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...]
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...]
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...]
Diesel sales collapsing in UK – AFVs rising
Diesel sales have collapsed 30% in Britain as the new car market contracted by over 11% last month, said the car-makers’ body. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported a rise to over 33% for alternatively fuelled vehicles and a 5% increase in petrol engined models. The big switch from diesel to alternative fuel led by business users comes amid growing concerns over diesel … [Read more...]
Newslines 24 November
Aston Martin is on course to post its first annual pre-tax profit since 2010 as strong demand for the luxury automaker’s DB11 sports car boosts business, says Reuters. Pre-tax profit reached 22 million pounds in the first nine months of 2017, reversing a loss of 124 million pounds in the same period in 2016. From 1 April 2018, VED rates for cars, vans and motorcycles registered before April … [Read more...]
UK car plants thrive on exports not home sales
Car production went up 3.5% last month in the UK, said the SMMT. The car plants built 157,056 cars in October to meet a 5% rise in exports contrasting with 2.9% fall at home. The European car industry showed its resilience in October 2017, with new registrations totalling 1,202,877, an increase of 5.6% when compared to October 2016. This is the highest volume recorded for October since … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Toyota Auris GB25 Hybrid
To celebrate their 25th anniversary TMUK has produced the special edition Auris Hybrid GB25 five door hatchback priced at £24,045. Prices for the 39 British built Auris hatchback and estate model derivatives start at £16,655 and rise to £26,905. The engine range consists of 1.33-litre 99hp petrol, a turbo 1.2 116hp petrol, the 1.4 D4-D 90hp turbodiesel, the 1.6 D4-D 112hp … [Read more...]
Historic Honda still make hot cars you want to drive
Honda is rated as one of the top 20 brands in the world. Honda manufacturer a broad product range encompassing cars, motorcycles, power products including marine, energy, lawn and garden, ATVs and aviation and was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to release a dedicated luxury brand, Acura, in 1986. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as … [Read more...]
Newslines 17 November
Over £100M has been lost to the Government because an estimated 755,000 vehicles went untaxed last year after the paper disc was abolished. The number of unlicensed vehicles on the road has tripled since the paper tax disc was abolished, show DVLA figures published every two years. Newport city council is considering taking over car parking control and fines from the police. Gwent force … [Read more...]
Welsh car workers jobs safe – for now
There is no imminent closure due for Ellesmere Port’s Vauxhall plant. In an international statement last week, the parent PSA Group said production would continue, for now, and that's good news for the hundreds of Welsh workers who commute to the plant each day. The emphasis is on efficiency gains to lower breakeven points. Groupe PSA chief Carlos Tavares described the situation for … [Read more...]