A £1.2 Billion deal is close to being signed to bring over 3,500 and up to 15,000 jobs with a new massive car batteries plant adjacent to the Aston Martin Lagonda facility at St Athan, in the Vale of Glamorgan. UK start-up battery manufacturer Britishvolt has shortlisted the site at the former RAF base next to where AML (above) started making their luxury … [Read more...]
Greener light for German motor industry
Germany’s green rescue package points the way for Europe. The German rescue package announced last week will help fight the worst economic shock in decades by transforming the economy to make it greener and stronger, said environmental group Transport & Environment. Under the plan, €2.2 billion will be spent on incentivising electric cars and car … [Read more...]
French tell Renault “home” build for state aid
The French government has told Renault it must keep home plants operating as a condition of receiving €5 Billion state aid. France wants it to remain the group’s global centre for engineering, research, innovation and development, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Wednesday. Speaking in the Senate, he said the government was particularly concerned … [Read more...]
Warning for motor industry future as Aston Martin take orders
The jobs of at least 1,110,107 Europeans working in automobile manufacturing are affected by factory shutdowns as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, according to data compiled by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. This figure only refers to those people directly employed by car, truck, van and bus manufacturers – the impact on the wider … [Read more...]
Car makers want urgent comprehensive support
The effect of the coronavirus on society and the global economy is unprecedented with grave consequences for the automobile industry, say European car makers. Indeed, most of the members of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association have already announced temporary closures of plants due to collapsing demand, supply shortages, and government … [Read more...]
Metro plan risks hitting Brexit buffer
The South Wales Metro multi-million-pound project faces being derailed if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, warn the Welsh Government. Economy Secretary Ken Skates said Welsh Government officials are seeking clarity on what happens to necessary land transfers being managed by UK Government as part of the process. South Wales Metro … [Read more...]
£86M grants for decarbonising and supply chain
The Advanced Propulsion Centre is helping to lower the barriers for Small and Medium Enterprises to contribute to decarbonising the automotive sector and anchoring the supply chain in the UK. The APC provided financial and mentoring support to 87 SMEs including £86m through its Core Competitions, and its Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP) … [Read more...]
£25M boost for Tech Valleys project over three years
Welsh Government is accelerating its emerging technologies investment, particularly in the automotive sector. Ahead of this evening’s Blaenau Gwent Business Awards, the Welsh Government says it will invest £25m over the next three years to help make Blaenau Gwent and the wider Valleys a globally recognised centre for the development and delivery of … [Read more...]
Ford Bridgend investment depends on Brexit deal
Future investment at Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will depend on terms Britain negotiates as it leaves the EU, a senior company executive has said in Geneva motor show. Britain’s largest automotive engine maker Ford builds half of the country’s total output of 2.7 million units at its Bridgend petrol plant and London Dagenham diesel factory and employs over … [Read more...]
Improvements before investment, firms tell pollsters
SME manufacturers are looking for productivity gains from their workforce and existing equipment ahead of investment in automation, according to The Engineer. The quarterly survey asked over 280 manufacturers how they plan to increase their business’ productivity, with 43 per cent saying they will invest in new equipment and only 40 per cent planning to … [Read more...]
