British industry has criticised a report by the National Infrastructure Commission suggesting new petrol and diesel lorries should be banned by 2040. Tom Thackray, CBI Energy and Infrastructure Director, said, “Business has long acknowledged that decarbonisation is a vital ingredient for making the UK economy as competitive and fit for the 21st century as possible. “However, banning … [Read more...]
Brexit boost to UK supply chain, academic claims
Traditional supply chains will be destroyed because of stricter border controls and as a result of a no-deal Brexit, businesses in the UK will be forced to buy more local products, according to an expert from the University of Cologne. Professor Andreas Fügener, expert in Supply Chain Management, warns that consumers are largely unaware of the impact that leaving the European Single Market … [Read more...]
Welsh components company axes quarter of staff
Llanelli-based Calsonic Kansei is axing nearly a quarter of its 400 staff, citing a slowdown in orders for its radiators and intercoolers from car makers. The company has been in Llanelli since 1943 and currently employs about 400 people and was given a £4.4M grant by Welsh Government in December to create 88 new jobs. It is unclear if this money will now be given as it was intended to boost … [Read more...]
Volvo’s ‘talking’ cars are first word in safety
Volvo is extending cars which 'talk' to each other. It’s making its ground-breaking, industry-first connected safety technology available across Europe as another step in its ambitions to improve traffic safety. The technology allows Volvo cars to communicate with each other and alert drivers of nearby slippery road conditions and hazards via a cloud-based network. Hazard Light Alert and … [Read more...]
Newslines 16 April
German prosecutors are pressing criminal charges against former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn in connection with the automaker's manipulation of diesel-emissions testing, reports Automotive News Europe. Four other executives are also being charged, said the prosecutors' office in Brunswick in VW's home of Lower Saxony and all are charged with fraud and violation of competition … [Read more...]
Welsh business recharges classic cars
Classic cars are being given a new life for the 21st century with a “heart” transplant and an electric powertrain by a Welsh enthusiast and engineer. Richard Morgan set up Electric Classic Cars in Newtown to give much-loved classics and popular cars a new lease of life with a modern twist. “I use to compete in the British Historic Rally Championship while I worked as a software engineer in … [Read more...]
Dealers disappointing customers with servicing – J D Power
Dealers are letting down customers and their brands with poor communication when it comes to servicing, according to the J.D. Power 2019 UK Customer Service Index Study released today. While some brands stand out for good communication, others are missing opportunities to build trust, relationships and satisfaction. Sizable gaps exist between how customers prefer to schedule vehicle service … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 April
The UK’s two top-selling cars in Fiesta and Focus benefit from new Ford security technology which disables their keyless entry fobs when not in use to block illegal hacking. A new motion sensor inside the Ford fob detects when it has been stationary for longer than 40 seconds and triggers a sleep mode, which will not respond to attempts to hack its signal via a “relay box” or through the misuse … [Read more...]
Ineos car plant for Wales – speculation mounts
Work to prepare a 116-acre site in Bridgend for employment space covering more than 70,000 sq m will begin next month, Economy Minister Ken Skates said today, leading to speculation this is being readied for the £600 Million Ineos Automotive project. The Economy Minister confirmed that following the granting of outline planning permission for a development at Brocastle in Bridgend, the Welsh … [Read more...]
JLR researching new generation from scrap to showroom
Jaguar Land Rover is developing the next phase of its aluminium closed loop strategy with an innovative recycling initiative to transform the vehicles of today into the cars of tomorrow. The REALITY project aims to recover aluminium from existing Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles and reform it into a new high-grade aluminium to create new vehicles. The process is currently being … [Read more...]