New regulations that bring smaller light commercial vehicles travelling to the EU under the requirement to have an International Operator’s Licence will place key demands on fleets in the future, says FleetCheck. The fleet software company reports that, from 2 May, all organisations running LCVs of between 2.5-3.5 tonnes will need to obtain the accreditation as part of the UK-EU Trade and … [Read more...]
Keeping Land Cruisers going
The legendary Land Cruiser 40 is the latest great Toyota to benefit from Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Heritage Parts Project. TGR announced today that it is reproducing key discontinued components for the model, helping enthusiasts keep more of these mighty SUVs on the road. Around the world, the Land Cruiser 40 became symbolic of “go anywhere” performance, a tough and hugely capable 4×4 with a … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 January
The RAC’s patrols attended over 10,000 pothole-related breakdowns last year – the equivalent of 27 every single day and the highest annual total since 2018, new figures show. The breakdown company’s individual members experienced a total of 10,123 breakdowns for broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers through last year, 10% more than in 2019 (9,198) and 19% more … [Read more...]
Welsh engineering company closes after 75 years
Allevard Springs will close its South Wales car components plant. About 60 jobs will go. The company moved to Tonypandy as part of the UK Government’s encouragement to boost jobs in South Wales following WW2 and it started production in 1947 for Land Rover. Work expanded and it was a significant supplier to car and light commercial vehicles over the next 70 years but the contraction in vehicle … [Read more...]
New bespoke sports car moves production to Italy
Manifattura Automobili Torino, a boutique car manufacturer, and Jannarelly Automotive, a designer and developer of ultralight sports cars, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on automotive design, engineering and production projects. The two businesses will kick-off their collaboration by transferring production of Jannarelly’s Design-1 from Jannarelly’s workshop in … [Read more...]
Rally1 cars unveiling this weekend
The superstars of the FIA World Rally Championship’s ground-breaking new hybrid era will rip the wrapping from the 2022 season at a spectacular year launch in Austria next weekend. For the first time, the WRC’s dramatic new-generation Rally1 cars from the three manufacturer teams will be together in Salzburg’s innovative Hangar-7 museum as the series’ new-look sustainable future is unveiled on … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 January
Pirelli tyres equip the new Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition, the fastest and most powerful version of the first all-electric SUV produced by the Blue Oval. A new technical collaboration between the companies has resulted in a specific Pirelli P Zero tyre, part of a family of Ultra High Performance tyres that offer the right balance between driveability and comfort. Automotive experts … [Read more...]
Mechanics and testers’ shortages hitting motor trade
A Motor Ombudsman poll of garages and workshops accredited to the body’s Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair, has revealed that recruiting a sufficient number of mechanics and MOT testers to meet consumer demand was the most significant concern for 67% of respondents when questioned about the main challenges encountered during 2021. The research conducted by the … [Read more...]
One-six-new UK cars will be electric in 2022
At least 330,000 new battery electric vehicles will be registered in the UK in 2022, according to figures from DriveElectric, one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle leasing companies. This figure is based on DriveElectric’s own forecasts, and it represents a significant increase from 183,000 - the number of battery electric vehicles (cars and light vans) expected to have been registered in the … [Read more...]
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars offering record apprenticeships
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is offering a record number of places on its apprenticeship programme for 2022. Applications are now open for a total of 37 places, making this the largest intake since the scheme's inception in 2006. The number of places available is up by more than 15% on the previous record set in 2020, reflecting the company's strong business performance, new model launches, … [Read more...]