Automotive
Automotive News
Automotive News Late October 2023
Electric vehicle and systems manufacturer RBW has opened its UK factory in Lichfield, following multi-million-pound investment from California. Since its foundation seven years ago, RBW continues to pioneer the safe electrification of vehicles. The investment will enable the company to scale-up to meet global demand. Meson Capital Partners’ £10m investment follows an original £5m and […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late July 2023
Jaguar Land Rover-owner Tata has confirmed plans to build its flagship electric car battery factory in the UK. The new plant in Somerset is expected to create 4,000 UK jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain. Tata said it will invest £4bn in the site but it is understood that the government is […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early July 2023
Sales of Jaguar Land Rover models have risen during the luxury car maker’s first quarter period, ending June 30, 2023, due to the continuing improvement in microchip and other supply constraints. Wholesale volumes for the first quarter were 93,253 units, excluding the Chery Jaguar Land Rover China joint venture, up 30% compared with the same […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late June 2023
The Nissan team at its Sunderland plant are celebrating building the 11 millionth vehicle since production started in 1986. The milestone means that, on average, a new car has rolled off the line at the plant every two minutes, every hour of every day, for 37 years. The 11 millionth car was a Blade Silver […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early June 2023
Jaguar Land Rover has revealed its new corporate branding, as it looks to become a House of Brands organisation. The luxury car manufacturer aims to bring together each of its brands – Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar under one umbrella by evolving to JLR. The Land Rover brand will remain on vehicles, websites, social […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late May 2023
Ferrari will continue to build cars with internal combustion engines into the late 2030s, despite efforts by governments around the world to phase out the technology. The boss of the Italian manufacturer said it would be “arrogant” to dictate to customers what they can buy. For Ferrari, as for many other premium brands, the move […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early May 2023
Aston Martin is poised to launch eight new front-engined sports cars over the next two years, starting with a replacement for the DB11. That model, likely to be called Aston Martin DB12, will kick-start the new model blitz that’s been three years in making, company chairman Lawrence Stroll told the Financial Times’ Future of the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late April 2023
Britain gets back in the driving seat with more than a million EVs on the road. Number of vehicles on UK roads grows 0.5% to reach record 40.7 million, with car ownership rising for first time since 2019. One in every 32 cars now comes with a plug with 1.1 million electric cars now in […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early May 2023
Aston Martin is poised to launch eight new front-engined sports cars over the next two years, starting with a replacement for the DB11. That model, likely to be called Aston Martin DB12, will kick-start the new model blitz that’s been three years in making, company chairman Lawrence Stroll told the Financial Times’ Future of the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late April 2023
Britain gets back in the driving seat with more than a million EVs on the road. Number of vehicles on UK roads grows 0.5% to reach record 40.7 million, with car ownership rising for first time since 2019. One in every 32 cars now comes with a plug with 1.1 million electric cars now in […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early April 2023
Jaguar Land Rover has seen an increase in sales following an easing of supply constraints, notably micro chips used in its luxury vehicles. The motor manufacturer, which has production plants in Halewood, Merseyside, and the West Midlands, reported better figures for both its fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, to March 31, 2023, and for […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late March 2023
Luxury car maker, Bentley Motors, has recorded its best financial results, with operating profits up nearly €1bn compared with 2018. The latest annual figures show a profit of €708m, representing an 82% growth in profit from a four per cent growth in volume. Turnover reached €3.38bn, up 19% over the same period. The announcement follows […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early March 2023
UK new car market posts seventh straight month of growth. Britain’s new car market rises 26.2% in February, in seventh consecutive month of growth. Battery electric deliveries rise 18.2%, with all plug-in cars taking almost a quarter market share. Plug-in uptake set to near half a million units in 2023, but Spring Budget measures needed […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late February 2023
