Stretch of A417 in Gloucestershire closed due overrunning works
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Plans for new park and cycle facility in Cornwall approved
A project to turn vacant land at a Cornish railway station into a new park and cycle facility has been granted planning Council said the project at Ponsandane aimed to improve travel in and around the arriving by car would be able to leave it at the facility and switch to cycling, said the local authority. It said the scheme would see the construction of a new 62-space car park on the former railway sidings on the main approach road into Penzance. The council said five of the spaces would be specifically marked as accessible parking spaces as well as a group of 14 lockable cycle stands for those who wish to leave their bicycles at the park and cycle said there would also be a drop-off area for two vehicles, adjacent to the cycle stands. Penzance Town Deal Board chairman Martin Tucker said: "By transforming underused land into a valuable community asset, the Park and Cycle scheme supports our commitment to sustainable transport and a healthier, more accessible town for everyone." Councillor Tim Dwelly, portfolio holder for economy and investment at Cornwall Council, said construction of the new scheme would begin in the Sustainable Transport Network received £3.5m from the Town Deal programme, run by the government, and £3m from the Town Deal Board, in partnership with Cornwall Council, said it successfully bid for £21.5m to support a range of projects that will contribute to the regeneration of the town and boost local economy.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Another car maker threatens factory closures as pressure to increase EV sales weighs heavy
Another major car manufacturer has said it may be forced to close factories as the motor industry faces headwinds linked to mounting pressure to transition to electric vehicles. Stellantis - the parent company of massive brands including Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall to name just a few - said it may be forced to shutter vehicle plants due to the risk of hefty European Union fines levied for not complying with CO2 emission targets. European head of the Franco-Italian auto maker Jean-Philippe Imparato says EU-based car manufacturers will must sell more EVs to cut CO2 emissions or risk penalties as part of the bloc's efforts to hit air pollution targets. It comes just months after the European motor sector successfully lobbied for more time to comply with rules, with fines to be based on 2025-2027 emissions rather than just in 2025. However, Imparato says even these more relaxed targets are 'unreachable' for car makers and will expose his company to fines of up to €2.5billion (£2.15bn) within 'two-to-three years'. Stellantis earlier this year closed Vauxhall's 100-year-old Luton van factory, putting 1,100 jobs at risk. When it announced the move in November, it partly attributed the decision to the UK Government's stringent EV sales targets. European head of the Franco-Italian auto maker Jean-Philippe Imparato (former CEO of Alfa Romeo) says EU-based car manufacturers must sell more EVs to cut CO2 emissions or risk penalties as part of the bloc's efforts to meet air pollution targets Speaking at a conference in the lower house of parliament in Rome on Tuesday, the former Alfa Romeo CEO (which is also owned by Stellantis) said that without significant changes in the regulatory situation by the end of this year, the company would 'have to make tough decisions'. To achieve the targets set out by the EU, Stellantis either needs to double its electric vehicle sales - which Imparto said would be impossible - or cut the production of petrol and diesel cars to artificially increase its share of EV deliveries. The latter would see internal combustion engine (ICE) cars rationed for customers at a time when many are not ready to commit to EVs and could hammer the manufacturer's sales volumes. 'I have two solutions: either I push like hell [on electric]... or I close down ICE. And therefore I close down factories,' he said. The latest in a wave of cutbacks linked to EV slowdown During this statement Imparto mentioning the Italian van-making plant of Atessa, where it produces the Fiat Ducato, Citroen Jumper, Peugeot Boxer, and Opel/Vauxhall Movano. It has been building electric versions of these models since November 2024. His comments come just three months after the last van has rolled off the assembly line at Vauxhall's historic Luton factory following Stellantis' decision to cull the century-old site. Marking 'the end of an era', the last Vivaro van came off the Bedfordshire production line on Friday 28 March, lowering the curtain on 120 years of vehicle-making at the Bedfordshire factory. Its closure had been announced four months prior in November 2024, with the company confirming that 1,100 jobs would be at risk - though workers would be offered positions at its EV-making plant over 100 miles away in the northwest of England. At the time, Stellantis bosses said that the decision was made 'within the context of the UK's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate'. It has seen the manufacturer consolidate its UK van production at its recently converted Ellesmere Port plant, which for years produced Astra family cars before being upgraded to the UK's first major EV van-making facility. Stellantis had warned earlier in 2024 that plants were at risk because of government pressure on car firms to meet ZEV targets that incrementally rise each year. Last year, mainstream manufacturers were required to have an electric car sales mix of 22 per cent (10 per cent for vans). This year, the