The UK’s car industry has hit out at the government over unconfirmed reports ministers will target hybrid vehicles as part of a new emissions crackdown. New cars unable to do at least 50 miles on electric power may be banned by 2040, a ruling that would hit the UK’s best-selling hybrid, Toyota’s Prius. The SMMT… Continue reading Car industry on alert over reports some hybrids face a ban
Author: BBC News
Diesel emissions scandal: Ex-VW boss Winterkorn charged in US
Former Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn has been charged by US prosecutors in Detroit over the diesel emissions scandal. He has been accused of conspiring to mislead regulators about the German car maker’s efforts to cheat the emissions tests of its diesel-fuelled vehicles. Volkswagen did not immediately comment. An indictment filed in secret in March… Continue reading Diesel emissions scandal: Ex-VW boss Winterkorn charged in US
Elon Musk: No ‘bonehead’ analyst questions please
Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk made the unusual choice of vetoing “boring” questions during Tesla’s latest earnings call. Tesla posted a record quarterly loss of almost $710m (£523m) for the three months to March – more than double the same period last year. Following a series of probing financial questions posed by analysts, Mr Musk decided… Continue reading Elon Musk: No ‘bonehead’ analyst questions please
Is Tesla heading for trouble?
Tesla is facing more questions about its financial viability ahead of its latest results on Wednesday. The electric car-maker is facing a cash crunch, caused by a combination of a major debt load and heavy spending. Tesla boss Elon Musk says the firm could be profitable this year and dismissed concerns with an April Fool’s… Continue reading Is Tesla heading for trouble?
Ford car window helps blind passengers ‘feel’ the view
Ford is developing a new smart car window to let blind passengers experience the passing landscape. A prototype, called Feel the View, uses high-contrast photos to reproduce scenery using LED lights. Passengers can touch the display to feel different shades of grey vibrate at different intensities. The Royal National Institute of Blind People said the… Continue reading Ford car window helps blind passengers ‘feel’ the view
UK car output slumps on poor demand
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 Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said poor weather had affected production. But it said that double-digit falls in output for the both home market and exports… Continue reading UK car output slumps on poor demand
End doubts over diesel’s future, says Ford boss
Media playback is unsupported on your device Uncertainty about the future of diesel is threatening the UK car industry and leaving drivers in limbo, according to Ford’s UK boss. Andy Barratt said consumers were buying fewer diesel cars, fearing they were polluting and will face new taxes. However, he claimed new diesels were “every bit… Continue reading End doubts over diesel’s future, says Ford boss
Nissan to cut hundreds of UK jobs
Nissan is to cut hundreds of jobs at its Sunderland car plant, as diesel sales decline. The carmaker builds its Qashqai and Juke models at the north-eastern England site, where it employs 7,000 people. As well as a fall in the demand for its diesel cars, the job losses relate to a switch in production… Continue reading Nissan to cut hundreds of UK jobs
Vauxhall slims down dealer network
Vauxhall plans to reduce its dealership total by about a third as consumers change the way they buy cars. The brand, which was bought by Peugeot’s parent company PSA last year, plans to reduce the total from 326 to about 200. The move is part of a PSA drive to return the loss-making Vauxhall and… Continue reading Vauxhall slims down dealer network
Jaguar Land Rover to shed 1,000 contract staff
Jaguar Land Rover says it will not be renewing the contracts of 1,000 temporary workers in Solihull. The company blamed the “continuing headwinds impacting the car industry” for the move. It said it was continuing to recruit large numbers of engineers and apprentices and it remained “committed to its UK plants. Earlier this year it… Continue reading Jaguar Land Rover to shed 1,000 contract staff