Luxury car maker Bentley’s plan to create a ‘Dream Factory’ at its Crewe base has moved up a gear with a ground-breaking ceremony at its £35m Launch Quality Centre and Engineering Technical Centre. The new facility will be integral to the brand’s preparations for future Battery-Powered Electric Vehicle (BEV) production and to set a new […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early February 2023
Self-driving vehicles may be a step closer to becoming a reality for the West Midlands after backing from the government and the industry. The Multi-Area Connected Automated Mobility project, being led by Conigital has received £8.3m from the government alongside an industry grant of £6.9m to develop key infrastructure in the West Midlands to help […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late January 2023
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey to become Toyota’s first European plant to produce plug-in-hybrid vehicles and batteries. The second-generation Toyota C-HR will be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) in Sakarya. Available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, the new Toyota C-HR will also be the first plug-in hybrid passenger car to be produced in […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – December 2022
Ford has announced plans to massively increase its production of components for electric cars in a move that will safeguard 500 jobs on Merseyside. The £125m investment – boosted by the government’s Automotive Transformation Fund – in the Halewood plant brings the US car giant’s spending there to £380m. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-63820136 ____________________ Plans to develop […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – December 2022
Ford has announced plans to massively increase its production of components for electric cars in a move that will safeguard 500 jobs on Merseyside. The £125m investment – boosted by the government’s Automotive Transformation Fund – in the Halewood plant brings the US car giant’s spending there to £380m. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-63820136 ____________________ Plans to develop a […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – November 2022
UK car production output returns to growth in October UK car manufacturing output rises 7.4% in October as 69,524 units leave factory gates. Production for home and overseas markets up 12.5% and 6.3% respectively. Volumes year-to-date down -10.8% though output for UK market rises 8.8%. UK car production returned to growth in October, rising 7.4% […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late October 2022
JCB has developed a mobile hydrogen refueller for construction sites, describing it as a “world first for the industry”. JCB is investing £100m in a project to produce hydrogen engines and has already developed working prototypes of a backhoe loader and Load all telescopic handler powered by hydrogen. JCB has a team of 100 working […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Early October 2022
New car market up as plate change September marks one million EV milestone. 225,269 units registered in key ‘new plate’ month – up 4.6% on last September, but -34.4% behind 2019. Bumper month for plug-in registrations sees Britain’s millionth plug-in electric car registered, with 249,575 joining roads in 2022 alone. Industry calls for action to […]
Read MoreStellantis Plant Expands Portfolio With Production of FIAT Professional Scudo Light Commercial Vehicle
The Stellantis plant in Luton has expanded its manufacturing portfolio with the start of production of the FIAT Professional Scudo light commercial vehicle. https://zenoot.com/2022/09/20/stellantis-plant-in-luton-manufactures-first-fiat-van/
Read MoreElectric versions of Nissan Qashqai and Juke Now rolling off the lines.
As Nissan Qashqai and Juke production in Sunderland passes the five million mark, electrified versions of these pioneering crossover models are now rolling off the lines. The Nissan Qashqai, the record-breaking original crossover, is now offered with Nissan’s unique e-POWER system, a first for the company in Europe. Its B-segment stablemate, the Nissan Juke, […]
Read MoreMultimillion-Pound Order of Electric Buses for Manufacturer Alexander Dennis.
A multimillion-pound order for 50 new double deck electric buses for Greater Manchester has been placed with manufacturer Alexander Dennis. Less than a year before the first locally controlled bus services in 36 years is set to take to the road, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has revealed the distinctive black and yellow design […]
Read MoreFirst Bus Orders 193 Electric Buses Worth £81 Million from Northern Irish Bus Builder Wrightbus
British transport company First Bus has ordered 193 electric buses worth £81 million from Northern Irish bus builder Wrightbus. The order is part-funded through the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme. First Bus had successfully worked with five municipalities to rack up the combined order of 193 electric buses. The […]
Read MoreUK Van Market Records Further Decline in August.
UK van market records further decline in August. Britain’s light commercial vehicle market falls -24.6%, leaving industry without growth for whole of year to date. BEV uptake continues to grow, up 14.7%, reaching 6.1% market share. Ongoing supply chain issues lead to worst August since 2017, while year to date market down -27.2% on pre-pandemic […]
Read MoreNew Car Market Ends Five Months of Decline Ahead of Plate Change.
