Water transport devices - 22 August 2023

FOLLOW UP: CLAIMS WELSH 20MPH WILL CAUSE EMERGENCY SERVICES ISSUES DISPUTED

A Conservative Freedom of Information request has led to accusations that the mandatory 20mph speed limit for urban areas in Wales will impede emergency services ability to fulfil their roles. This is disputed by both the Labour Government and the emergency services. You can read more, by clicking this BBC News link here.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE CUTS TESTING FLEET BY 50%

Following a collision with a fire engine, Cruise has agreed to a request that it cut it’s testing fleet by 50% in San Fransisco whilst an investigation takes place. The incident led to a passengers being taken to hospital but then released later. To find out more, click this link to and article from The Guardian. This last seven days have not been great for Cruise, click this Twitter thread to read just some of the issues their cars have had. To read why reducing numbers for testing will have a big impact on Cruise, click this Jack Stilgoe Twitter thread.

FOLLOW UP: TESLA IS SUING TWO EX-EMPLOYEES OVER HACK

Tesla has confirmed that the downloading of 100 gigabytes of data from company servers was an ‘inside job’ and that two ex-employees are being sued. Whilst the individuals involved should be pursued for breaking the law, this does not absolve the company. Huge questions still remain over the culture and attitude to privacy and security. One question to ask is “how could they access so much and so diverse information?”. Click this link, to a Quartz article, for more information.

FOLLOW UP: DVLA REMINDER SERVICE CLARIFICATION

After we discussed the confusion, over paper reminders from the DVLA, we have been contacted by them. Paper reminders are still available, you must opt out to not receive them. Thank you to the DVLA for clarifying this situation. Click here to check out the information provided by the DVLA over this.

TESLA EXECS APPARENTLY KNEW OF AUTOPILOT ISSUES

Engineers for Tesla, whilst giving deposition for another civil case following the death of an owner, have stated that executives knew that Autopilot could not detect cross traffic and did nothing to fix it. This will be of interest to the other organisations investigating many issues with Tesla. Click here to read more from The Register.

FORD MD TAKES ON UK CHAIR TOO

Lisa Brankin has added Ford UK Chairperson to her title of Managing Director. She is taking over the position following Tim Slatter’s move to Ford in the US. More can be read on this, by clicking the link here to an AMOnline story.

JLR RECRUITING 300 TECHNICIANS

As part of the push to an electrified future, Jaguar Land Rover are recruiting 300 technicians to their factory and development centres across the country. You can lean more

FOLLOW UP: CLAIMS WELSH 20MPH WILL CAUSE EMERGENCY SERVICES ISSUES DISPUTED

A Conservative Freedom of Information request has led to accusations that the mandatory 20mph speed limit for urban areas in Wales will impede emergency services ability to fulfil their roles. This is disputed by both the Labour Government and the emergency services. You can read more, by clicking this BBC News link here.

FOLLOW UP: CRUISE CUTS TESTING FLEET BY 50%

Following a collision with a fire engine, Cruise has agreed to a request that it cut it’s testing fleet by 50% in San Fransisco whilst an investigation takes place. The incident led to a passengers being taken to hospital but then released later. To find out more, click this link to and article from The Guardian. This last seven days have not been great for Cruise, click this Twitter thread to read just some of the issues their cars have had. To read why reducing numbers for testing will have a big impact on Cruise, click this Jack Stilgoe Twitter thread.

FOLLOW UP: TESLA IS SUING TWO EX-EMPLOYEES OVER HACK

Tesla has confirmed that the downloading of 100 gigabytes of data from company servers was an ‘inside job’ and that two ex-employees are being sued. Whilst the individuals involved should be pursued for breaking the law, this does not absolve the company. Huge questions still remain over the culture and attitude to privacy and security. One question to ask is “how could they access so much and so diverse information?”. Click this link, to a Quartz article, for more information.

FOLLOW UP: DVLA REMINDER SERVICE CLARIFICATION

After we discussed the confusion, over paper reminders from the DVLA, we have been contacted by them. Paper reminders are still available, you must opt out to not receive them. Thank you to the DVLA for clarifying this situation. Click here to check out the information provided by the DVLA over this.

TESLA EXECS APPARENTLY KNEW OF AUTOPILOT ISSUES

Engineers for Tesla, whilst giving deposition for another civil case following the death of an owner, have stated that executives knew that Autopilot could not detect cross traffic and did nothing to fix it. This will be of interest to the other organisations investigating many issues with Tesla. Click here to read more from The Register.

FORD MD TAKES ON UK CHAIR TOO

Lisa Brankin has added Ford UK Chairperson to her title of Managing Director. She is taking over the position following Tim Slatter’s move to Ford in the US. More can be read on this, by clicking the link here to an AMOnline story.

