Autolink will take place on18 October at Cardiff City Stadium. This event provides an opportunity for Wales-based organisations to showcase their products, technologies and services to selected Vehicle Manufacturers and Tier 1 companies based inside and outside Wales including Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover. German prosecutors are investigating whether Volkswagen employees deleted data … [Read more...]
Industry
Consumers unaware of 2017 road tax changes
In the 2015 Budget, the Government announced a series of changes to road tax which will come into effect in April 2017, yet nearly two-thirds (59%) of adults are not aware of any changes according to Future Thinking, the business intelligence research consultancy, and Toluna. The results were taken from a survey carried out between 11 to 19 May, analysing responses from over 2300 respondents … [Read more...]
Car makers bid for technology to grow sales
Profit pressed car makers are increasingly turning to technology to grow business. Renault-Nissan will begin hiring at least 300 tech experts this month, joining other automakers in trying to lure staff away from Silicon Valley. Most recruits will be software engineers with experience in vehicle connectivity and mobility services, a category that includes car-sharing, the alliance said. They … [Read more...]
New car registrations hit 14 year high
New car registrations were the highest for 14 years in May. SMMT said 203,585 cars were registered in the month, the highest May figure since 2002. It was a steady 2.5% growth over the same month last year, and follows the trend of the previous two months, as fleet registrations drove the growth, with an 8.8% rise counterbalancing a -3.0% fall in registrations to private customers. Demand … [Read more...]
Europe’s car makers predict stronger sales
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association has revised its forecast for 2016 car registrations upwards from its initial January forecast of 2% growth. “Looking ahead, we now forecast growth for EU passenger car sales in the region of 5% this year. Commercial vehicle sales should also grow substantially,” stated ACEA President, Dieter Zetsche. In terms of units, this would mean over … [Read more...]
JLR sue Chinese copy-cat Evoque maker
Jaguar Land Rover is suing Chinese automaker Jiangling Motor for allegedly copying the Range Rover Evoque. It’s a rare move by a foreign automaker to fight copycats in the world's biggest auto market as it could be viewed as bullying by a foreign manufacturer of a home producer. Despite widespread and often blatant copying, automakers generally don't take legal action in China as they feel … [Read more...]
British buy more UK made models
UK engine plants produced over 14% more units in April compared to a year ago. A total of 231,628 engines were built , including 99,041 destined for vehicles to be sold in the UK and that is over 50% above the 2015 figure. It has been a good start to the year with four months’ production up 6.2% overall despite a very small decline in export orders. Registrations of lorries climbed 19.2% … [Read more...]
UK car makers enjoying share of Euro boom
British car production rose 16.4 percent year-on-year in April, boosted by strong demand from overseas. Total car production reached 149,334 vehicles last month, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said, with production for export jumping 23.7 percent while those built for domestic demand slipped 7.8 percent. New car registrations in the 29 European markets covered by JATO … [Read more...]
Fuel cell first in British motor sport
Motorsport history will be made at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb outside Salisbury on the bank holiday weekend. The most unusual, certainly the quietest and probably the “greenest”, of the cars taking part in the British Hillclimb Championship event will be a Toyota Mirai, which has no engine but produces energy for it's electric motor through a hydrogen fuel cell. No such car has ever … [Read more...]
Makers, dealers and society must face issue of robo-cars
There are long term implications for the automotive industry and suppliers with the advent of driverless cars, says a new report by Moody’s Investors Service. The report entitled “Autonomous Vehicles Will Drive Change from Auto Manufacturing to Insurance”, looks at the potential impacts of autonomous driving in a number of areas. While the widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles in … [Read more...]