New car market ends five months of decline ahead of plate change. UK new car registrations stabilise, up 1.2% to 68,858 units during traditionally quiet pre-plate change August. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake continues to grow, up 35.4%. Overall year to date market remains -35.3% down on pre-pandemic 2019. The UK new car […]
Read MoreJaguar Land Rover to Train 29k Employees to Work on Electric Cars Over Next 3 years.
Jaguar Land Rover is to train 29,000 employees to work on electric cars in the next three years. The car giant said the move would support the “rapid transition” to electrification. https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2022/09/28/jaguar-land-rover-to-train-29000-staff-to-work-on-electric-cars/
Read MoreJaguar Land Rover Commences Work Converting its Halewood Factory
Jaguar Land Rover has commenced work on converting its Halewood factory in the UK into a site that can build vehicles based on its new electrified modular architecture (EMA). Sources have revealed that the British car manufacturer has started the tendering process to upgrade the factory. Current plans call for an extended shutdown at […]
Read MoreBritish Car Output Up But Record Input Costs Threaten Recovery.
British car output up but record input costs threaten recovery. UK car production rises 34.0% in August to 49,901 units after dismal 2021, but volumes still -45.9% down on pre-pandemic levels. Fourth consecutive month of growth fails to offset sustained losses from global supply shortages, with YTD output more than half a million units […]
Read MoreBritish CV output nearly doubles in best August for a decade.
British CV output nearly doubles in best August for a decade UK commercial vehicle (CV) production rises 92.9% to 6,132 units, marking the best August since 2012 and the eighth consecutive month of growth. Overseas demand increases 78.4%, while production for UK operators more than doubles year-on-year, rising 119.3%. Year-to-date CV output is up […]
Read MoreDemand for trucks steady in supply constrained market
UK heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations rise slightly by 0.4% to 9,533 units in the second quarter of 2022. Half-year registrations down -1.0% on 2021 and -29.5% below pre-pandemic 2019, as semiconductor and raw materials shortages continue to hamper supply. Action needed to ensure the UK remains a competitive market for new zero emission trucks. […]
Read MoreBus and coach demand struggles to recover from pandemic
1,066 new buses and coaches registered in Britain from April to June, up 0.6% on the same period last year. Q2 performance puts first half of 2022 up 17.9% year-on-year, with 2,040 vehicles registered – but market remains down -46.4% on the pre-pandemic five-year average. Ongoing weak ridership levels acting as discouragement to investment. […]
Read MoreElectric car manufacturer set to move to Oxfordshire town and establish first UK head office.
Polestar, manufacturer of performance-focused electric vehicles, will establish its first UK head office and a new customer test drive hub at Bicester Heritage, a historic vehicle site in Bicester. Opening in December 2022, Polestar Bicester will be a new multi-purpose location following the development of one of the existing two-storey buildings in the Heritage Quarter. […]
Read MoreUK car production rises for third consecutive month.
UK car manufacturing output rises 8.6% in July, the third consecutive month of growth. Production of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles surges 24.7% in the month. Volumes year-to-date down -16.5% to 461,174, driven by falling exports and structural changes. UK car production rose for the third consecutive month in July, up 8.6% […]
Read MoreUK commercial vehicle output continues growth with best July for six years.
