Kia’s seven years warranty is Britain’s best, say workshops. Garages commended Kia for its quick resolution and parts availability, which gives greatest satisfaction to their customers. Motor industry charity Ben has raised over £135,000 from its black tie dinner and dance. Other events pushed it beyond £214,000 this year. Bringing the UK’s automotive industry together again for the … [Read more...]
Industry
Newslines 19 December
As Aston Martin nears completion of its St Athan plant, it has recommissioned its historic Newport Pagnell factory. The old factory will be home to Aston Martin Works heritage and restoration service and it will produce 25 DB4 GT models, 60 years after they first rolled out of the doors. Drivers will be making 11.5m separate festive getaway trips before Christmas Day this year which has led … [Read more...]
£30M TVR sports car investment heading for Rassau factory
High performance car-maker TVR is expected resume production at a converted factory near Rassau, Blaenau Gwent. The news was released today by Welsh Government as a flagship for its £100M ten-year plan to attract investment to the Heads of the Valleys after the Circuit of Wales venture failed to win support earlier this year. The TVR £30M plan to build its new 200mph Griffith sports car in … [Read more...]
Fiat Punto fails to score in safety test
The final Euro NCAP test results of 2017 have shown that some carmakers are still choosing not to fit potentially life-saving technologies to new models and some have gone backwards on safety. All 16 cars announced achieved five-star Euro NCAP ratings, but December’s release has seen six three-star Euro NCAP ratings and the first zero-star rating since testing began 20 years ago. It was very … [Read more...]
Product recalls growing threat to profits and reputation
Product-related risk is one of the biggest perils facing businesses today, with recall exposures having increased significantly over the past decade. This is bringing the potential for larger and more complex losses than ever before, warns insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty in a new report. It highlights the automotive industry as being the most impacted by product recalls, … [Read more...]
Scrutiny of engine tests must continue, say pressure group
EU countries agreed to strengthen rules governing how cars are approved for sale in Europe, with the goal of preventing another dieselgate. Sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) welcomed the decision but warns that only proper scrutiny and real enforcement of the new rules will prevent carmakers from cheating again. The new rules force each member state to check … [Read more...]
Car makers and EU agree new type approval system
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association has welcomed the fact that the European Parliament, EU member states and the European Commission reached a final agreement on a reformed system for approving vehicles before they are placed on the EU market - ‘type approval’. Under this agreement, member states will have to carry out checks on vehicles circulating on their roads at the rate of at … [Read more...]
Improvements before investment, firms tell pollsters
SME manufacturers are looking for productivity gains from their workforce and existing equipment ahead of investment in automation, according to The Engineer. The quarterly survey asked over 280 manufacturers how they plan to increase their business’ productivity, with 43 per cent saying they will invest in new equipment and only 40 per cent planning to recruit to meet future sales increases, … [Read more...]
Freight body tells MPs of Brexit concerns
The Freight Transport Association has warned the EU not to underestimate the massive challenge member states face when preparing their own borders for Brexit, along with the risk of long delays and disruption at European ferry ports. FTA’s Deputy Chief Executive, James Hookham gave evidence to the European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism as part of a public hearing on the impact … [Read more...]
Ford hold up best in Wales
Welsh dealers faired better than the UK average in a month of falling sales. Figures released yesterday by the car makers showed an 11.2% dip, mainly due to Scottish registrations and diesel orders collapsing, but in Wales the decline was just over 10% and it was the only part of the UK where Ford held onto the top two spots with Fiesta and Focus. In Wales the fall was not so steep at 10.4% … [Read more...]