The Budget is first aid for the motor industry but will not fix underlying long term ailments, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders... ...writes Robin Roberts. “Today’s budget provides some encouragement to an automotive sector hit hard by the pandemic and additional trading costs but it falls short of the support needed to transform the industry and market to the net zero … [Read more...]
News & Views
Our take on what’s been happening in the world of motoring
We appreciate that these days there are vast quantities of motoring news items freely available to all, from huge numbers of global sources. It would be impossible to bring them all to you through these pages – so we are not even going to try!
Instead, we will include selected motoring-related stories which we feel will be of interest. Depending on the item, we hope that they will also inform, encourage, entertain and provoke further thought!
Each item will be dated, and as new stories arrive, older posts will be archived chronologically.
Aston Martin’s St Athan plant will be vital in the company’s future
Aston Martin St Athan plant will play a crucial role in the company's recovery and future plans... ...by Robin Roberts. The luxury car maker will almost double production at St Athan and its Garden, Warwickshire sites this year after working through stock it's held and which has plagued them since its 2018 shares floatation. The British company plans to make 6,000 vehicles this year … [Read more...]
Motor Ombudsman poll reveals car buying at showrooms remains firmly in the driving seat
Car buyers still prefer to visit a retailer, rather than dealing fully online. A YouGov survey commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman showed that nearly two thirds (62%) of UK drivers would prefer to visit a retailer in person this year to buy a new or used car, rather than completing the entire vehicle ordering and purchase process on the internet. Not being able to test … [Read more...]
Free Fun Days (at home) offered by the British Motor Museum
The British Motor Museum seeks to inspire, educate and entertain youngsters... With no ‘days out’ allowed this half-term the British Motor Museum is offering families a range of free fun activities to enjoy from home as a welcome break from home-schooling! These February activities explore future fuels and are available online from the Museum’s website … [Read more...]
Calls for MoT Test changes to incorporate aspects of electric, hybrid and high-tech. modern vehicles
Robin Roberts writes: The MoT test may need a radical shakeup to reflect the arrival of electric power and very sophisticated technology fitted to the latest vehicles. That’s the view of KwikFit, which tests about a million vehicles annually, and head of their service Eric Smith. He points out that currently hybrid models and battery electric vehicles are not tested for emissions and these and … [Read more...]
The Great British Car Journey – Ready to go later in 2021
A brand-new classic car visitor attraction is set to open in Derbyshire later this year... The Great British Car Journey is set to open in summer 2021. The announcement follows the signing of a lease on the former Wire Works site in Ambergate, Derbyshire. The site, which is located just off the A6 in between Derby and Matlock, is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment ahead of Great … [Read more...]
Riversimple Rasa hydrogen/electric powered vehicles to be produced in Wales…
Hydrogen powered vehicles to be built in Wales... Robin Roberts reports. One of the world’s leading technology companies has stepped in to boost plans to build hydrogen vehicles in Wales for global sale. Siemens UK has signed a memorandum of understanding with Riversimple, of Llandrindod Wells to make their Rasa car and a local delivery van. The car is already being prepared for … [Read more...]
Classic Car Loan Project helps young enthusiasts develop and maintain interest in older vehicles
Classics galore available to encourage young enthusiasts into the classic car movement... (All words and photographs kindly provided by Bob Wilkinson, founder and manager of the Classic Car Loan Project). The Classic Car Loan Project was started by long-term classic devotee Bob Wilkinson. Here's what Bob says about his scheme, in his own words, "I started my project as a continuation of the … [Read more...]
British Motor Museum wins prestigious Royal Automobile Club Historic Award
Historic Award won in difficult times... The British Motor Museum has won a prestigious Royal Automobile Club Historic Award in the Collection category. The annual Awards were announced on 28 January and recognise outstanding achievements within the British historic motoring and motorsport world. The judges had an impressive and diverse list of candidates across all 8 categories to scrutinise. … [Read more...]