UK commercial vehicle (CV) production rises 43.9% to 8,097 units in the best July since 2016 and eleventh consecutive month of growth. Overseas demand increases by 34.2%, while production for Britain’s CV market grows by 58.5%. UK manufacturing is up 46.9% since January, at 58,693, the best year to date since 2012. UK commercial […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early July, 2022
AUTOMOTIVE UK automotive manufacturing carbon footprint falls to lowest ever level UK Automotive’s production carbon footprint shrinks to lowest level on record, as CO2 emissions fall -11.2% in 2021. Industry greener and cleaner with less energy use and more sustainable energy sourcing. Waste to landfill per vehicle falls to lowest ever level – down -96.2% […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early June, 2022
AUTOMOTIVE New van registrations fall for fifth consecutive month as supply squeeze continues. New light commercial vehicle registrations fall to 22,000, down -25.1% on last year’s record-breaking May. 39,209 fewer vans registered year-to-date as shortages of key components continue to restrict production. Electric van registrations up 62.7% to 6,085 units in first five months of […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – Late April 2022
AUTOMOTIVE Global supply challenges wipe 100,000 cars from UK automotive output in first quarter. UK car production falls -32.4% in first quarter, a decline of 99,211 units on pandemic-affected Q1 2021. Output for March drops -33.4% to 76,900 units, as 4.3% rise in production for the UK fails to offset -41.4% exports decline. As manufacturing […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early April, 2022
AUTOMOTIVE Luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) expects the global microchip shortage – which has constrained production levels – to ease throughout the next fiscal year. This follows comments by BMW chief executive, Oliver Zipse, last week, who said he expects to see an improvement in supplies, by next year at the latest. JLR, […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late March 2022
AUTOMOTIVE The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said today a relocation of car manufacturing back to the UK would be “good news” for the sector. “If supply chain resilience provides the opportunity to reshore more of the supply chain in the UK, we would certainly support and encourage that,” SMMT’s chief executive Mike […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, March 2022
AUTOMOTIVE Ford has accelerated its electric vehicle plans for Europe, launching seven new models, announcing a battery gigafactory in Turkey, doubling investment in Germany and the phasing out of emissions from vans by 2035. The US manufacturer had previously pledged to make all cars in Europe electric by 2030 but had not set an end […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early March, 2022
AUTOMOTIVE Supply chain shortages squeeze January car output but EV surge brightens outlook UK car production falls -20.1% in worst January since 2009 with 68,790 units leaving factory gates. Production for overseas and domestic markets down -17.5% and -30.8% respectively. Battery electric vehicle production up a third, with one in 11 cars rolling off factory […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late February 2022
AUTOMOTIVE Jaguar Land Rover Automotive plc has received a £500million Export Development Guarantee which will support the research, development and export of Battery Electric Vehicles, International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced on the 31st January 2022 UK Export Finance (UKEF) guaranteed 80% of a new £625million loan from 12 commercial banks, under its Export Development […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, February, 2022
AUTOMOTIVE A dismal year for UK car output but investment recovery and electrified charge brighten outlook Car production falls -6.7% to 859,575 units due to multiple factors, most Covid-related. UK electrified vehicle output surges, up 29.6%, to more than a quarter of production. Factories turn out record number of battery electric vehicles, volumes up 72.0%. […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, January 2022
AUTOMOTIVE Jaguar Land Rover’s worldwide sales have continued to be hit by the global shortage of semi-conductors. Although the luxury car group started to see some improvement in microchip supply, sales for the last three months of 2021 were down 13.6% on the previous quarter at 80,126. Jaguar sales were down 25.2% at 14,407 and […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late November, 2021
AUTOMOTIVE Plug-in car performance holds steady despite overall registrations falling -24.6% 106,265 new cars registered in October, a -24.6% fall on last year and the weakest October since 1991. Plug-in vehicles now account for 16.6% of all cars registered so far in 2021. Chip shortages and tax rises mean industry expects to finish year on […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, November, 2021
AUTOMOTIVE UK automotive car production falls -41.5% in September British car production falls -41.5% in September with 67,169 units leaving factory gates. Global chip shortage continues to plague production costing suppliers more than £2.4 billion. Better news for battery electric and hybrid car manufacturing as almost a third of all cars made in UK are […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late October, 2021
