Aston Martin Lagonda’s Welsh plant will play an increasingly important part in the company’s “reset plan” to boost sales around the world. The luxury car maker has seen a steep collapse in its sports cars sales and introduced new management as it prepares to roll out production of its DBX SUV at St Athan in coming weeks. Today it announced 500 job cuts across the business, but mostly at Gaydon … [Read more...]
News
World’s car sales stall but EVs silently move on
New car registrations in Europe faced a steady decline in April. Volume fell from 1.34 million units in April 2019 to 292,600 vehicles in April 2020. This represents the lowest monthly level since the 1970’s, and the worst result among the big three markets – China, USA-Canada, and Europe. Europe’s sharp decrease was only outperformed by India (-100%). Year-to-date volume for India was also the … [Read more...]
Newslines 4 June
Volkswagen has resurrected the name ‘shooting brake’ for an estate version of its heavily revised Arteon model, alongside a new four-door coupe which will both be unveiled on 24 June. VW say they will have new high-technology powertrains and intelligent comfort and driver assistance systems. A new-look KIA Picanato is in Britain later this year. Refreshed GT-Line and X-Line petrol models … [Read more...]
Closed toilets’ public health risk
With public toilets as well as loos in pubs and shops being closed during the Covid-19 outbreak, there's been an outbreak of what can only be described as "fly peeing". In the true nature of ‘if you got to go, you got to go’, waste management company BusinessWaste.co.uk are hearing reports of people turning local beauty spots into public bathrooms, and increasing numbers of bottles of urine … [Read more...]
Tradelines 3 June
North Wales Police face a £100,000 bill for selling an impounded luxury motor home without the owner’s permission. The Unimog based vehicle from Germany was taken in October last year when its German owners asked a policeman for directions and couldn’t produce insurance, which was obtained in December but after NWP sold it and it was stripped for parts, it's been reported by the BBC. Alfa Romeo … [Read more...]
Ford Puma gets added models
Ford has further expanded the new Puma range with additional powertrain and equipment level options – offering the most comprehensive line-up yet for the SUV-inspired compact crossover. Customers can now for the first time choose from Puma models equipped with a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a luxurious new Puma ST-Line X Vignale variant from £25,240 from the end of this … [Read more...]
Speeders are a virus during lockdown
‘Lockdown speeding’ has become a very unwelcome by-product of the Government’s fight against coronavirus, says the RAC. It found 20 police forces caught their worst offenders at speeds in excess of 100mph, according to data analysed by the RAC as part of a freedom of information request to all British police forces. The worst speeder in the first three weeks of the lockdown was caught in West … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 June
Cyclists in Wales have been told they can ride up to 40 miles to exercise, compared to five miles by motorists. Welsh Government has said this is a reasonable move but it’s attracted criticism because some other exercise like playing tennis, where players are more than two metres apart, is still banned. Knox Road, Cardiff, opposite the city’s prison, is the least safe car park in Wales and the … [Read more...]
Higher demand for new cars expected
British car manufacturing came to a screeching halt in April, down 99.7% against the same month last year. Seán Kemple, Director of Sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, offers his views on the shutdown, including recent data on what dealers want from the Government moving forward. Seán Kemple, Director of Sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said, “April’s manufacturing slump reflects the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: On the road & in the news 30 May
Although the lockdown measures are easing it will take time for the wheels of society to return to something like normal life, writes David Miles. But from tomorrow, after the bank holiday week, English schools for certain age groups will open where they can and more employees should be returning to work and that includes the motoring industry. So hopefully it won’t be too long before we get back … [Read more...]