The 102-year-old car rental firm Hertz has filed for bankruptcy protection after its business all but vanished during the coronavirus pandemic. Hertz said in a US court filing on Friday that it had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 reorganisation. Its international operating regions including Europe, Australia and New Zealand were not included in the US… Continue reading Car rental firm Hertz files for bankruptcy protection in US
Author: The Guardian Online News
UK’s first car battery ‘gigafactory’ to be built by two startups
Automotive industry AMTE Power and Britishvolt to invest up to £4bn in plant similar to Tesla facility in US The Tesla-Panasonic Gigafactory in Nevada, whose annual battery production has a total capacity of up to 30GWh. The new facility will produce roughly the same. Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters Two British startups have announced plans to invest… Continue reading UK’s first car battery ‘gigafactory’ to be built by two startups
UK farming and car industry to be protected in post-Brexit trade regime
International trade Government sets out plan to cut tariffs, with many import duties to be reduced to zero A car-carrying ship delivers new vehicles to a compound near Sheerness in Kent. The UK plans to keep the tariff of 10% on cars in the post-Brexit trade regime. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Britain’s farmers and carmakers will… Continue reading UK farming and car industry to be protected in post-Brexit trade regime
Aston Martin makes £119m loss in first quarter of 2020
Aston Martin Carmaker’s woes escalate, with 45% fewer cars sold to dealers than in same period last year Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Aston Martin sales slumped by 86% in China, and decreased by 57% and 30% in the Americas and Europe. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/Reuters Aston Martin Lagonda’s losses ballooned to… Continue reading Aston Martin makes £119m loss in first quarter of 2020
Carmaking starts up again as Bentley and Toyota workers return
Automotive industry Plants in north Wales and Crewe reopen as sector begins to ease out of lockdown Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Production has begun again at luxury carmaker Bentley at their factory in Crewe, although about a quarter of staff remain furloughed. Photograph: Bentley Motors Employees at two UK automotive… Continue reading Carmaking starts up again as Bentley and Toyota workers return
Ford set to restart main European car factories on Monday 4 May
Automotive industry Production will begin slowly with UK plants remaining shut until later in the spring An employee works on the production line at the Ford plant in Saarlouis, Germany, in 2007. It is set to reopen on Monday 4 May. Photograph: Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images Ford said it would restart its main European car factories… Continue reading Ford set to restart main European car factories on Monday 4 May
Vauxhall plans physically distanced car production in UK
Automotive industry Ellesmere Port could reopen with workers keeping 2 metres apart amid coronavirus restrictions Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Workers test designated separate work stations on a car assembly line at the Vauxhall factory. Photograph: Colin Mcpherson/Guardian Vauxhall has unveiled a socially distanced manufacturing plan that it hopes will provide… Continue reading Vauxhall plans physically distanced car production in UK
Vauxhall to restart car production amid coronavirus crisis
Vauxhall UK carmaker brings in new safety measures to protect workers Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Recently assembled Vauxhall vehicles are stored in the distribution yard at the Vauxhall car factory in Ellesmere Port Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images One of Britain’s largest carmakers is planning to restart production after putting in… Continue reading Vauxhall to restart car production amid coronavirus crisis
New car sales in UK plunge by 44% as coronavirus bites
Automotive industry Auto plant shutdowns in Europe and North America may cost the industry more than $100bn Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage UK car sales in March were 203,000 down on the same month a year earlier, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Britain’s new… Continue reading New car sales in UK plunge by 44% as coronavirus bites
Carmakers accused of trying to use crisis to avert emissions crackdown
Automotive industry Campaigners describe lobbying of EU to defer impending regulations as shameless Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Carmakers’ association ACEA called on the EU to delay regulations as the pandemic had affected ‘plans to comply’. Photograph: Alamy The motor industry has been accused by campaigners of trying to use the… Continue reading Carmakers accused of trying to use crisis to avert emissions crackdown