AUTOMOTIVE New car registrations fell to their lowest levels in September for more than two decades, according to figures from the industry’s trade body. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said new registrations dropped 35% compared with the same month a year earlier. Falling car production has been blamed on an ongoing global […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, October 2021
AUTOMOTIVE As we enter the important September plate-change month with an ever-increasing range of electrified models and attractive deals, buyers in the market for the new 71 plate can be reassured manufacturers are doing all they can to ensure prompt deliveries. MINI has delivered its one millionth car sold in the UK, just over 20 […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early September, 2021
AUTOMOTIVE UK new car registrations fell -22.0% in August, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 68,033 units were registered in what is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year for new car registrations ahead of the important plate-change in September. The monthly performance was the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late August, 2021
AUTOMOTIVE UK car production fell sharply last month, marking the worst July performance for the industry since 1956, a trade group has said. The global microchip shortage, staff being affected by the so-called pingdemic, and shutdowns meant just 53,438 cars were built in the month. That was a drop of 37.6% compared to July last […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, August 2021
AUTOMOTIVE Bentley Motors has posted the company’s 2021 half-year performance, with sales and profit levels unmatched in Bentley’s 102-year history. This includes an operating profit of €178 million, greater than any profit figure posted for a full-year period by the company. Moreover, retail sales increased by 50% from a pre-COVID 2019 figure of 4,785 to […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, July 2021
AUTOMOTIVE Vauxhall owner Stellantis has announced plans to build electric vans at its Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire. The £100m investment, which the UK government will contribute to, will safeguard more than 1,000 factory jobs. The future of the plant has been in doubt after Vauxhall’s parent company scrapped plans to build its new Astra […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late June, 2021
AUTOMOTIVE May engine production more than doubles but export growth sluggish UK factories made 116,639 engines in May, more than double May 2020’s output. May 2021 output down -47.6% on five-year average for the month. Year-to-date output rises 18.8% with increased production for the domestic market. https://www.smmt.co.uk/2021/06/may-engine-production-more-than-doubles-but-export-growth-sluggish/ UK commercial vehicle (CV) production increased to 6,243 […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early June 2021
AUTOMOTIVE Aston Martin’s turnaround is gathering pace as the car maker’s new owners see early signs of progress. Revenues were up 153% to £224.4m in the first quarter of the year, with pre-tax losses narrowly significantly, from £110m to £42m. Executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, who took over last year, said: “I am delighted with the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late May 2021
AUTOMOTIVE 141,583 new cars registered in April as showrooms reopened – significantly up on April 2020 when lockdown closed retail and the nation, but still -12.9% down on decade average. The SMMT revised its forecast upwards to 1.86m registrations by end of the year, up 13.9% on 2020. Plug-in vehicles forecast are to account for […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, May 2021
AUTOMOTIVE UK car production rises on anniversary of pandemic-driven factory shuttering March UK car output grows 46.6% against Covid hit 2020 when pandemic forced factories to close. Monthly performance down -22.8% on five-year March average and Q1 down -4.0% year-on-year. Companies continue to wrestle with global supply chain issues, impact of new EU trading arrangements […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, April 2021
AUTOMOTIVE Jaguar Land Rover sold 123,483 vehicles in its fourth quarter, 12.4% more than the same time last year, although total sales for the year were 13.6% lower. The luxury car maker, which has manufacturing sites in Halewood, Merseyside, and Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands, revealed its China sales were up 127% […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, March 2021
AUTOMOTIVE Nissan announces plans for major expansion of renewable energy at Sunderland Plant. The Proposal would generate enough power to build every Nissan LEAF sold in Europe, as Nissan heads towards a carbon-neutral future. Nissan has announced plans for a major expansion to renewable energy generation at its record-breaking plant in Sunderland, UK. Complementing the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, March 2021
AUTOMOTIVE The University of Birmingham has launched a three-year research project with Bentley Motors to deliver a sustainable source of rare earth magnets for electric and hybrid vehicles. The £2.6m RaRE (Rare-earth Recycling for E-machines) project is funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, and involves […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – February 2021
AUTOMOTIVE The UK’s used car market declined in 2020, down -14.9% according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 6,752,959 used car transactions took place, 1,182,146 fewer than in 2019, making 2020 the lowest performing year since 2012 as lockdown measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, January 2021
