Automotive Industry Digest

TTC Group's Business Driver launches new virtual in-vehicle driver training

TTC Group's Business Driver fleet risk management subsidiary has developed a new virtual in-vehicle driver training course utilising state-of-the-art dashcam technology for live, two-way interaction.

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is fastest production car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife

25/11/2020

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is fastest production car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife

How close the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (fuel consumption combined: 12.8 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 292 g/km)[1] actually is to motorsport has now been impressively demonstrated by GT3 racer Maro Engel on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring.

Licence Bureau reiterates No Need to Speed message to business

25/11/2020

Licence Bureau reiterates No Need to Speed message to business

Licence Bureau, part of the TTC Group, is adding its weight to Road Safety Week (16-22 November) by reiterating the message – No Need to Speed – to all business drivers and fleet operators.

Alphabet keeps Medequip key workers on the move

25/11/2020

Alphabet keeps Medequip key workers on the move

Supporting local authorities and the NHS across the UK, Medequip Assistive Technology is the leading provider of community healthcare equipment and support to people in their homes, helping keep people independent for longer.

Crackdown on speeding outside schools supported by more than four in five motorists

25/11/2020

fleetfile

Crackdown on speeding outside schools supported by more than four in five motorists

During Road Safety Week the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is highlighting findings from its annual Safety Culture Study.

Road Safety Week: we can all make a difference, says GEM

25/11/2020

Road Safety Week: we can all make a difference, says GEM

Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging everyone to get involved in Road Safety Week (16 to 22 November).

Men three times more likely to drive above 100mph than women, Brake finds

25/11/2020

Men three times more likely to drive above 100mph than women, Brake finds

More than a quarter (28%) of male drivers admit they have driven above 100mph, more than three times the number of women (9%), new research from Brake suggests.

4x4x470: new 2021 V8 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 392

25/11/2020

4x4x470: new 2021 V8 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 392

For enthusiasts who crave soul-stirring, legendary off-road performance and a new level of on-road performance, Jeep® has introduced the V8-powered 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 for customers in the North American market.

Sales of new petrol and diesel cars to end by 2030

25/11/2020

Politics and Regulations

Sales of new petrol and diesel cars to end by 2030

Reacting to the news that the Government is to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said:

Ford Telematics now available with multi-make functionality

25/11/2020

Ford Telematics now available with multi-make functionality

Ford has extended the functionality of its Ford Telematics fleet management tool to include data on vehicles from other manufacturers. The new multi-make functionality enables fleet managers to manage and optimise all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer, through the easy-to-use Ford Telematics desktop app.

Majority of drivers left stumped by 'garage speak'

25/11/2020

Majority of drivers left stumped by 'garage speak'

More than half of drivers (56%) say they've been left struggling to understand the language used by garages when describing faults with cars and what needs to be done to fix them, new RAC Breakdown research shows.*

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the UK’s favourite plug-in hybrid commerical vehicle

25/11/2020

Light Commercial Vehicles

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the UK’s favourite plug-in hybrid commerical vehicle

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is not only the UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid passenger SUV, with 3,167 sales from January to the end of October 2020, it is also the UK’s favourite PHEV commercial vehicle, with an additional 235 specially-converted units sold so far in 2020. Compared to the same period in 2019,

Pop-Up Motor Show sees almost 18,000 guests in October as plans for 2021 gather pace

25/11/2020

Pop-Up Motor Show sees almost 18,000 guests in October as plans for 2021 gather pace

An entirely new concept in automotive exhibitions has been hailed a huge success after attracting almost 18,000 visitors in its first two weeks of opening, despite operating at limited capacity to meet government “Good to Go” guidelines.

Flying Spur V8 production and deliveries underway

25/11/2020

Flying Spur V8 production and deliveries underway

The new Flying Spur V8 has entered full production at Bentley’s Crewe headquarters, the world’s first carbon neutral factory for luxury car manufacture, with the car now formally certified and the first cars on their way to retailers and customers.

Chancellor considering options for a national road pricing scheme - drivers' views

25/11/2020

Politics and Regulations

Chancellor considering options for a national road pricing scheme - drivers' views

Following reports that the Chancellor is considering options for a national road pricing scheme to stem falling fuel duty revenue, RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said:

Jaguar Land Rover develops smart city hub to test self-driving vehicle technology

25/11/2020

Jaguar Land Rover develops smart city hub to test self-driving vehicle technology

Jaguar Land Rover is partnering with global software, mobility and telecoms companies to create a smart city hub that will allow real-world testing of connected technology where self-driving vehicles share the streets with cars, pedestrians and cyclists.

