UK car buyers choose grey as the most popular colour with 60.7% of new registrations, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It took the top spot in 2018 and black and white were the next most popular in 2019. Taxis will trial inductive charging in Nottingham. If the scheme is a success with a £3.4M scheme for five plates outside the city’s railway station it could be extended … [Read more...]
Industry
Five companies interested in whole Ford Bridgend site
Five major international companies have expressed interest in taking over the whole of the Ford Bridgend Engine Plant site, it was revealed today, writes Robin Roberts. They are among 21 businesses who have asked for details of the 1.2M sqft site when Ford end production there in September, said Welsh Economy Minister Ken Skates after meeting the Ford Bridgend Task Force seeking future use of the … [Read more...]
£100,000 public money to ease impact of Ford withdrawal
A £100,000 investment fund will be set up to help Bridgend and surrounding area recover from the closure of Ford Engine Plant in the autumn. The money will come equally from Welsh Government and the Cardiff Capital Region funds to enable Bridgend County Borough Council study three projects. News of the investment and feasibility studies will be outlined later this morning when Economy Minister … [Read more...]
Newslines 17 January
Toyota will use the Geneva motor show in March to unveil its concept for a new small SUV due to go on sale in about 12 months. Based on the forthcoming new Yaris platform and assembled in northern France, the un-named model will sell along with a new plug-in hybrid RAV4, the company said this week. European car-makers reported an overall 21% rise in December registrations as buyers filled … [Read more...]
Newslines 16 January
Kia will introduce 11 BEVs over the next five years and they will make up 75% of sales, under the company’s Plan S strategy announced this week in Seoul. The remaining 25% of sales will be conventional eco-friendly internal combustion engined models but it also intends to increase income from car sharing mobility services including hydrogen models. Cardiff's proposed £2.00 daily commuter charge … [Read more...]
Welsh jobs with Vauxhall still unknown
The future of hundreds of jobs for people in North East Wales is uncertain after Vauxhall parent Opel this week announced details of a voluntary severance scheme in Russelsheim, Germany which shares Astra production with Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. It has been known since spring last year that 2,100 jobs would be going in Germany when Opel produce the next generation Astra and it raised concerns … [Read more...]
“Fake” apprenticeships warning
The Independent Garage Association is calling for greater control of the apprenticeship levy to help reduce the shortage of skilled technicians, following statistics that suggest half of levy-funded apprenticeships are ‘fake’. The analysis by education think tank Education and Skills suggests that the majority of the levy is being put towards existing adult workers, instead of promoting the … [Read more...]
Tradelines 15 January
Jaguar Land Rover sales slowly recovered in December after a 6% dip overall in 2019, according to financial reports. Annual sales of 557,706 were down mostly due to a 13.5% slump in China but it’s reorganised its outlets and marketing there and has seen them picking up again as it moves towards an electric programme with BMW. In 2019, Bridgestone remained the number one choice for BMW, Audi, … [Read more...]
Diesels’ unseen pollution danger
New diesels are bringing new problems, say environmentalists. New diesel cars’ pollution is peaking at more than 1,000 times their normal levels, tests of two top-selling vehicles show. The dangerous spikes in particles can instantly stress the heart and are a result of the cars cleaning their filters, which may occur in urban areas, last for up to 15km, and are effectively ignored by official … [Read more...]
Newslines 13 January
Transport for Wales trains services' partner, KeolisAmey, has been fined £2.3m by the Welsh Government for poor performance. The company took over the £5bn franchise in October 2018 and the fines covered various periods of poor service. Over 78,000 passengers used National Express coaches on 27 December, the highest-ever daily total in the company’s history. Over 35,000 seats were added to … [Read more...]