AUTOMOTIVE UK car production declined -29.3% in 2020, to 920,928 units, according to the latest figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). December, output was down -2.3% to 71,403, with some firms affected by border closures and thus component supply issues. This rounded off a dreadful year, the worst since 1984 […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, December 2020
AUTOMOTIVE New HGV registrations decline -1.6% in Q3 2020 UK HGV market dips by 138 units to 8,419 in Q3 after turbulent first half of the year. Demand for rigids up by 12.6% mirroring demand for essential delivery services and construction as lockdown measures eased over the summer. Market currently down -39.6% year to date, […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, October 2020
AUTOMOTIVE Tesla has recorded a fifth quarter in a row of profit, as sales of its electric cars accelerated to a new record despite the pandemic. The firm said it made $8.7bn in revenue in the three months to September, as deliveries rose 54%. The firm said it still hoped to meet its goal of […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, June 2020
UK Auto calls for restart support as Covid crisis threatens one in six jobs UK auto industry calls for dedicated restart package to save jobs and pave the way for recovery. New SMMT survey reveals a third of workforce still on furlough with up to one in six jobs at risk. ‘Turbocharged’ Brexit negotiations needed […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, May 2020
AUTOMOTIVE Renault is cutting 15,000 jobs worldwide as part of a €2bn (£1.8bn) cost-cutting plan after seeing sales plunge because of the virus pandemic. “This plan is essential,” said interim boss Clotilde Delbos, who announced cuts in production to focus on more profitable car models. Some 4,600 job cuts will be in France, and the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late March, 2020
AUTOMOTIVE More than £50m has been invested in the Nissan plant in Sunderland as the firm gears up to build the new Qashqai. The Japanese car-manufacturer said its new press, which weighs over 2,000 tonnes and can exert a pressure of 5,000 tonnes, forms part of its £400m investment in the plant. The Qashqai, which […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, March 2020
AUTOMOTIVE More than £50m has been invested in the Nissan plant in Sunderland as the firm gears up to build the new Qashqai. The Japanese car-manufacturer said its new press, which weighs over 2,000 tonnes and can exert a pressure of 5,000 tonnes, forms part of its £400m investment in the plant. The Qashqai, which […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late February, 2020
AUTOMOTIVE Car production has fallen for the fifth month in a row amid weak demand in the UK, new figures reveal. Production for the UK fell by almost a quarter in January compared with a year ago, although exports increased by 4.1%, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/02/27/car-production-falls-for-fifth-month-in-a-row-despite-improvement-in-exports/ Manufacturing at Jaguar […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late January, 2020
AUTOMOTIVE Concerns have been raised over the future of the Vauxhall car plant in Ellesmere Port after its owners announced the next version of the Astra will not be built there, but in Germany instead. The Rüsselsheim plant, which shares Astra production with Ellesmere Port, has been awarded the next variant of the model, which […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, January 2020
AUTOMOTIVE More electric cars were registered in the UK during 2019 than any other year to date, as diesel car registrations fell by more than one-fifth on a year-on-year basis. That is according to new industry data released today (6 January) by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMTT). The data reveals that the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, December 2019
AUTOMOTIVE Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is to cut jobs with the aim of making more than €1bn (£840m) in savings by the end of 2022. The cuts which reports say will lead to more than 1,000 jobs being lost come as the carmaker faces challenges from new, tougher emissions targets. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50416250 ____________________ Carmaker Audi is to […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late October, 2019
AUTOMOTIVE The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market declined -23.5% in September, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 41,216 LCVs were registered in the month, down some 12,632 units on September 2018, as regulatory changes, coupled with economic and political uncertainty, impacted the market. […]
Read MoreAutomotive news, September 2019
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will shut down production in all its UK plants, including Halewood on Merseyside, for a week, starting from November 4. The manufacturing giant blamed the uncertainty of Brexit and other external factors on the decision to cease production. https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2048771-car-giant-to-close-factories-for-a-week-over-brexit-uncertainty?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NorthWest_27th_Sep_2019_Daily
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early September 2019
