LeasePlan ‘would welcome the right legislation’ for autonomous vehicles
Vehicle management group LeasePlan UK has responded to the driverless car legislation in the Queen’s Speech earlier this week, highlighting that it is poised to welcome the right legislation and insurance or legal requirements needed to bring driverless vehicles to our roads.
We hear a lot in the news about the advent of driverless cars, with Volvo announcing recently that it would trial such vehicles next year in the UK. Obviously, producing driverless vehicles presents formidable technical challenges, but technology is by no means the only potential problem.
NFDA concerned about living wage effects on business
“The NFDA is concerned with the new National Living Wage and the impacts that it might have on businesses”, said Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association which represents commercial vehicle and franchised car retailers across the UK.
‘Real life’ emissions tests to be introduced next year
Existing lab tests designed to ensure emission limits are met have been shown to be inadequate and this is why the UK has secured a tough new Europe-wide ‘real driving emissions’ test. From next year, vehicles will have to meet emissions limits in real driving conditions across a wide range of typical operating temperatures. This will improve consumer confidence in manufacturers. The UK will be working to ensure that the new rules for real driving emissions and type approval are robust, deliver the expected outcomes and that manufacturers behave consistently.
European security standard ‘means a level playing field for independent garages’
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has announced that access to manufacturer security data for the independent sector has cleared its final hurdle. The body for European Accreditation (EA) has officially ‘signed-off’ the SERMI (Security related Repair & Maintenance Information) scheme and it will now go forward into European Type Approval.
Mitsubishi forms fuel consumption test irregularities external investigation committee
After admitting to fuel efficiency test irregularities dating back as much as two decades, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has established a special investigation committee to establish precisely what happened. As things stand the committee is made up entirely of external members. Mitsubishi admitted Improper conduct in fuel consumption testing” on 20 April 2016.
In April 2017 a new apprenticeship levy will be introduced with the purpose of increasing the quality and number of apprenticeships across UK. Employers with a wage-bill of less than £3 million will not pay the levy, whereas those with a wage-bill of £3 million or more will have to contribute at a rate of 0.5 per cent of their pay bill. However, the first £3 million of the payroll will be excluded by a discount that will give some relief, in line with smaller businesses.
On 20 April 2016 the US Department of Commerce (DOC) revised down OTR tyre import duties
Nine firms were initially covered by the ruling, however DOC found that of these nine exporters, two mandatory respondents, Qingdao Qihang Tyre Co., Ltd. and Xuzhou Xugong Tyres Co., Ltd. made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value.
UK cars exceed laboratory emissions standards in real-world conditions
All 37 UK of the cars the government test in the wake of the automotive emissions scandal that began with VW last year exceed laboratory emissions standards in real-world conditions. However none of the vehicles tested in the UK programme showed evidence of defeat devices except VW models.
The UK government published its research into emissions levels from leading diesel car models, fulfilling a commitment to consumers to investigate potential manipulation of emission controls, on 21 April 2016 – just as leading car manufacturers (beginning with Mitsubishi) began making statements about their involvement in the emissions scandal.
Bridgestone calls for UK to follow Ireland’s lead in illegal tyre fines
Bridgestone has called on the UK Government to implement mandatory fines on motorists who drive with defective or worn tyres. The manufacturer said the UK should follow Ireland’s lead in the interests of road safety; the Irish minister for transport, tourism and sport, Paschal Donohoe announced the new fixed charge notice (FCN) offence for motorists in mid-April, with fines of €80 now in effect.
German marques to recall 600,000 cars due to emissions
Several online sources are reporting that a number of German car manufacturers are planning to recall large numbers of vehicles as part of the ongoing vehicle emissions scandal. Sources suggest Mercedes, Opel and Porsche as well as Volkswagen and its Audi brand are to recall certain diesel vehicles. BBC news reports that over 600,000 cars are set to be recalled, citing German media reports.
NMRO, Regulatory Delivery and the changing face of tyre labelling enforcement in the UK
Believe it or not, the history of the body responsible for enforcing tyre labelling legislation in the UK goes back to the Magna Carta. Nowadays, they are known as National Measurement and Regulation Office or NMRO and form part of the government Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)’s “Regulatory Delivery” organisation. However, there is quite a lot more to it than that.
Garage associations seek 3-1-1 MOT support from the SNP
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) and Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) met with Drew Hendry MP, Scottish National Party (SNP) Transport spokesperson in the House of Commons, to present a case against extending the MOT test for new cars.
During the 2015 Budget it was announced that the Government would consult on extending the period of time before a new car receives its first MOT test from three years to four. The RMI and SMTA are concerned that a new ‘4-1-1’ system would severely jeopardise road safety in the UK.
MSTYR15 tyre labelling enforcement project welcomed by UK tyre business
Following the news that 15,000 tyres and their labels will be checked over the next two years as part of the Market Surveillance Action on Tyres 2015 (MSTYR15) project, representatives of the UK tyre business have welcomed the news that surveillance and enforcement steps are increasingly being taken across Europe.
EU tyre label under scrutiny – authorities begin 24-month project
One of the chief criticisms of the European tyre label since its introduction in November 2012 is the absence of effective third-party control; abuse is inevitable in a system that allows tyre manufacturers to evaluate their own products. The Market Surveillance Action on Tyres 2015 (MSTYR15), a project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon2020 programme and coordinated by the Product Safety Forum of Europe (PROSAFE), aims to bring accountability into tyre labelling.
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