Ferdinand Piech resigns as Volkswagen Group chairman

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April 25, 2015

Ferdinand Piech has abruptly resigned as chairman of the Volkswagen Group after openly criticising his CEO Martin Winterkorn.

In a Volkswagen Group statement, it was announced that “Professor Dr. Ferdinand K. Piëch has resigned with immediate effect from his position as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and from all his mandates as a Supervisory Board member within the Volkswagen Group”.

His wife Ursula has also resigned.

The executive committee of the supervisory board of Volkswagen Group – which, as per German business practice, oversees the main management board – today met to discuss what it described as “the situation”.

Its conclusion? “The members of the Executive Committee have unanimously determined that in view of the background of the last weeks the mutual trust necessary for successful cooperation no longer exists.”

Deputy chairman Berthold Huber will temporarily assume Piech’s chairmanship.

Piech’s Porsche roots

Piech is the son of Louise, the daughter of Ferdinand Porsche. A brilliant engineer, he joined Porsche after studying mechanical engineering and, after designing a five-cylinder engine for Mercedes-Benz in the interim, moved to Audi and pushed through models such as the 80, 100 and Ur Quattro.

He succeeded Carl Hahn as chairman of Volkswagen AG, turning around the company and its constituent brands. Audi, for example, developed from a German curio into one of the world’s largest premium car brands under his leadership.

Piech also ‘engineered out’ executives that he deemed failures: Berndt Pischetsreider of Volkswagen and Wendelin Wiedeking of Porsche were all hugely successful industry leaders who nevertheless fell under Piech’s watch.

In a statement, Porsche holding company Porsche SE said: “We have full confidence in the board of management of Volkswagen Group and we deeply regret the developments of the last few days.

“We thank Ferdinand Piëch for his decades of extraordinary and highly successful service to the Volkswagen Group. Our great loyalty to the Volkswagen Group and its 600,000 employees remains unchanged and we assume our responsibility as a principal shareholder.”

Mitsubishi hits out at ‘irresponsible’ claims that MPG figures are misleading

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Andrew Brady

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April 23, 2015

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Mitsubishi has responded to claims by Which? that manufacturers are misleading buyers with their MPG figures, admitting that the official test is ‘outdated’ and meant for ‘comparison purposes’ only.

Which? claimed that manufacturers use a number of loopholes that lead to unrealistic official MPG figures, with 98% of cars it tested failing to achieve the official fuel economy.

The organisation identified 17 cars that performed the worst compared to claimed figures – with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV apparently overstating its MPG by 120%.

But Mitsubishi Motors UK managing director Lance Bradley disputed the claims.

He said: “The current test regime for emissions and fuel consumption test is outdated and does the industry no favours but the suggestion that we in some way are misleading car buyers is well wide of the mark and irresponsible.”

All manufacturers are required to put their cars through a strict official test, called the NEDC (New European Drive Cycle). This has been around since the 1970s and, Mitsubishi says, makes no account of new plug-in hybrid technology.

As the Outlander PHEV can be driven under electric power alone, it can complete part of its journey (32.5 miles officially) without using any fuel. This affects the official fuel consumption tests.

If the vehicle is used mainly for lots of small journeys between charges it will use very little fuel, meaning it’ll be more efficient than the official 148mpg figure.

Alternatively, if it is used for long journeys without being charged, it’ll use considerably more fuel.

In a statement, the manufacturer said: “Even the 67.3 MPG suggested by Which? is good for a large 4×4 SUV like Outlander.

“Mitsubishi Motors UK has always made real life MPG very clear in its advertising and printed material. At the Outlander PHEV’s launch several top motoring magazines all reported on the ‘refreshing honesty’ with which the company had presented its real life MPG expectations.”

At last month’s Geneva Motor Show, Bradley told Motoring Research that the new ASX crossover, due next year, will be offered with a hybrid powertrain for the first time.

Vauxhall: ‘Most Corsa VXR buyers are under 30’

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Richard Aucock

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April 15, 2015

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Vauxhall has revealed nearly everyone who buys a new Corsa VXR is aged between 19-29 – and it’s new car finance that’s helping them ‘live their dream’.

Dougie McColm, brand manager for VXR, explained that such buyers – mainly male, likely to be living at home, “live for their car. They save hard, go without nights out and are dedicated to getting the car that they want.

“Cars like the Corsa VXR carry huge bragging rights with their mates and they want to be first in the neighbourhood with the latest model.”

