Britain’s new car market is “cooling" this summer. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed a 0.1% rise compared to a year ago and put down to business sales keeping it ahead. Sales in the first seven months of 2016 were 1,599,159 but the industry has been expecting a slow down and SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said it was … [Read more...]
Newslines 30 July
UK drivers are the most likely in Europe to be distracted by attractive pedestrians, and the majority of road accident fatalities involve young men. The summer period has a significantly increased risk with almost two thirds of young people saying they are more relaxed with their driving during the holiday months, say Ford. As thousands of families … [Read more...]
Ford to create JLR battery plant?
Jaguar Land Rover declined to comment on a newspaper report that it is in talks with Ford Motor and BMW to build a battery plant in the UK. JLR executives have met Ford and BMW officials about collaborating on a plant with the capacity to supply "several hundred thousand vehicles," the Sunday Times paper reported. JLR may launch an electric Jaguar … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Ford S Max with AWD
Yes summer is officially here but it’s time to remember the horrors of last winter’s weather. Gales, floods, ice and for some long months of deep snow so how many of us were just wishing to have 4x4 traction for our family or work cars? Most of the major volume sales manufacturers are saying that up to 20% of … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 June
Volkswagen will pay owners of its polluting diesel cars in the U.S. up to $7,000, and agree to fund a grant program to offset air pollution, under a $10 billion (£6.9 billion) settlement being negotiated for submission to a federal judge next week. VW will provide cash payments worth between $1,000 and $7,000, depending on the vehicle’s age and other … [Read more...]
Big shake up for small cars in Europe
The small car market in Europe is facing a shake up. Volkswagen Group will stop producing more than 40 car models as part of a new strategy, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported. VW said last week it would invest billions of euros in electric cars, ride-hailing and automated driving to become a world leader in green transport by 2025 as it reshapes … [Read more...]
For the love of a duck …..
Ford security guard Stewart Webster was unflappable when he saw a duck in distress outside the main gate to Bridgend Engine Plant. The entrance is adjacent to Ogmore River and he saw a duck and some ducklings gathering around a drain cover on the access road and suddenly one of them fell through the grating. “I ran over and the duck was … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford Kuga 2.0 6sp AWD
Kuga has been an unqualified success but Ford is not resting on laurels and has consistently refined what is the best selling SUV in its sector. We have just been testing the new and most powerful turbo-diesel which has renergised the Kuga and will capitalise on the fact that a diesel supplement has ended and there is no added penalty if you are running … [Read more...]
Welsh engine plant will make new generation for Ford
Ford has approved an investment of £181 million at its Bridgend Engine Plant to produce a family of all-new, technologically-advanced, fuel-efficient petrol engines. The investment includes Welsh Government support of £14.67 million, with production planned to start in late 2018 and a leading authority on the industry says it is likely to lead to still … [Read more...]
Newslines
Ford and a shipping agency are under investigation over alleged bribes paid to speed up clearance of parts containers through the Russian port of St Petersburg. It’s Russia’s European gateway and notoriously slow in processing shipments and now a German newspaper reports two Ford employees, eight people employed by freight agency Schenker and a Russian … [Read more...]
