The government is awarding £25 million this week to as many as six projects that will research and test autonomous vehicles on highways and on trials of remote-control parking. It's the second competition in a program that Richard Harrington, the UK's automotive minister, predicts will lead to driverless cars in production within the next decade. German media report transport minister … [Read more...]
News
Newslines 5 June
Welsh Government has failed to deliver promised improvements to the A55 dual carriageway, claim Conservatives. The opposition party was commenting on a Welsh Government plan to consult on improvements between Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr which the Government had said would be started in 2017. Britain saw a 20 percent increase in sales of petrol models in May. The SMMT said diesel cars … [Read more...]
Defender theft is rising, warns insurer
NFU Mutual, is urging farmers and country home owners to ramp up security measures as organised criminal gangs are scouring the countryside and cities for Land Rover Defenders and luxury 4x4s. Latest figures from the insurer reveal that claims costs for theft of Defender vehicles have risen 14% since the car rolled off the production line in early 2016. Farmers, who rely on the iconic 4x4 to … [Read more...]
Diesel price rise steepest in Wales
The biggest rise in diesel fuel prices in almost two decades has been steepest in Wales, says RAC Fuel Watch. Motorists suffered the worst monthly rise in the average price of petrol in at least 18 years with 6p a litre being added at the pumps in May, their data reveals. Unleaded shot up from 123.43p to 129.41p, taking the cost of filling up a 55-litre family car to £71.18 – an increase of … [Read more...]
Britain’s future on the road outlined tomorrow
The future of the car, including how it is designed, manufactured and driven, will be debated at The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Open Forum, taking place on 5 June at Automechanika Birmingham. Vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and technology innovators will come together at the half-day conference to discuss the latest trends shaping the future of mobility and the supply chains … [Read more...]
£5 Billion for Welsh rail services & passengers
About 600 staff will be recruited and 450 apprenticeships offered with a new 15-year £5 Billion investment in rail services by Welsh Government. The Wales and Borders services along with the proposed South Wales Metro regional service will be contracted to KeolisAmey, who run London Docklands and Manchester Metro, in partnership with stand alone not-for-profit company … [Read more...]
Newslines 4 June
Learners can drive on motorways from today. The law change only allows them to drive with qualified instructors, not family or friends who are unqualified. North Wales Police are planning a summer crack down on motorcyclists after a dramatic escalation in fatalities. By the end of last month the number killed on local roads exceeded the total for 2017. Amazon delivery drivers are the … [Read more...]
“No fault” accidents dent motorists bank accounts, say RAC
More than a third of motorists are left out of pocket after being involved in a road traffic collision that was not their fault, new research has revealed. As many as 36% of drivers surveyed by the RAC said they had lost out financially following an accident. The majority of these (21%) stated they had to pay their insurance policy excess while 8% said they had to fork out for travel expenses … [Read more...]
Motorists admit taking risks in floodwater
Despite the obvious dangers of floodwater to car and, at worst life, one in 20 motorists (5%) admit to having driven through floods only to have their vehicles grind to a halt, either still in the water or just after coming out, says the RAC. While the vast majority of those (63%) were lucky to get away without suffering major damage once the vehicle had dried out, 20% said their cars needed … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 June
Mercedes-Benz has further expanded the E-Class range with a host of new petrol and diesel engines. The Mercedes-AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Coupé is available to buy from £62,835, while prices for the Cabriolet start at £69,285. Pricing for the CLS 53 4MATIC+ starts at £74,050. A significant milestone passed yesterday as the ‘key’ to the building that will house the new £50m McLaren Composites … [Read more...]