And the fact list prices start at £17,995 for the new Corsa VXR – or £20,395 for the must-have VXR Performance Pack – is no barrier either, because of flexible PCP car finance.

“They work hard to pull the deposit together but then, so long as they have a few hundred pounds spare each month, they can easily cover the finance payments.”

Because it’s a modern car with ample stability control systems and theft protection, insurance isn’t as frightening as some may think, either: “It’s certainly attainable for most people in the market for one,” said McColm.

The firm will reveal what it describes as a ‘very competitive’ PCP package for the new Corsa VXR ahead of its showroom debut on 1 May. Because of the flexibility it offers, McColm predicts around half will upgrade to the track-focused Performance Pack, despite its added expense.

“£2,400 is a lot as a one-off payment, but on PCP, it’s £30 a month. For many buyers, it’s thus almost a no-brainer.”

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Drivers still confused about smart motorways

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Tim Pitt

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April 14, 2015

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The smart motorway is celebrating its first birthday, yet evidence suggests drivers are confused about how to use them.

Smart motorways allow drivers to use the hard shoulder during busy periods. Electronic signs on the overhead gantries are used to warn of incidents ahead, plus there are refuge areas for emergencies.

However, a survey from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) found 71% per cent of drivers feel less safe on a motorway with no hard shoulder.

Equally, 40% were concerned about the ability of monitoring systems, such as traffic detectors and CCTV, to protect them if they needed to pull over and stop.

England’s first ‘all-lane running’ motorway was a stretch of the M25 between junctions 23 and 25, opened on 14 April 2014. Similar schemes are now in operation on the M1, M4, M5, M6, M42 and M62.

IAM chief exec, Sarah Sillars, said: “Some are still confused and nervous about using smart motorways – if they are aware of them at all.” The organisation has produced a set of tips explaining what the electronic signs mean on smart motorways:

Red cross without flashing beacons: hard shoulder only for use in an emergency or breakdown
Speed limit inside a red circle: a mandatory limit that may have cameras enforcing it
Blank signal: usual motorway rules apply
White arrow with flashing beacons: applies to all lanes and means you should move into the lane that the arrow points to
Red cross with flashing beacons: You should not continue to use the lane
National speed limit sign is shown: 70mph maximum speed limit, which applies to all lanes apart from the hard shoulder

According to Sillars, the best way to raise awareness of smart motorways is “to allow learner drivers to use motorways under expert supervision.”

HALF of vans on British roads officially deemed ‘unsafe’

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Richard Aucock

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April 14, 2015

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The SMMT has revealed shock figures that expose worryingly poor levels of safety among Britain’s van users.

One in two vans will fail the annual MOT test due to a safety defect and, more worryingly, two in three vans stopped by the roadside by the DVSA each hear have a serious mechanical defect.

A staggering 9 in 10 vans were found to be overloaded.

The spiralling MOT safety defect record contrasts starkly with HGVs, says the SMMT – operators there have to follow strict licensing rules, which means just over one in five HGVs will fail the MOT first time round.

As vans weigh less than 3.5 tonnes, they’re exempt from this expensive Operator Licensing regime.

The SMMT is thus issuing a rallying call to van operators at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham this week: sort out your safety record or face billions in extra costs.

Safety record ‘a matter of concern’

“Britain’s 3.2 million vans are essential for the smooth running of the economy but their recent safety record is a matter of concern,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

“Vans rack up huge distances and endure significant wear and tear on a daily basis so regular servicing is essential.” Van demand is also growing; over 34,000 were registered in March 2015 alone, a rise of nearly 24 per cent, as businesses move to vans for the greater efficiencies they offer.

But if operators don’t sort out their safety record, the DVSA and other stakeholders may take action and enforce expensive statutory licensing regulation – something the industry can avoid with effective self regulation.

“We’re launching a new campaign to promote maintenance so businesses can take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are safe, protecting their drivers and other road users without the need for further fines and regulations.”

The SMMT adds that “although there has been no move so far to make Operator Licensing rules apply to vans, the regulations and safety records around light goods vehicles are facing increased scrutiny”.

Over to you, van operators…

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HondaJet in public flight debut – and it’s coming to Britain

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Richard Aucock

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April 14, 2015

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The HondaJet aircraft will make its first public appearances in Japan and Europe later this month as it begins a 26,000 nautical mile, 13-country world debut flight tour.

What’s more, the HondaJet is coming to Britain – it’s set to appear in both Farnborough and Birmingham, following its world public in Japan on April 25th.