MotoNovo release online reservation tool to help dealers through lockdown

25/11/2020

MotoNovo release online reservation tool to help dealers through lockdown

MotoNovo Finance has launched a new digital reservation tool that will be free until the end of February that supports the move to online car sales 24x7 which is ideal for the lockdown restrictions now in place across much of the UK.

Mini Vision Urbanaut. Make it your space

25/11/2020

Mini Vision Urbanaut. Make it your space

The MINI brand is using #NEXTGen to present, in a world exclusive, the MINI Vision Urbanaut – an all-new interpretation of a vision of space. This digital vision vehicle offers more interior space and versatility than ever before, but still on a minimal footprint.

25/11/2020

Residual Value Update

'Business as usual' for motor auctions

UK motor auctions have told the National Association of Motor Auctions (NAMA) it is ‘business as usual’ despite the four-week lockdown in England and the additional restrictions across the country.

25/11/2020

Wave and point: DS Automobiles shows contact-free controls which feel like buttons

DS Automobiles is working with Ultraleap, a global leader in human-machine interface technologies, to bring cutting-edge mid-air haptic and hand tracking technology to future DS models; in a move that could spell the end for touchscreens and buttons.

2030 petrol and diesel ban could cause far reaching economic damage say PRA

25/11/2020

Politics and Regulations

2030 petrol and diesel ban could cause far reaching economic damage say PRA

Brian Madderson, Chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), said: “The PRA supports the process of decarbonisation, but we need a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions that works across sectors and industries, including aviation.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Kaluza join forces to explore electric vehicle smart charging services

25/11/2020

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Kaluza join forces to explore electric vehicle smart charging services

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles[1], a leading global automaker, and Kaluza, a leading intelligent energy platform, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at exploring how to deliver cheaper, simpler and more sustainable EV charging services to FCA’s customers through Kaluza’s pioneering cloud platform.

UK’s electric new car buyers have their sights on a switch

25/11/2020

UK’s electric new car buyers have their sights on a switch

Carwow reports steady rise in AFV sales which now represent 15% of all purchases made by its customers

Government reveals five days of festive freedom – AA comments

25/11/2020

Government reveals five days of festive freedom – AA comments

Following the announcement earlier this evening that the four UK nations have agreed five days of partially relaxed rules for Christmas*, Edmund King, AA president, said: "Two fifths (40%**) of drivers who had already cancelled festive travel plans may have been wary of risk to their loved ones – or perhaps secretly happy to avoid a visit to the in

Spin launches UK’s first micromobility research fund

25/11/2020

Spin launches UK’s first micromobility research fund

Ford-owned e-scooter firm Spin is living up to its commitment to empower riders with the freedom to move safely around their community with the launch of a new £100,000 Micromobility Research Fund in the UK.

Tornado Project leads the way in taking autonomy beyond the city

25/11/2020

Tornado Project leads the way in taking autonomy beyond the city

Groupe Renault has completed a ground-breaking three-year research project in France exploring and understanding the technology required and conditions needed for autonomous vehicles to work away from built-up urban areas. The trial was made up of two key experiments, including one completed using a specially developed autonomous Renault ZOE.

Christmas pressures after an unprecedented year means the van community is digging deep, according to latest Mercedes-Benz Vans business barometer

25/11/2020

Light Commercial Vehicles

Christmas pressures after an unprecedented year means the van community is digging deep, according to latest Mercedes-Benz Vans business barometer

There has been a well-documented increase in online shopping as a result of the pandemic this year, putting a greater workload on the shoulders of the nation’s van community. With more pressure on deliveries

Hyundai Motor announces name of its all-new SUV: Hyundai Bayon

25/11/2020

Hyundai Motor announces name of its all-new SUV: Hyundai Bayon

Hyundai Motor has revealed the name of a new crossover SUV model: Hyundai Bayon. Coming to the European market in the first half of 2021, Bayon will be a fully-new model and an important addition to the current Hyundai SUV line-up.

78% sold and £8million in sales for Silverstone Auctions 2020 NEC classic live online auction

25/11/2020