Nexen set to begin trial production at new Czech tyre plant
Nexen Tire Europe is due to begin trial production at its new facility in Zatec, the Czech Republic. The news marks the virtual completion of the project that started in October 2015.
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Goodyear drops Dunlop brand in registered name change
Following the news that it is refreshing its Goodyear halo brand as its UHP and luxury go-to moniker, Goodyear Dunlop UK Ltd has confirmed it will be removing Dunlop from its registered company name and in future will therefore be known just as Goodyear.
UK in pole position in £62 billion self-driving car race
A new report published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Frost & Sullivan has found that the UK could be set for a £62bn windfall from connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) by 2030.
The report, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Winning the Global Race to Market, has found that the UK is in pole position in the global race to market for CAVs.
What Car? True MPG: fuel economy closer to reality, but still 4.9% worse than claimed
What Car?’s True MPG testing has revealed that new official fuel economy tests introduced late last year are providing more accurate results than ever before – with some cars even beating the official figures in the real world.
NIRA to supply TPMS for London Taxis
NIRA Dynamics has won a contract to deliver indirect TPMS to LEVC, formerly known as London Taxi Company. And TPI (Tyre Pressure Indicator) has already been installed in the first electric taxi vehicles in London.
Eastern Europe trailer demand up and still growing
According to Clear International, demand for trailers grew by 3.6 per cent in Eastern Europe in 2018. The market has grown every year for the last six years, but that growth has been quite modest. Nevertheless, trailer sales in 2018 were the third highest on record, only surpassed in 2007 and 2008. The forecast for 2023 is that registrations of new trailers will be close to setting an all-time record.
Ford starts exporting cars from South Africa to Europe
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is expanding its vehicle export operations by adopting a multi-port strategy with the first shipment of 1000 locally assembled Ford Rangers from Port Elizabeth to markets in Europe.
Mind the gap: Lack of understanding preventing motorists taking the EV plunge
Conflicting and confusing information on the latest generation of battery electric vehicles has created a ‘knowledge gap’ for potential buyers, holding them back from choosing an EV as their next purchase, a new White Paper from the UK’s leading consumer champion and new car buying platform, What Car? has found.
Michelin Selfseal tyres OE on new Ford Explorer
In the USA, Ford Motor is supplying Michelin Selfseal tyres for the new Ford Explorer. The 2020 Explorer is the first SUV to offer Michelin Selfseal tyres, according to Ford.
New car market stable in February
The UK’s new car market enjoyed marginal growth in February, up 1.4 per cent following five straight months of decline, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 81,969 new cars were registered on UK roads in the month (a year on year uplift of 1,164 units), traditionally one of the quietest of the year, ahead of the crucial March plate change.
Infiniti withdrawing from Europe by 2020
Infiniti Motor Company has announced a restructuring plan that will result in its withdrawal from Western Europe in early 2020. In practical terms this means production of the Q30 and QX30, which are made at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, UK will cease by mid-2019.
Brexit OE tyre red-alert
Is Brexit going to wreak havoc on the automotive business or is it all just another millennium bug flash-in-the-pan? If a no-deal withdrawal does spell havoc, is it going to impact the tyre business as much as the OEMs?
Moody’s: “Credit negative for automakers” would result in more factory closures
A no-deal Brexit “will change operating landscape for global auto industry”, according to credit analysts at Moody’s. Specifically they report that they expect Japanese, UK and some German automakers will see profits hit due to 10 per cent auto tariff and through their exposure to production and trade disruptions. And, suggesting that we should expect further closures, they added that the news would affect “production strategies in the UK and across Europe”.
What does the Bugatti La Voiture Noire drive on?
Electric supercars may have been the talk of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, but the most expensive vehicle there – and anywhere else in the world for the matter – was the Bugatti La Voiture Noire. The Noire features, a carbon fibre body, a 1,500 horsepower 16-cylinder engine and an enormous US$11 million price tag.
Global SUV boom continues…
The latest global SUV market data shows continued growth around the world. Market analyst Felipe Junoz from Jato Dynamics reports that the shift from traditional cars to SUVs began seven years ago and is still going strong. However, there are also signs that growth slowed during the course of 2018. And what’s more the UK remains a world-leading market.
