steer clear of a “driverless” car
Driverless cars could be on the road as early as this year, according to a consultation launched by the British Government in 2020, and Apple have revealed they are planning to release a driverless car in 2024. The question is, is the public ready to trust driverless cars? Vanarama surveyed 1,000 members of the British public to find out. Despite the promise of the technology to be able to think … [Read more...]
Newslines 16 February
Conservative Senedd members have criticised the nationalized Transport for Wales planned 2.6% rail ticket price rise. The increase from 1 March is in line with plans for English railways but has not been discussed in the Senedd and a statement from the Welsh Conservatives said it was hypocritical of TfW and shocking for passengers. British drivers are paying the lowest premiums for six years, … [Read more...]