AUTOMOTIVE Ineos Automotive has chosen Bridgend for the production of its new 4×4 vehicle, it has been announced. It is expected to initially create around 200 jobs to make the Grenadier, and up to 500 in the long-term. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49733291
Read MoreAutomotive News, Late August, 2019
AUTOMOTIVE One of the UK’s leading autonomous vehicle specialists, Aurrigo, has recorded an international boom after securing more than £1.5m of orders from across the world. Aurrigo has seen demand for its driverless pods soar following the successful completion of major trials in the UK and Australia proved that its technology can deliver safe and […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, August 2019
AUTOMOTIVE The chief executive of Vauxhall-owner PSA says it could move all production from its Ellesmere Port factory if Brexit makes it unprofitable. Carlos Tavares has said that the carmaker has alternatives to the plant which it could use. The move would probably lead to the closure of the site, threatening 1,000 jobs. That would […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, July 2019
AUTOMOTIVE The government is pumping nearly £40m into improving the infrastructure for electric vehicles despite a sharp drop in hybrid car sales. The Department for Transport will invest in UK engineering to “transform” the network of electric charge points. Wireless charging and “pop-up” pavement technology are among the investments being made. Sales of plug-in hybrid […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, June 2019
AUTOMOTIVE BMW and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are to join forces on developing electric car technologies. The car giants said they would work together to develop electric motors, transmissions and power electronics. Both firms have struggled to maintain profit margins amid falling car sales and higher costs as well as the need to invest in […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, Early May 2019
AUTOMOTIVE Jaguar Land Rover is developing the next phase of its innovative aluminium recycling initiative which reuses the aluminium in its current vehicles to make the cars of tomorrow. The project, which is co-funded by Innovate UK, aims to recover aluminium from existing JLR vehicles and reform it into new high-grade aluminium to create […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, March 2019
AUTOMOTIVE The Pininfarina Battista is reportedly the most powerful road-legal car ever to be built, with a 0-100 km/h in less than two seconds, and 0-300km/h in fewer than 12. More importantly though, it is electric. Designed and built in Italy, the Pininfarina Battista was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland, which […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, February 2019
AUTOMOTIVE Aston Martin has achieved annual revenues of more than £1bn for the first time after it achieved a big jump in car sales. It sold 6,441 vehicles in 2018, 26% more than a year earlier, although average selling price was down slightly to £157,000. It is the car manufacturer’s first annual results since becoming […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, January 2019
AUTOMOTIVE There is something unmistakably Aston Martin about the new Vantage. It retains the British marque’s characteristic blend of aggression and sophistication – like a cage fighter squeezed into a Savile Row suit. However, it is in other respects quite different to cars that have gone before it and the rest of the current range. […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, December 2018
AUTOMOTIVE It is no secret that the electric and hybrid vehicle market is experiencing a high level of growth, particularly as consumers become more aware of global sustainability issues. Not only do electric vehicles help the environment, they are becoming more viable from a cost perspective. However, a common factor preventing consumers from purchasing fully […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, November 2018
Ford is in talks with a chemical company about using its Bridgend plant to build a new off-road vehicle. Ineos Automotive plans to build a car to replace the Land Rover Defender, which went out of production in 2016. Talks come a week after Ford told staff working on the new Jaguar engine not to […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, October 2018
With Brexit, impending and many companies in limbo about the future, Bentley Motors leads the way, recruiting a new intake of apprentices as the business takes a strong stance toward UK manufacturing.
Read MoreAutomotive News, September 2018
What has been described as the UK’s “largest independent vehicle battery manufacturer” will reportedly open in early 2019 in Coventry, creating around 90 new jobs with Aston Martin as its first customer. The multi-million-pound, high-tech facility will be operated by a new joint venture – Hyperbat, which combines the innovation, manufacturing and logistics strengths of […]
Read MoreAutomotive Latest News – August 2018
Electric vehicles are dominating discussions surrounding the future of the automotive industry, from supercars to electrical appliance manufacturer Dyson’s developments, many businesses are looking to utilise EVs. Dyson might be best known for its electrical appliances such as vacuum cleaners and hair dryers, but the UK company is now focusing on entering the electric vehicle […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, July 2018
Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive, has called on industry and government to come together to make light weighting a top priority for the UK automotive sector.