The advanced light jet will fly from Japan to the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition – EBACE – in Geneva on May 19th, before then commencing a demonstration tour with HondaJet dealers in six countries.

Birmingham and Farnborough are confirmed stops on this tour, along with Geneva, Antwerp, Paris, Munich, Hamburg, Munich and Warsaw.

The fastest, highest-flying, quietest and most fuel efficient jet in its class, the HondaJet realises a dream of Honda founder Soichiro Honda. “The HondaJet world tour is a tribute to Honda’s challenging spirit to bring something truly innovative to business aviation,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino.

“The HondaJet has broad appeal in this region with its speed, superior efficiency, and a range that connects most of the major cities in Europe and the United Kingdom.”

Tyre pressure system is MOT fail

By

Tim Pitt

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April 13, 2015

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A faulty Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) now results in automatic MOT failure – even if your tyres are in good condition and correctly inflated.

That’s the message from Tyresafe, the UK’s tyre safety association, which has produced a video to promote the benefits of TPMS.

Some TPMS systems work differently to others, but all remotely monitor air pressure in the tyres.

Millions of cars in the UK are already fitted with TPMS systems, which became mandatory on all new models last year. They work by monitoring air pressure in the tyres, warning the driver if they are under-inflated or punctured.

TPMS systems are designed to last many years, but may need occasional servicing. The most likely causes of faults are a flat internal battery and corrosion on the sensors.

Beyond a failed MOT, incorrect tyre pressures can have other consequences, including increased fuel consumption, reduced grip and unpredictable handling.

For that reason Tyresafe recommends that drivers don’t rely solely on TPMS, but manually check their tyre pressures at least once a month – and before any long journey.

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Honda secures Swindon plant with £200 million investment

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Richard Aucock

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March 31, 2015

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Honda has revealed the future of its Swindon car plant is secure by announcing it will receive £200 million investment to build the next generation Civic.

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London Ultra-Low Emission Zone gets green light for 2020

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Richard Aucock

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March 26, 2015

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London will become the world’s first city to operate an ultra-low emission zone from 7 September 2020, London Mayor Boris Johnson has confirmed.

The ultra-low emission zone, or ULEZ, will operate within the London Congestion Charge zone – but run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It requires vehicles to meet defined emissions standards to travel for free; for cars, this means petrol cars must be compliant with Euro 4 exhaust emissions standards, which came into force on 1 January 2006.

It means petrol cars aged 14 years or younger will be able to drive within the ULEZ for free from 7 September 2020.

However, for diesel cars, the regulations are tougher: they stipulate cars must meet Euro 6 emissions standards, which only become mandatory for all new cars sold on 1 September 2015.

It means the youngest diesel cars able to travel for free will be aged five years or younger – it’s concerns over diesel tailpipe emissions, particularly levels of NOx, that have encouraged Transport for London to act.

For cars not meeting ULEZ standards, a £12.50 daily charge will be enforced.

Those living within the ULEZ will, however, have a three year ‘sunset period’: they won’t have to meet the new ULEZ standards until September 2023.

ULEZ: improving air quality

Michele Dix, managing director of planning at TfL, said: “London’s air quality has an impact on the health of every person living in this city which is why addressing emissions from road transport is such a priority.

“The ULEZ is a feasible and effective way to improve air quality not only in central London but it will also have a positive impact across the whole city too.

“We believe that giving owners of non-compliant vehicles more than five years to prepare means that they have fair warning to decide whether to change their vehicle to one that meets the emissions standards of the zone or pay a daily charge.”

Car industry trade body the SMMT supported the move. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The London ULEZ will play a key role in driving the market for ultra low emission vehicles in Europe’s leading mega city, and set a precedent not only in the UK but around the world.

“SMMT supports this vision and wants to see London meet its air quality and climate change targets, while driving innovation and supporting jobs.

“We are pleased to see the Mayor has recognised that the latest diesel technology has a place in an Ultra Low Emissions Zone. It is only by encouraging motorists to invest in the latest, lowest emission technology, regardless of vehicle or fuel type, that the Mayor’s vision be fully realised.”

Jeremy Clarkson ‘fracas’ – official BBC investigation findings in full

By

Andrew Brady

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March 25, 2015

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The BBC has announced that Jeremy Clarkson will not be returning to Top Gear following a ‘fracas’ which left a producer with injuries requiring hospital attention. This is the official statement, in full, by BBC director general Tony Hall.

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