Vehicle makers want the rapid introduction of Real Driving Emissions testing, says ACEA. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association takes note of the announcements of recent vehicle tests by Germany’s federal motor transport authority (KBA) as well as the UK Department for Transport. Both these announcements highlight the known differences between laboratory test cycles and real-life … [Read more...]
Industry
Overloading outweighs new technology in vans
Advances in van safety technology could be undermined by dangerous overloading, warn the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Almost nine in 10 (88.5%) of the 2,381 vans weighed last year by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency were found to be overloaded, a worse record than the previous year in which 84% of the 3,337 checked were illegal. Manufacturers are offering increasing … [Read more...]
More vans than ever on UK roads
The number of vans on Britain’s roads has hit an all time high of 4 million. According to Motorparc data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a total of 4,007,331 vans are in use on UK roads, a 4.3% increase since the previous year. Demand for new vans in the UK is now at record levels: registrations grew 1.2% in the first quarter of 2016, following a bumper 2015 which saw … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 April
Brake is urging the government to make sure there are no delays to the implementation of new ‘real world’ car emissions tests scheduled for 2017. It’s after shocking results from an investigation across the whole industry by the Department for Transport in the wake of the VW emissions scandal when it was revealed many of their diesel cars’ emissions tests were rigged. The management board … [Read more...]
Emissions investigations widen as VW pays the price
German carmaker Daimler has opened an internal investigation into the way it certifies diesel exhaust emissions in the US. The Mercedes-Benz brand owner said it was conducting the probe at the request of the US Justice Department. It comes just days after Mitsubishi was forced into a humiliating confession emissions data may have been altered by its engineers working on a joint venture with … [Read more...]
Newslines 23 April
The futuristic Welsh engineered Riversimple RASA will make its motor show debut in London in May. The two-seater from the Llandrindod Wells manufacturer is one of the exhibits at the new London Motor Show at Battersea between 6 and 8 May and there will be 40 brands and 130 models from dealerships and manufacturers as well as presentations by motoring celebrity speakers with tickets bought in … [Read more...]
Parent of Welsh supplier business in prices probe
Member companies of the PSA Group are demanding the restitution for alleged overpriced parts from three Japanese suppliers and two European ones through Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal. The claims revolve around purchases of automotive bearings and the PSA Group companies are asking for 507.8 million euros (£404 million) in damages from the suppliers. Defendants include NSK Corp., NTN … [Read more...]
Newslines 20 April
Volkswagen’s powerful labour chief Bernd Osterloh told German daily Handelsblatt that company executives should take a bonus cut after the diesel-gate scandal. The cuts should extend to senior managers as well, he said, joining VW shareholder Lower Saxony, which is calling for the scrapping of bonus payments. Automotive suppliers in Germany are losing their importance as motor manufacturing … [Read more...]
Lead-acid batteries get green light
Lead acid batteries have no real rivals in the forseeable future, say scientists. Official recognition by the Oeko Institute that there is no mass market alternative to lead-based batteries for most automotive applications has been welcomed by a group representing the automotive and battery industries of Europe. The Institute’s recommendation to the European Commission for a continued … [Read more...]
Critics attack car makers claims to becoming greener
A strategy by automakers to downsize engines and reduce weight to help meet Europe's stricter CO2 emissions targets is paying dividends, shows official data. New cars sold in the 28 European Union countries in 2015 emitted an average 119.6 grams of CO2 per km, about 10 g/km – or 8 percent – below the target set by EU lawmakers. This also represents a 3 percent reduction over the previous … [Read more...]