The European car market registered its seventh consecutive month of decline in March 2019, JATO reports. Ongoing political and economic uncertainty, including lack of clarity around Brexit, alongside consumer preoccupation with diesel bans in cities, meant that overall demand continued to decline. While overall demand may be on the decline, the good news is that the electrification shift … [Read more...]
Welsh business recharges classic cars
Classic cars are being given a new life for the 21st century with a “heart” transplant and an electric powertrain by a Welsh enthusiast and engineer. Richard Morgan set up Electric Classic Cars in Newtown to give much-loved classics and popular cars a new lease of life with a modern twist. “I use to compete in the British Historic Rally Championship while I worked as a software engineer in … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 April
Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and Vauxhall have started idling UK plants this week. The move announced weeks ago is intended to help them adjust to supply and certifications under the anticipated Brexit terms and Honda will introduce six non-production days as well this month. Automakers could be hit with billions of euros in fines for missing the European Union’s fleet CO2 … [Read more...]
Tesla Model 3 tops EU EV charts in first month
The new Tesla Model 3 has shot to the top of European electric car registrations in its debut month. The European car market registered its sixth consecutive month of decline in February 2019, as 1.14 million vehicles were registered. This was largely because February marked a month of uncertainty for many of the bigger European markets, such as Spain, where registrations fell by 10% … [Read more...]
Old and new brands boom over two decades
New data from Regtransfers.co.uk reveals the fastest growing car brands over the past 20 years, uncovering a 'luxury car' boom and how British automaker MG has made a big comeback. Over the past 20 years we have seen an influx of cars taking to our roads. With data showing us the most popular cars from 1998 to the present day, we’ve been able to analyse the percentage growth of each brand by … [Read more...]
Engineering shortage – in Germany
There is a shortage of engineers, in Germany. Volkswagen said a number of its engineers had left in the wake of the ‘dieselgate’ scandal over the last three years and now the new tougher WTP emissions tests meant the company is struggling to develop engines. Last month it announced it had acquired former BMW engine expert Markus Duesmann to head up its team, but it cannot find enough … [Read more...]
Tradelines 1 August
Canada, the European Union, Japan, Mexico and South Korea met in Geneva to discuss how to respond to threats by US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on U.S. imports of autos and car parts. It was not immediately clear what kind of response the countries could be looking at, but they may impose their own tariffs or fight the United States at the World Trade Organisation. Tesla is in … [Read more...]
New generation electric cars spark warning
Electric cars are posing a particular fire danger to users and technicians. Last year, TV presenter Richard Hammond escaped with slight injuries after a prototype electric sports car he was driving crashed and was totally destroyed in minutes and earlier this year another electric car crashed in America, was recovered and then burst into flames some time later while in storage. Now, the … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 July
A new “pop-up” Mercedes-Benz showroom has opened in St David’s Shopping Centre, Cardiff in conjunction with local dealership Sinclair Group. Cars and information on the range will be displayed until 15 August along with an F1 simulator and there is also a children’s zone. The move towards electric cars is stalling because of high premiums demanded by insurers. Annual cover for an ev may … [Read more...]
Newslines 29 May
Local people living along the line of a proposed new £81M link road from M4 J34 to the A48 and Cardiff Wales Airport say they will fight the plan. Originally proposed over a decade ago, it’s resurfaced and the seven-mile road would cut through ancient woodland and historical sites to improve links and cut out congestion at M4 J33. For the sixth consecutive year, Toyota is assessed as the … [Read more...]