threshold increased to 28 per cent (16 per cent for vans) and in 2026 it is a third of all passenger car deliveries (24 per cent vans). By 2030, four in five new cars will need to be electric, with the remaining 20 per cent being hybrid models. As for vans, some petrol and diesel versions will be allowed to be sold until 2035 under more relaxed adjustments to targets implemented by Sir Keir Starmer in April in response to US President Donald Trump's announcement of increase tariffs that sent shockwaves across industries. The PM also slashed fines for failing to meet the yearly-rising ZEV mandate targets by 20 per cent from £15,000 to £12,000 for cars, and by 18 per cent (from £18,000 to £15,000) for vans. The 350,000 Brussels facility has been manufacturing the Q8 e-Tron and the Q8 e-Tron Sportback since 2022. It had been billed the 'cradle' of the German car maker's electric drive Reports in recent months have linked manufacturer factory closures and job losses to pressures linked to the EV transition. In March, it emerged that Skoda was considering laying off 6,000 people as part of drastic cuts to keep up with an expensive electric car rollout. Audi in December announced it would shutter its EV factory in Belgium, which resulted in 3,000 jobs cut. The factory in Brussels had been billed the 'cradle' of the German car maker's electric drive. Volkswagen also said last year it could be forced to shut three vehicle plants in Germany due to the EV slowdown. However, it has since reached a deal with European union workers that averts immediate factory closures and involuntary redundancies. Part of these negotiations involve significant job cuts and a reduction in production capacity across their German plants by 2030.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Chinese car giant to launch as standalone brand in UK with its own network of dealerships rivalling Hyundai, Kia & Skoda
A MAJOR Chinese car brand has announced it will be launching in the UK. The motors firm will put one of its most popular models on the British market towards the end of the year. Geely, which owns LEVC, Lotus, Polestar, and Volvo, will soon be launching in the UK. British showrooms will see the Geely EX5 in the final quarter of the year. And the brand will open its own standalone dealership network in the UK. The model is an electric crossover designed to rival the Skoda Elroq, Kia EV3, and Renault Megane. Geely said the EX5 has been assessed by Lotus Engineering to evaluate whether it requires retuning for European roads. Model details UK specifications have yet to be announced while globally, the crossover is offered with a choice of 49.5kWh or 60.2kWh battery packs. The 60.2kWh pack yields a range of up to 264 miles on the WLTP test cycle. And they can be charged at a rate of up to 100kW on a DC connection, giving the bigger battery a 30-80% refill in 20 minutes. It also has a single front-mounted motor that puts out 215bhp, giving a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.9sec. Inside, the car seats five and features a 15.4in infotainment touchscreen. World's thinnest car measuring just 19in wide that's skinnier than a motorbike is unveiled… & it works if you can fit in UK market While prices have yet to be announced, the EX5 starts from $40,990 (£19,500) in Australia. This hints at a potential price of between £25,000 and £30,000 here in the UK. Geely said that fleet buyers are expected to be a 'key segment' for the model. They reported that these customers account for the majority of EV sales at present. The company added that it was confident that it will appeal to UK buyers. Car Auctions: How To Nab A Bargain Car auctions are a way to sell vehicles based on a bidding system with the highest offer securing the deal. Auctions aren't restricted to the rich and famous as thousands of cars are sold at motor auctions in the UK each week. Here's what you need to know before attending an auction: Be prepared: Do your research on the car you would like to purchase beforehand. Check the car: Cars will usually be lined up before the start, so make sure to arrive early to inspect the desired car thoroughly. Have a back-up: Be ready for disappointment as your desired motor may be sold to someone else and select a few back-ups. Be realistic: Realise that there won't be a "perfect" car at an auction and adjust expectations accordingly. Set a budget: It is easy to overspend in the heat of the moment during bidding. Ensure you have set a budget and do not go over it. Key phrases to look out for: 'No major mechanical faults' – suggests that there shouldn't be any issues with the car's drivetrain, gearbox, suspension, or engine. 'Specified faults' – the auctioneer will read out specific faults. 'Sold as seen' – the vehicle is sold with any problems it may have. The auction company will rarely entertain complaints regarding the mechanical or cosmetic condition of these vehicles after sale. 'Sold with a warranted mileage' - The car is being offered based on the report, which confirms the mileage through an independent check. Deliveries are earmarked to begin between October and the end of the year. Additional Geely models are set to follow in 2026. The move comes as the brand attempts to tap new markets for rapid growth. They have set out to add more than 300 non-Chinese dealers and service centres to their global portfolio by the end of the year. Geely sold nearly 2.2 million cars last year, which is up 34% compared from 2024. More car brands An iconic hatchback is set to return three decades after it was discontinued. Meanwhile, another car brand faces factory closures over electric vehicle targets. And a road test of the Kia EV6 GT that is now £2,690 cheaper. 2
