Transport bodies are warning of HM Customs and Border Force chaos if France insists on ending the mutual agreement to check identities and vehicles at Calais. The French are suggesting after the Jungle Camp is moved this week and inhabitants relocated through France that it might review the agreement on French officers working in Dover and English officers in Calais. Mercedes-Benz is … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 October
Volvo parent Geely Automobile of China will use its Lynk brand to launch a modest priced SUV. Using technology it has in Volvo engineering, the new car (right) is expected in Europe in 2018 with a 3-cylinder 1.5 petrol engine and an electric motor to boost performance and economy. Sunderland will learn next month if it gets the next generation Qashqai. Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn … [Read more...]
EV sales charge to over 500K this year
Europe will see more than half a million electric vehicles on its roads by the end of 2016, says a report by Transport & Environment (T&E) . In three years the EV fleet on European roads has risen from 100,000 to almost 200,000 by 2014, and almost doubled again last year and is on course to end the year at 600,000 at current rates of acquisition in the European Free Trade … [Read more...]
Nissan demand protection from UK Brexit deal
Nissan want tariff protection compensation for any eventual trade costs resulting from Britain's exit from the European Union before committing to more investment in its UK plant, said CEO Carlos Ghosn. Nissan is due to make a decision early next year on where to build the next Qashqai SUV - long before the terms of Brexit are likely to be known. "If I need to make an investment in the next … [Read more...]
In the cloud and on road technology around the corner
Renault and Nissan will work with Microsoft to develop cloud-based services for vehicles. The services will be based on Microsoft's Azure cloud service and will include advanced navigation, predictive maintenance and over-the-air software updates as the businesses move towards autonomous cars over the next four years. Renault and Nissan plan to launch more than 10 vehicles with autonomous … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Nissan Pulsar Tekna 190
Nissan’s bread-and-butter range has been given a marmalade topping. The Nissan Pulsar is on paper a five-door family car of good proportions and useful performance, but it’s really more than that. Originating in 1978 as an enlarged version of the Nissan Sunny, hence the name Pulsar, the latest model was introduced to Britain in 2015. Pulsar is Nissan’s upper range five-door … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Nissan Qashqai Tekna 1.6 DIG-T
Whatever the future holds for vehicle production in the UK following Brexit, Nissan by the end of this year will have increased build capacity of their British designed and built Qashqai C-segment Crossover range. They are opening a second production line to meet European demand for the Qashqai following a further £22m investment. Nissan is this year celebrating the … [Read more...]
EV car sales are on a charge
Motorists in the UK are buying more electric vehicles than ever with latest figures confirming continual quarterly rises in plug-in car uptake. Since records began in 2011, volumes of electric car registrations have risen steeply as motorists realise the benefits of owning an electric vehicle, which include low running costs, tax savings and a fun driving experience. In the April-June … [Read more...]
Newslines 8 July
MG has introduced a series of offers across its range. The new GS SUV gets a deposit contibuion and special finance deal and there are other incentives on MG3 and MG6 models. The Western European passenger car market grew 6% year on year (y/y) in June to 1.39 million units, according to the latest IHS Automotive forecast. June's result brings the half-year to a close with volumes up 8.6% … [Read more...]
Newslines 4 June
Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi are still selling new vehicles with defective air bags that will eventually need to be recalled, according to a report by a US lawmaker overseeing the agency handling the largest-ever auto safety recall. Automakers confirmed they are continuing to sell some vehicles with ammonium-nitrate inflators without a chemical drying agent, and cited … [Read more...]