Small savers against VW – a process marathon

337,000 Germans once saved on a “KdF car” and never got the dreamed car, after the war their money was gone. When they sued Volkswagen, the group resisted with all the harassment. Getty Images / Culture Club Tuesday, 01.05.2018 09:56 clock Due to the diesel gate scandal Volkswagen AG is currently threatened with damages claims… Continue reading Small savers against VW – a process marathon

Skoda employees receive twelve percent more wages

End of a week-long dispute: Skoda increases the salary for its employees in the Czech Republic by twelve percent. The automaker is one of the largest and most important employers in the country. Skoda Vision X Friday, 06.04.2018 22:19 The employees of the Czech VW subsidiary Skoda get twelve percent more money. The Kovo union… Continue reading Skoda employees receive twelve percent more wages

“Engineered with Daimler Group” DENZA 400 EV Makes Debut in Auto Shanghai

Shanghai, April 19, 2017—The 17th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai) will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 19-28th, 2017. At the exhibition, Shenzhen DENZA New Energy Automotive Co., Ltd. (DENZA Auto) will debut the DENZA 400 EV at the 4.1 Exhibition Hall. In sync with this debut,… Continue reading “Engineered with Daimler Group” DENZA 400 EV Makes Debut in Auto Shanghai

The seemingly impossible car

Arjo van der Ham — Co-Founder

Technology today is evolving faster than ever. When you stop and think about it, the possibilities seem endless. Every day, a lot of great (or to be honest, most of the time not-so-great) ideas pop into my, our, or your head. Although the seemingly impossible ideas are hard to achieve, it does not have to imply that they are bad ideas. That’s why at Lightyear we like to do some quick back-of-the-envelope calculations to check the feasibility of some of those ideas.

Before we founded Lightyear, we used to meet every Thursday evening to do just that. After concluding that we wanted to start a business to make this world a better place by combating climate change, we started looking for the best solution. The first step we took was to investigate the underlying causes of human induced climate change, and we quickly found the following graph:

Total greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands, 2014, World Resources Institute.

We were s..

Lightyear wins €100 000 in Postcode Lottery Green Challenge

Martijn Lammers — Co-Founder

We have joined the finalists on stage at the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. The four other finalists came from all over the world to pitch their companies in front of an international jury (http://www.greenchallenge.info/info/juries). Lightyear will use the 100,000 euro cash prize to accelerate the development of their first car, the Lightyear One. Several preliminary rounds preceded the finals. Out of a total of over 500 companies the five finalists remained.

“All the problems we have had with zero emissions vehicles, those belong to the past now.” – Lex Hoefsloot, CEO of Lightyear during his pitch at the Green Challenge finals.

On June 29, 2017 the Dutch startup Lightyear officially announced their plans to bring a commercial solar car to the market in 2019. The first vehicle, the Lightyear One, is an electric four-wheel drive car that can handle rough terrain and has a battery range of 800 kilometers, charged by the sun. Production of th..

Asset finance up 7% in October

13 December 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 7% in October, compared with the same month last year.
The plant and machinery finance and business equipment finance sectors reported new business up in October by 6% and 13% respectively, compared with the same month in 2016, while new finance for IT equipment was up by 22% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“Growth in the asset finance market was broad-based in October, with most of the main asset sectors reporting increases in new business.
“The industry is on course to report a record level of annual new business in 2017 of around £32 billion.”
Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Oct
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Oct
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,672
+7
7,625
+1
31,771
+5
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,665
+9
7,568
+3
30,772
+7
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
489
+6
1,485
+1
6,518
+12
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
660
+5
1,883
0
7,520
+2
IT equipment finance (£m)
195
+22
579
+4
2,248
0
Business equipment finance (£m)
196
+13
603
+8
2,585
+12
Car finance (£m)
911
+8
2,413
+2
9,833
+6
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
17
-64
44
-52
586
+10
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,395
+6
3,786
+1
15,585
+4
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
505
+14
1,478
+5
5,785
+13
Sales finance (£m)
765
+11
2,304
+7
9,403
+7
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
328
+5
945
+1
4,005
-3
Operating leasing (£m)
553
-1
1,678
-2
7,057
+6
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,519
+14
4,148
+5
16,765
+10
Other finance (£m)
271
-5
855
-11
3,944
-5
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance market provides support to key sectors in February

