Latest news with #AdamWood
Auto Car
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
84% of Renault 5 buyers are new to the brand! Can you guess what they're swapping out of?
Supermini has become most popular EV among private buyers, nudging Renault to second in sales chart Close Some 84% of Renault 5 buyers are new to the brand, giving it one of the highest conquest rates of any model the brand has yet launched. A recent Renault survey of around 1900 5 buyers in the UK revealed that roughly 1600 were switching out of a competitor product: 3.4% part-exchanged a Mini Cooper, 3.8% traded in a Ford Fiesta and 4.4% swapped out of a Fiat 500. But while Renault UK managing director Adam Wood acknowledged that the most popular part-exchange models were similarly sized superminis, there is 'really no trend' to who is buying the electric supermini. 'They're coming from premium SUVs, small cars, all different brands. Some of them are second cars, some of them are primary cars,' he said, citing the car's retro-futuristic design as a key factor in its appeal. 'The key thing with the 5 is that it comes back to that point of magic. People see the car and, I think whether they remember the original or not, it's just a great piece of design that brings a smile to peoples' faces." "Emotion is a big part of the buyer's purchase too, and that's why you see such a conquest rate on the 5." The 5 has been a roaring commercial success in its first few months on sale: some 2400 examples had been delivered in the UK to the end of June and it was the best-selling EV to private buyers in April and May - making Renault the country's number-two retail EV brand, behind Tesla. The 5 was instrumental in helping Renault grow its share of the UK car market to 3.7%, with registrations climbing 16% year-on-year in the first half of 2025 - in part because of a 17% hike in private car sales. Renault's EV sales were up a huge 887% in the first half, with the 5 and Scenic having joined the Mégane in the last year, and Wood anticipates that the arrival of the 4 this autumn will drive further growth, based on the early success of the similarly conceived 5, which has 'really has brought electric motoring to the masses in terms of affordability". Wood cited the 5's £23k start price and potentially low running costs – assuming the ability to charge on an EV-specific domestic tariff – as giving a 'very similar' total cost of ownership to a comparable ICE hatchback but suggested that the supermini's success wasn't entirely founded on its affordability. "Accessible pricing is, of course, a factor. But I think often the industry forgets the emotional appeal too. So I think it's that design and fun that is also attracting more and more private individuals who perhaps weren't considering electric. 'In many ways, I think it's like a Trojan Horse to get more people considering electric." Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
Time of India
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Rolls-Royce expands US manufacturing with $75 mn investment in South Carolina
Rolls-Royce has announced a $75 million investment to expand its engine manufacturing operations in Aiken, South Carolina, aimed at increasing production of mtu Series 4000 engines. The expansion will introduce new machining capabilities and extend the footprint of the existing facility. It is expected to create 60 new positions, taking the total number of full-time employees at the site to 434. The mtu Series 4000 engines produced at the Aiken facility are used in mission-critical backup power systems . These engines are later assembled into generator sets at Rolls-Royce's Mankato, Minnesota facility. Adam Wood, MD, Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division in America, said, 'The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our US customers – especially in the fast-growing American data centre industry. By increasing our machining capabilities in Aiken, we can supply more engines to Mankato, enabling us to deliver more gensets with shorter lead times. These investments reflect our commitment to supporting US customers with reliable, locally produced solutions.' Responding to power demands from US data centre The Aiken investment follows an earlier $24 million expansion of the Mankato site, announced by Rolls-Royce earlier this year. That project added 100 roles to the company's US Power Systems division. Both investments are part of a broader strategy to meet increasing demand for resilient power infrastructure in response to the growing number of data centres in the United States and the corresponding pressure on power grids.
CNBC
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
Rolls-Royce invests $75 million to expand South Carolina plant
British aerospace and defense company Rolls-Royce announced it is investing $75 million to expand its engine manufacturing facility in Aiken, South Carolina. The investment will boost output of mtu Series 4000 diesel engines, which are used in backup power systems for data centers and other critical infrastructures. "The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers — especially in the fast-growing American data center industry," Adam Wood, managing director for Rolls-Royce's power systems division in America, said in a Tuesday press release. The company said the expansion will create 60 new jobs, increase capabilities and strengthen Rolls-Royce's U.S. industrial presence. The move also reflects Rolls-Royce's shift into energy and power systems, beyond its traditional aerospace focus. Rolls-Royce said it will machine additional mtu Series 4000 components in the U.S. as part of the investment. The company currently produces many the components in Germany and sends them to the U.S. as finished goods. "We are proud to support America's growing demand for reliable, domestically made energy systems that strengthen our nation's energy independence and security," said Adam Riddle, CEO for North America. This is the second major announcement in two days for the company. On Monday, the United Kingdom and Czech Republic announced a partnership to collaborate on small modular reactors, according to Reuters. Rolls-Royce SMRs could export up to six reactors to the Czech Republic under the deal. The South Carolina site is now set to become a hub in Rolls-Royce's North American power systems strategy. The first phase of the expansion will begin in the first quarter of 2026, and production will begin in July 2027.
Reuters
15-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Rolls-Royce expands US manufacturing with investment in South Carolina plant
July 15 (Reuters) - Britain's Rolls-Royce (RR.L), opens new tab said on Tuesday it was expanding U.S. manufacturing with a $75 million investment in its South Carolina engine plant. "The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers – especially in the fast-growing American data center industry," Adam Wood, managing director for Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division in America, said in a statement.
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Rolls-Royce expands US manufacturing with investment in South Carolina plant
Britain's Rolls-Royce said on Tuesday it was expanding U.S. manufacturing with a $75 million investment in its South Carolina engine plant. "The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers – especially in the fast-growing American data center industry," Adam Wood, managing director for Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division in America, said in a statement. (Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
