Manufacturing – Page 12420 – I wish I had more to offer

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..

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

BMW have less subsidies for the plant in Leipzig

BMW can claim no further subsidies from the state for the construction of electrical production at the Leipzig plant. This has been decided by the court of the European Union. BMW plant in Leipzig Tuesday, 12.09.2017 12:51 clock BMW stand for the production of electric cars in Leipzig, according to a ruling of the EU… Continue reading BMW have less subsidies for the plant in Leipzig

Fiat Chrysler participates in Alliance for Robot Cars

Fiat Chrysler is the first manufacturer to join the BMW Alliance for self-driving cars. This is growing the alliance against powerful IT rivals from the Silicon Valley. Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne Wednesday, 16.08.2017 13:26 clock Fiat Chrysler wants to work with you in the future BMW and the US chip specialist Intel Assistance Systems… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler participates in Alliance for Robot Cars

BMW wants to mount electric mini in Oxford

Even after the EU exit, BMW wants to remain true to Britain: The new electric mini will run from 2019 at the parent plant Oxford from the tape. DPA / BMW AG Mini production at the British Oxford plant Tuesday, 25.07.2017 16:17 The carmaker BMW wants his all-electric new Mini from 2019 despite the upcoming… Continue reading BMW wants to mount electric mini in Oxford

Everything on a map

Audi, BMW and Daimler paid around three billion euros for the map service Here. Why? Digital maps are the key to the car of the future. HERE Berlin Wednesday, 13.04.2016 20:22 clock The office in the Invalidenstraße in Berlin-Mitte is inconspicuous: Simple furniture, bright walls. Only a white cockpit in the corner indicates that this… Continue reading Everything on a map