Vauxhall is facing the prospect of a merger with French vehicle maker PSA Peugeot Citroen. The British company’s parent and co-owner of Opel, General Motors, wants to divest itself of its two European operations. Vauxhall Opel and PSA have for five years collaborated on SUV and LCV projects but now their tie up could become more extensive and would create Europe’s second biggest automotive … [Read more...]
Ex-VW head refuses public testimony over emissions, media reports
Ex-Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech resigned after a showdown with former CEO Martin Winterkorn and has refused to testify to German lawmakers investigating a possible government role in the VW emissions scandal, according to his lawyer. Piech, also VW's former CEO who spearheaded the automaker's global expansion, gave testimony to lawyers of U.S. law firm Jones Day last April and to German … [Read more...]
Briefly 14 February
The T9 bus service linking Cardiff with Cardiff Airport has experienced its best year on record, suggest figures by Welsh Government. Quarterly figures up to September 2016 show an average of over 13,200 passengers a month used the service in the last year, with month on month growth every month since June 2014. Plans for a new off-road 4x4 in the spirit of Land Rover's discontinued Defender … [Read more...]
Brits borrowed more for new cars in 2016
The Finance & Leasing Association says new business in the point of sale consumer car finance market grew 12% by value and 8% by volume in 2016. New business was up 3% by value and down 3% by volume in December, compared with the same month in 2015. The POS consumer new car finance market reported new business up 1% by value and 8% lower by volume in December compared with the same month … [Read more...]
55,000 Zafira owners have ignored fire recalls
Owners of about 55,000 Vauxhall Zafira models have ignored company warnings to have their cars checked for possible fires hazard, politicians have been told. Now, Vauxhall is calling for the establishment of a national vehicle fire database to quickly gather information on reported fires and trace likely vehicles for recalls. Speaking to the Transport Select Committee, Vauxhall … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 February
Circuit of Wales has given investor details and a timescale for development of the £425 M motor sport circuit and related businesses to the Welsh Assembly. It has complied with a deadline set two weeks ago by Welsh business secretary Ken Skates and means it will now go to a more detailed plan with rigorous examination of proposals and assertions, and progress towards ground-works starting in … [Read more...]
Fiat Chrysler Group explain their vero amore
Italian Fiat and US Chrysler automotive brands have in the past had partners, divorced partners, fraternised with other partners but in 2014 they found each other and it appears a successful marriage is underway as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles now known as FCA, says David Miles. Global figures just released show FCA made a global profit of 6.1 billion Euros in 2016, up by 26% on 2015. However … [Read more...]
Union give Ford deadline for plan
Unite union has given Ford management a two week ultimatum to announce a five-year plan for its engine plant in Bridgend. General secretary candidate Len McCluskey yesterday met managers and shop stewards at the plant five months after Ford announced cut backs on its planned investment in the new Dragon engine but has said 1,850 workers would not be affected. Mr McCluskey said he wants … [Read more...]
New car registrations hit 12-year high
The UK new car market achieved a 12-year high in January, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The total was 174,564 vehicles last month – a 2.9% year-on-year uplift and the highest level since 2005. The alternative fuelled vehicle segment grew 19.9% to take a record 4.2% market share – the first time 4% has been surpassed. Across other fuel types there was a … [Read more...]
New Vauxhall Insignia ST teased
Vauxhall has released the first images of the all-new Insignia Sports Tourer, which will receive its world premiere at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show next month. Following on from the previous generation, which won the European Car of the Year in 2009, the Insignia Sports Tourer is based on a completely new vehicle architecture. Its revised proportions result in more luggage capacity that has … [Read more...]