Northern Ireland-based haulier Manfreight has put into service the last of an order of 100 Schmitz Cargobull S.KO Cool semi-trailers, delivering chilled and ambient goods across the UK and Ireland. Manfreight’s order comprised 60 standard semi-trailers – split equally between single and multi-temperature – and 40 ‘high cube’ reefers with single-temperature refrigeration units. The latter… Continue reading Manfreight acquires 100 new Schmitz Cargobull reefers
Author: SMMT_UK_Manufacturers Official News
First Bus builds battery storage site at Hampshire depot
First Bus has built a new battery storage facility at its Hoeford depot in Hampshire that will store surplus electricity so it can be distributed back into the country’s power network at peak times. Batteries which have reached the end of their useful bus life can be removed from the company’s vehicles and used for… Continue reading First Bus builds battery storage site at Hampshire depot
Five minutes with… Richard Owens, Group Marketing Manager, Don-Bur
Describe Don-Bur’s new status as IOSH Accredited Training Provider? Don-Bur is now an IOSH Accredited Training Provider – a significant leap forward in our ongoing commitment to health and safety across our sites. This new capability allows us to deliver the IOSH ‘Managing Safely’ course internally, providing tailored training to our managers and supervisors in line with… Continue reading Five minutes with… Richard Owens, Group Marketing Manager, Don-Bur
Electric van demand doubles as overall market shrinks again
New light commercial vehicle (LCV) market contraction continues with -13.3% decline in August. Demand doubles (109.5%) for battery electric vans (BEVs), which pushes share to new high of 13.0%. Year-to-date BEV share rises to 9.1% but still far below mandated ambition of 16% for 2025, with steep ground to recover. Data download UK demand for… Continue reading Electric van demand doubles as overall market shrinks again
A brighter picture for UK car manufacturing
The latest SMMT data published yesterday shows UK car output rose for a second month in July, welcome news for a sector facing extraordinarily complex challenges. Manufacturers continue to navigate weak consumer confidence, suppressed markets and volatile trade conditions, all while investing billions in new technologies and plant upgrades, so last month’s growth is testament… Continue reading A brighter picture for UK car manufacturing
A tough July for CV output
SMMT today published the latest UK production figures for commercial vehicles with 2,879 buses, coaches, vans, taxis and trucks rolling off factory floors in July. That is -81.1% below the same month last year, reflecting plant restructuring but also a strong July 2024 performance, which saw the biggest volumes for the month in 17 years.… Continue reading A tough July for CV output
Five minutes with… Ben Smith, Managing Director, Electra Commercial Vehicles
Tell us about Electra EXchange? At Electra EXchange, we provide a service where companies can trade in their diesel vehicles to have them electrified. We believe this can work in a multitude of ways such as – a new chassis with an old body, old chassis and new body, or old chassis and old body.… Continue reading Five minutes with… Ben Smith, Managing Director, Electra Commercial Vehicles
Dealer moves: Changes in the CV dealership sector
A series of changes in the truck and van dealership sector in recent months have seen takeovers of existing organisations, new sites unveiled as well as management and ownership changes. Among them is Chassis Cab which, following significant investment, has moved from its site in Isleham, Cambridgeshire to a new facility in nearby Newmarket. Chassis… Continue reading Dealer moves: Changes in the CV dealership sector
TIP offers new trial-before-hire e-reefer programme
Rental and leasing company TIP is encouraging operators to try its electric reefer trailer products without committing to a hire contract, in order to better understand the operational and financial aspects. With minimum trial periods of four weeks, the provider is offering customers three types of e-reefer systems for trial and hire. Firstly, its trailers… Continue reading TIP offers new trial-before-hire e-reefer programme
Go-Ahead invests in London Operations Control Centre
Go-Ahead London has opened its new Operations Control Centre (OCC), designed to improve the reliability and punctuality of bus services for its more than one million daily customers. Consolidating Go-Ahead London’s six OCCs into one purpose-built facility, the new OCC will monitor and co-ordinate the operation of the company’s services 24 hours a day, seven… Continue reading Go-Ahead invests in London Operations Control Centre