In an important step towards affordable, low emission buses, GKN plc and Alexander Dennis Limited have signed a deal that will see the introduction of 250 greener, cleaner vehicles to transport fleets across the UK during the next two years. As part of the agreement ADL – Britain’s biggest bus and coach manufacturer – has chosen GKN Hybrid Power as a preferred partner and committed to the … [Read more...]
Newcomers
CV business levels off
UK commercial vehicle manufacturing declined 8.9% in October, the smallest monthly fall since June 2013. Production for the UK market increased 14.6% in the month, but exports fell 30.6% and 2014-to-date volumes are still affected by last year’s restructuring, falling 23.5% to 57,981 units. “The heavy fall seen in UK commercial vehicle manufacturing over the past year is now levelling off as … [Read more...]
Gwynedd Shipping hits 30
Gwynedd Shipping is one of Volvo Trucks’ major customers in Wales and North-West England and is celebrating their 3Oth year in business. To celebrate, 23 Euro-6 FH tractor units joined this high profile fleet. Commenting on the anniversary, GSL’s Managing Director Andrew Kinsella said that the company and marketplace had changed significantly during that time. A key reason that the company … [Read more...]
Newslines
Cardiff council has approved a five year plan which will invest in bus services and discourage private car use. Road changes will be developed to speed up bus flow and a new terminus at Central Square is going ahead, although the council acknowledge 80% of commuters use cars and no extra provision is being made for them. The Mobility Roadshow is returning 25-27 June, to Donington Park, … [Read more...]
Light vans keep the lights on in dealerships
Light vans are keeping the UK commercial dealers and manufacturers on track this year, but bigger vehicles are stalling, says George Alexander, editor of Glass’s Commercial Vehicle Guide. Writing in the latest edition of the guide, he says SMMT statistics for September confirmed that registrations are continuing to take the same path they’ve travelled throughout 2014 with little sign of change … [Read more...]
CV Newslines
British Gas has won an innovation award for going electric, with its first battery of Nissan e-NV200 vans. The Greenfleet Awards recognised the forward thinking and application of technology in the fleet sector and singled out Nissan, British Gas and Hitachi Capital Solutions for their tri-party initiative with electric vans. Fleet managers are being invited to recharge their knowledge banks … [Read more...]
Welsh coach company picks up Volvo
Cardiff based Watts Coaches has bought a new B9R coach with Jonckheere bodywork. Volvo was able to supply the new coach within the family run operator’s limited time frame, ensuring it could quickly enter service. “The coach has already covered some 10,000 kilometres on our continental tour work and has just got back from a ten day trip, so consistency and reliability are clearly important … [Read more...]
EV car sales climbing in Cardiff
Cardiff’s Wessex Garages on Hadfield Road saw a 200% increase in the sales of the Nissan Leaf in September compared to the same month last year. Carl Thorne, Electric Vehicle Specialist at Wessex Garages, said, “The sales last month of the Leaf are the best we have ever had. Our results also reflect what was seen nationally. “Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and … [Read more...]
Ampera’s strengths add up for Carol
Saving money and going green add up for Carol Vorderman, latest ambassador to trial the Vauxhall Ampera extended-range electric vehicle, in support of the Go Ultra Low campaign. Go Ultra Low, a ground-breaking partnership between the UK automotive industry and Government, is designed to encourage more drivers to consider ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs). Maths wizard Carol was keen to get … [Read more...]
New and used vans sales soar in September
New van sales jumped nearly 11% last month. September registrations rose 10.8% to 54,497 units, mean 269,456 commercial vehicles have been added to UK roads so far this year, a 12.6% increase on the same nine months in 2013. Van market continues to drive growth; up 18.1% year-to-date to 242,071, and 14.1% in September to 49,123 units. Truck registrations fell by 12.3% in September, … [Read more...]