JLR RECRUITING 300 TECHNICIANS

As part of the push to an electrified future, Jaguar Land Rover are recruiting 300 technicians to their factory and development centres across the country. You can lean more by clicking this Autocar link here.

IVECO TO OFFER BATTERY SWAPS ON THEIR LCVS

Iveco, the light commercial vehicle manufacturer, are now offering battery swaps on the Daily range. This is not swapping as NIO do, but enabling owners to change the capacity of their batteries depending on the use case and if that changes. This appears to be a clever and interesting way for these vehicles to be kept on the road longer and for them to play multiple roles during their lifetime. Click this link to the Autocar article that explains more.

NIO DELAYS UK LAUNCH

Talking of battery swaps…NIO has announced that it is delaying its launch in the UK until they feel they have sufficient infrastructure in place, such as the battery swap locations, service centres and partners to help with all that. More can be found out by clicking this Autocar link here.

If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST NEW NEW CAR NEWS - Mahindra Thar.e

Indian car maker, Mahindra, revealed their Jeep rival, the Thar.e which it plans to sell in Europe and is rumoured to be interested in the UK market too. You can listen to how we are a bit unconvinced and feel it will be very difficult for the manufacturer to crack these targeted markets. We hope we’re wrong. Click here to see more, from the Autocar link.

Fisker Alaska

Following last week’s Fisker that we felt was very silly and pointless, here we discuss the Alaska, an electric pick up. Prices start at $45,400 (don’t forget that isn’t on the road price), with a variety of powertrains, battery configurations and subsequently different 0-62mph times. Expected to be in customer hands in 2025, we have some time to wait. In the meanwhile, you can learn more by clicking this Autocar link here.

Ford Mustang GTD

The outrageous Mustang GTD was revealed by Ford, as part of homologation requirements of IMSA and the GTD class. Costing around $300,000 there will be a very small number made, with some even making it to the UK. The technical details are expected to be as bonkers as the looks. Oh, and to be clear, the chaps do not advocate abducting Ford employees and making them produce more incredible sports cars. Click this Autocar link to read more.

Niels van Roij Fiat Panda 4x4 restomod

Niels van Rojj has turned his eye to a Fiat Panda Sicily 4x4 and created something wonderful and all for a seemingly reasonable price, considering how much typical restomods end up being. Do click this PistonHeads link to see more. Also, click this link to Niels’s own LinkedIn post about the gorgeous car.

Jaguar to end entire existing line up

Jaguar are going to cull their entire existing line up, including the I-Pace, before the relaunch of the brand, earmarked for 2025. As they will not be using any shared elements of the cars and that the new designs will be “exuberant” which has meant they will have their own bespoke platform and not share with Range Rover, Discovery and Defender vehicles. Click this Autocar article link to learn more.

5 year PCP from Vauxhall and calls from industry for EV help

Vauxhall has announced a 5 year PCP deal, on selected EV models. Click this link to a Stellantis press release to see the calculations.

Meanwhile, others within the industry are calling on the Government to help attract more EV buyers with the reintroduction of incentives. Some manufacturers are adding their own, without waiting to see if the Government will indeed help increase demand. Click here to read more from the Autocar link.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: HARRIS MANN PASSES AWAY

Harris Mann was behind some of the most controversial designs of British Motoring, as the original concept was them got hold of by management, engineering and British manufacturing in the 70s. Only in later years was his work recognised as being outstanding when more understood the truth. Click this link to AROnline to read a lovely obituary and retelling of his life.

DESIGNERS MOOD BOARD: BEN PAYNE NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF DESIGN AT LOTUS

Following the shock death of Peter Horbury, Ben Payne has been promoted to vice president of design at Lotus. Click this Car Design News article link to read more.

LUNCHTIME READ: THE ART OF A GOOD HAGGLE

Friend of the show, TV’s Paul Cowland has written another advice column for Hagerty. This time he gives us his vast knowledge on how to do a deal where neither party feels ripped off or scammed. Click here to read the sage advice from Paul.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE SIMPLEST CARS EVER MADE

Autocar once again provide the slideshow for you to peruse and consider when deciding if the chaps chose wisely or if you would do it differently, when it comes to the most simple cars made. Click here to check out your options and don’t forget to share your thoughts with Alan and Andrew.

AND FINALLY: WILL THE MINI-JEEP MAKE IT TO MOAB?

Take one lunatic Brit, one tiny jeep with an even tinier engine and the vast expanse of the US, mix them together and you get a wonderful series of videos as we hope to find out if they can make it to Moab. Click here for a link to the playlist with the first four episodes in it, but the fifth is in the normal channel area.