6 April 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) for deals of up to £20 million fell in February by 1%, compared with the same month last year.
The plant and machinery finance and IT equipment finance sectors reported new business growth in February of 5% and 13% respectively, compared with the same month in 2017. By contrast, new business for commercial vehicles and business equipment fell by 7% and 20% respectively over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“Many asset sectors reported further growth in February despite it being a quieter month overall.
“The asset finance market continued to support key economic sectors with new finance for construction and agricultural equipment up by 13% and 9% respectively, compared with February 2017. The manufacturing sector also benefitted as new finance for production and process equipment was 47% higher over the same period.”
Feb 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Feb
2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Feb
2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,006
-6
6,975
+1
31,718
+4
Total excluding high value (£m)
1,952
-1
6,413
-1
29,980
+5
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
491
+5
1,512
+4
6,629
+10
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
479
-7
1,532
-9
7,425
0
IT equipment finance (£m)
169
+13
594
+19
2,380
+5
Business equipment finance (£m)
170
-20
587
-2
2,554
+4
Car finance (£m)
552
+5
1,767
-1
9,517
+5
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
9
-89
72
-58
472
-8
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
948
-3
3,131
-3
14,968
+3
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
450
+10
1,369
+7
5,733
+11
Sales finance (£m)
554
-4
1,913
-1
9,279
+6
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
262
+17
909
+5
3,848
+7
Operating leasing (£m)
390
-10
1,325
-9
6,699
0
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,146
-3
3,514
-1
16,876
+6
Other finance (£m)
165
-34
788
-7
3,228
-8
Note to editors:
In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £32 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance market kicks off 2018 with new business growth

21 March 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) for deals of up to £20 million grew by 4% in January, compared with the same month last year. Including high value deals, new business increased by 3% over the same period.
The plant and machinery finance and business equipment finance sectors each reported new business up in January by 8% compared with the same month in 2017, while new finance for commercial vehicles fell by 4% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance market made a positive start to 2018 with further solid growth in new finance for plant and machinery and business equipment. In particular, new business for agricultural equipment in January was 21% higher than in the same month in 2017.
“We expect asset finance new business growth in 2018 as a whole to be at a similar rate to 2017.”
Jan 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Jan
2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Jan
2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,337
+3
7,523
+3
31,842
+5
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,131
+4
6,926
+2
30,038
+6
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
509
+8
1,520
+4
6,654
+11
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
480
-4
1,748
-4
7,462
0
IT equipment finance (£m)
133
+29
663
+14
2,315
+3
Business equipment finance (£m)
191
+8
633
+5
2,596
+7
Car finance (£m)
608
-2
1,928
-2
9,493
+4
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
28
-14
71
-36
545
+24
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,066
0
3,326
-3
15,047
+3
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
442
+8
1,444
+12
5,690
+11
Sales finance (£m)
622
+10
2,155
+3
9,301
+7
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
246
0
939
-1
3,809
+6
Operating leasing (£m)
425
-2
1,519
-3
6,744
+1
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,166
0
3,763
0
16,907
+6
Other finance (£m)
359
+10
826
+7
3,313
-3
Note to editors:
In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £32 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance new business more than £3.3 billion in March

11 May 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 5% in March, compared with the same month last year, and by 3% in Q1 2018 overall.
New finance for business equipment grew in March by 13% compared with the same month in 2017. Over the same period, the plant and machinery finance and commercial vehicle finance sectors reported falls in new business of 9% and 2% respectively.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance market recorded its third highest monthly new business total in March at more than £3.3 billion. However, the latest figures reflect some of the recent slowdown in the UK economy, with new finance for agricultural and construction equipment 1% and 8% lower in March than in the same month in 2017.”
Mar 2018
% change on prev. year
3 months to Mar
2018
% change on prev. year
12 months to Mar
2018
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
3,325
-5
7,668
-3
31,459
+3
Total excluding high value (£m)
3,229
-3
7,316
-1
29,782
+3
Data Extracts:By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
654
-9
1,652
-1
6,561
+7
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
849
-2
1,813
-4
7,412
-1
IT equipment finance (£m)
196
-24
497
-3
2,318
+2
Business equipment finance (£m)
259
+13
622
+1
2,586
+5
Car finance (£m)
1,041
-7
2,200
-3
9,357
+2
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
33
-39
66
-61
448
-18
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,652
+1
3,693
-1
14,940
+1
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
579
-4
1,451
+4
5,720
+8
Sales finance (£m)
998
-10
2,172
-2
9,122
+4
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
406
-1
914
+4
3,843
+5
Operating leasing (£m)
714
-13
1,531
-11
6,534
-3
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,835
+1
4,151
0
16,865
+4
Other finance (£m)
304
-19
824
-14
3,150
-6
Note to editors:
In 2017, FLA members provided £128 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £32 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2017.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Bosch fixes delivery problem at BMW

BMW lacked steering gearboxes for many models, so the carmaker had to restrict production at three locations. Now the supplier Bosch has solved the problem. BMW plant Leipzig Wednesday, 31.05.2017 11:37 clock Automotive supplier Bosch has allegedly remedied its delivery problems with BMW. Since Wednesday, the car company get back electric steering, said Bosch. The… Continue reading Bosch fixes delivery problem at BMW