The Geneva motor show has been cancelled and not rescheduled for this year. Organisers had to stop the two weeks show due to open next week after Swiss government feared spreading coronavirus and banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people and 600,000 were expected in Geneva for the event. "We regret to announce the 2020 Geneva motor show will be cancelled. This is force majeure," said Maurice … [Read more...]
Industry
Battery maker calls for greater UK manufacturing
British car production dipped 2.1% in January according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders yesterday. Reduced demand from car manufacturing plants and additional shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic have caused the fifth successive month of decline. A global snowball effect is expected to continue as the industry anticipates the upcoming budget. This … [Read more...]
Opposition AMs call for Welsh Government investment probe
Welsh Government’s investment strategy has come into question after Aston Martin Lagonda revealed widening losses and slipping sales. The luxury carmaker was enticed to St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan by the Labour Welsh Government with nearly £20m worth of taxpayer grants in the hope of boosting the South Wales economy. However, today’s financial report shows the struggling car maker’s … [Read more...]
Tax break to push company car drivers into evs
Eight out of ten business employees who currently opt out of a company car scheme are ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to move back to company cars and these will be electric, according to a survey by DriveElectric, one of the UK’s leading EV leasing companies. The return to company cars rather than employees taking car allowances is being driven by a number of issues; one of the main factors is the … [Read more...]
Innovation will influence exhibits at CV show
With a strong move towards electrification alongside the full range of road transport, distribution and logistics supply businesses attending the Commercial Vehicle Show, a host of innovative powertrain options will be unveiled to the public at the NEC Birmingham, 28-30 April 2020. The UK-based manufacturer LEVC will display its new all-electric van for the first time to the public at CV Show. … [Read more...]
Tradelines 26 February
The new DBX SUV has been given the Q-treatment of bespoke luxuries and features by Aston Martin. The Welsh-made luxury car will be shown in its latest Q-code design at next week’s Geneva motor show. Volkswagen's adding a range-topping premium model to its flagship Touareg line – the Touareg R. The versatile model’s 340 kW (462 PS) plug-in hybrid drive offers an innovative blend of superlative … [Read more...]
Apprenticeship levy is a wasted resource but also a tax
The Government's apprenticeship levy is a wasted resource and become just another tax for businesses, says the freight sector. In response to figures obtained by the BBC that reveal employers are failing to use hundreds of millions of pounds that was intended for training apprentices, Sally Gilson, Head of Skills Policy at FTA, said, “As the business organisation representing the logistics … [Read more...]
In car challenges and opportunities down the road
Connected cars will be both an opportunity and a challenge to the suppliers and manufacturers, according to a new report. The report, “Key Players and Business Models in the Connected Car,” examines the complex ecosystem of connected car players and helps clients navigate the opportunities and challenges on the road ahead. “The connected car marketplace – and the opportunities surrounding it – … [Read more...]
Coronavirus threatens many car makers
Car makers, suppliers and Government officials in Japan will work together to solve issues arising from the effects of the Far East coronavirus. Some Chinese suppliers have closed and are struggling to return production hampered by internal blockades, quarantine and labour shortages and the Japanese economy which heavily relies on automotive sector wants to limit damage and ensure it is ready to … [Read more...]
Car park prangs cost average £400 repair
A study revealed 11 per cent, or 3.74 million, of drivers have seriously damaged their own car while looking for a space to park over the past 12 months. On average they have been left with a whopping £396 repair bill to fix their mishap. The research by ŠKODA UK revealed 40 per cent of drivers have hit a lamppost, tree or space divider in a car park and was commissioned to … [Read more...]