Fix Auto UK repair centre network now accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Code of Practice for Service and Repair
The Motor Ombudsman welcomes Fix Auto UK repair centre network to its Service and Repair Code... Fix Auto UK’s nationwide network of 107 wholly owned and franchise body repair centres are now accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair The comprehensive and long-established CTSI-approved Code commits businesses to delivering an … [Read more...]
New Chair for The Motor Ombudsman Board of Directors
Ron Gainsford OBE appointed Chair of The Motor Ombudsman’s Board of Directors Ron Gainsford OBE is named the new Chair of The Motor Ombudsman’s Board of Directors after having served as a Non-Executive Director for The Motor Ombudsman and Motor Codes since 2013 Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT, steps down as Chair, but remains a Board member During a career that has … [Read more...]
Ford Escort Mark 1 and 2 bespoke re-creations arrive
New Welsh supercars with familiar look… …By Robin Roberts (Wheels Within Wales). (All photographs ©Images MST Cars). They’re new supercars coming out of Wales, with familiar faces… After the launch of the Aston Martin DBX from its new state of the art St Athan factory in South Wales last year, altogether different cars are being built in a small industrial unit in North Wales. While the … [Read more...]
Nissan confirms faith in Sunderland plant, and X-Trail seven seater Road Test
Nissan commits to the UK, says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). News announced today, 22nd January 2021, the Japanese car manufacturer has committed to continuing long-term production of some of its models in the UK following the recent post Brexit trade deal with the EU. The Sunderland Plant had recently been operating at less than half its 500,000 annual capacity and has 6,000 direct … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips – Run the engine frequently to avoid alternator (and other) woes…
Kim says, “Cars don’t take kindly to long periods out of use; if possible run the engine often, and on each occasion move the vehicle forwards and backwards a little, to prevent mechanical seizures”. Just one of the many unforeseen aspects of the awful pandemic through which we are living is that many cars, and especially some classics, have been used very little, if at all, during the last 10 … [Read more...]
Rolls-Royce buyers explore Bespoke options galore during the last year
Rolls-Royce clients seek solace in Bespoke creativity during 2020... Kim says... "I realise that not all Wheels-Alive readers will be buying a Rolls-Royce motor car, at least not this year, but thought that you might be interested to see this fascinating array of innovative design work, which shows just what is possible. I hope you enjoy this look into a world which takes … [Read more...]
Significant Lotus anniversaries during 2021
Lotus has always produced remarkable sporting vehicles, and 2021 sees many anniversaries for the firm... Watch this space: Wheels-Alive is aiming to bring you more information about these cars as we move through this year. There are numerous significant anniversaries for Lotus to celebrate in 2021. The firm tells us that they will deliver more detail on these cars – and the fabulous stories … [Read more...]
TVR factory preparation and conversion starts
Welsh Government and TVR will begin work on its Ebbw Vale factory renovation and enhancement programme in mid-January, writes Robin Roberts. Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd has been awarded the principal contract for works including replacement of the main building’s roof, the recladding of the building, extensive groundworks and also preparation of a prototype build area at the side of the intended … [Read more...]
Electric cars charge ahead…
Electric cars power ahead of internal combusion engine models, as Robin Roberts explains... Despite the wider car industry suffering badly from the effects of the pandemic, 2020 was a landmark year when it came to sales of battery electric vehicles with twice as many sold last year compared to the year before, and a total of more than 200,000 registered since 2010, analysis of SMMT figures by the … [Read more...]
UK New car sales review
Review of new cars sold in Britain last year, by Robin Roberts. The UK new car market fell by almost a third (-29.4%) in 2020, with annual registrations dropping to 1,631,064 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. A -10.9% decline in December wrapped up a turbulent 12 months, which saw demand fall by 680,076 units to the lowest level of registrations since … [Read more...]
Do you live in the EU but have a UK-issued driving licence? Read this!
Driving after Brexit: Licence exchange for UK licence holders resident in Europe... by Dave Moss. Following Britain's departure from the EU, if you live and drive in any EU country, or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, and hold a UK-issued driving licence, you will need to exchange it for a local one. To arrange this, in some cases you might need a medical examination, or have to … [Read more...]
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