Allevard Springs will close its South Wales car components plant. About 60 jobs will go. The company moved to Tonypandy as part of the UK Government’s encouragement to boost jobs in South Wales following WW2 and it started production in 1947 for Land Rover. Work expanded and it was a significant supplier to car and light commercial vehicles over the next … [Read more...]
SUVs dominate used sales & Fiesta is most popular
SUVs were the fastest selling used cars of 2021, while the Ford Fiesta has retained its title of the most popular overall for the seventh year in a row. The Mercedes GLA has been crowned the fastest selling used car of the year, with examples of the luxury German model (below) spending the shortest time on the AA Cars platform before being snapped up by … [Read more...]
Drivers’ bootcamp squares up to challenges
The Government's plans to boost training for HGV Driver candidates has been welcomed by Logistics UK’s Deputy Director Public Policy, Alex Veitch. He said, “The introduction of HGV Skills Bootcamps will help to attract new individuals into the workforce and are another welcome measure to tackle the driver shortage; Logistics UK is looking forward to … [Read more...]
Fleets changing plans in face of Omicron
Fleets are responding to the increased level of Covid threat seen in recent weeks by returning to homeworking and readopting a range of other measures designed to minimise risk, reports FleetCheck. The fleet software company says that the emergence of the Omicron strain of the virus, generally higher levels of cases, and the reintroduction of mask … [Read more...]
Train-safe campaign launches for Christmas season
British Transport Police and Transport for Wales has launched a joint operation this Christmas to keep passengers across Wales safe during the festive season. Operation Genesis will see extra officers and rail staff out across the network throughout the month to help anyone who needs it. With emphasis on Fridays and Saturdays during December, the … [Read more...]
Commuters carried Covid contagion to communities
Commuters moving between different counties increased COVID cases in the UK significantly before lockdown was imposed, according to new research by Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). The study, conducted by Professor Thomas Plümper, looked into spatial contagion between local counties in England and found that cross district spatial contagion … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 March
Drivers are planning just 5.6m trips by car to see friends and family this Easter when Covid restrictions allow, the lowest number since the RAC began tracking motorists’ plans in 2014. Despite the easing of the national lockdown on Monday when the two household and ‘rule of 6’ regulations come in, the RAC Breakdown survey of 1,200 drivers suggests many … [Read more...]
Lorry driver fines unfair, say operators
Government plans to fine lorry drivers who do not have negative COVID-19 tests before travelling to Kent have been criticised by the haulage industry. Elizabeth de Jong, Policy Director at Logistics UK said the Government had to make more testing centres available to meet UK demand from drivers and treat them as a priority. “Logistics UK remains extremely … [Read more...]
Company cars’ confusing charts
As another lockdown leaves company car activity stalled in suspended animation, a new BVRLA report analyses the market and the long-term trends that will drive its destiny. With all but essential journeys banned and new car registrations slumping to a thirty-year low, the company car sector has entered 2021 as it spent much of 2020, in an artificial … [Read more...]
Suppliers optimism and caution for 2021
Parts suppliers have started 2021 with mixed feelings of optimism and caution. Optimism, because demand for vehicles and components is picking up more rapidly than expected and the appetite for new, innovative technologies is accelerating. Caution, because the scars from 2020 are deep and the level of uncertainty remains high. Thorsten Muschal … [Read more...]