Read MoreAutomotive News, June 2018
Thousands of the newly launched Range Rover Velar, revamped Land Rover Discovery and the new Jaguar E Pace – the baby version of the F-Pace SUV – were sold last month, helping hike JLR’s global sales by 6.1% in May to 48,281. Sales for the company, which makes its engines at the £1bn factory […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, June 2018
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has launched the Future Mobility Challenge, an initiative to spawn partnerships between leading automotive brands and Innovative technology start-ups and SMEs. BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Bosch, Ford and Toyota, have partnered with SMMT to encourage new and small businesses to devise solutions to seven key mobility […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, May 2018
The automotive industry can expect to achieve upwards of $160bn in annual productivity gains through the adoption of smart factory technology from 2023 onwards. Almost half of all automotive business have invested more than $250m in smart factories, according to new research, more than any her sector. The world’s top 10 automotive manufactures expect […]
Read MoreAutomotive Latest News, April 2018
The number of cars made in the UK during March fell by 13.3% from a year earlier as both domestic and overseas demand for vehicles declined. The Society of Motor Manufacturing and Traders (SMMT) said poor weather had affected production. It said car sales to the UK had dropped for an eighth month and double-digit […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, March 2018
Jaguar Land Rover saw its sales slip last month, dragged down by falls in the UK and Europe. It was still the West Midlands-based luxury carmaker’s second best February in its history, as the new Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery helped boost sales. But solid demand in China – up 3.3% – and […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, February 2018
UK car manufacturing output held steady in January 2018, with just 72 fewer vehicles produced than in the same month last year. Export drove overall volumes, whereas the domestic demand declined, study has revealed. According to a new SMMT report UK car industry output in the month fell by a negligible -0.05% year on year, […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, January 2018
The union Unite has called on the owner of the Vauxhall car company to invest in new models after workers at its Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire learned the carmaker was seeking 250 additional redundancies on top of the 400 announced last October. The manufacturer, now owned by French company PSA, said the move […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, December 2017
Midlands sports car manufacturer Morgan Motor Company has revealed details of its most extreme road going model to date. The race-inspired Aero GT is based upon the lightweight aluminium Aero 8 but with an all-new hand-worked, aerodynamically honed body which reduces drag but significantly increases downforce. The Malvern-based company said it aimed to utilise the […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, November 2017
The University of Derby has awarded a Leicestershire business £97,650 to expand overseas. Vitesse Global provides specialist engine, gearbox and ancillary components to a niche market in the automotive sector. The business, based in Hinckley, says it noticed there was a gap in the market as British sports car manufacturers don’t offer automatic gear […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, November 2017
UK car production fell during September as confidence was hit by Brexit uncertainty, according to a major car industry body. Plans to improve air quality also added to the decline in car output, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. A 14% fall in demand in the UK market drove the overall drop, […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, October 2017
Jaguar Land Rover has been revealed as the new name behind plans for a $40m development in Staffordshire. JLR is investing in a new 52-acre site storage facility at Stone Business Park. The massive new development will provide secure storage facilities for 6,500 vehicles and is expected to create around 75 permanent jobs. […]
Read MoreAutomotive News – September 2017
Jaguar Land Rover has announced that, from 2020, all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified. According to Jaguar Land Rover, every new model line will be electrified from 2020, giving the customers even more choice. Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover chief executive officer, said: “We will introduce a portfolio of […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, July 2017
Germany’s transport minister has announced a recall of 22,000 Porsche cars to remove what he says is illegal emissions-controlling software. He said that luxury marque Porsche would bear the cost of the recalls of the affected 3-litre Cayenne models. It comes as Porsche’s sister firm Volkswagen says it will refit almost a million more diesel […]
Read MoreAutomotive News, May 2017
Japanese carmaker Toyota will be responsible for best practice requirements in a £3m programme created by several public and private bodies which aims to create a platform for fuel cell production for zero-emission cars. Clean energy provider Intelligent Energy will take the technical lead in the scheme, aiming to demonstrate cost reductions of fuel cells […]
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