Your Chanel handbag - 19 September 2023

INDUSTRY CALLS FOR MORE GOVERNMENT HELP

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called on additional help from the Government, to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. During their one day conference, called Electrified, they proposed four incentives that would help make the switch easier for the private buyer. You can find out more, by clicking this link here.

NEW EV MINIS WILL BE BUILT IN THE UK

BMW is investing £600 million in their Oxford and Swindon plants to enable it to build the new Mini Cooper Electric and the Mini Aceman. This secures around 4,000 jobs and does include some financial support from the UK Government. To find out more, you can click this Autocar article link here.

EU INVESTIGATES CHINESE STATE SUBSIDES

The European Union will begin an investigation into whether the Chinese Government subsidises their car industry and that gives them an unfair advantage in Europe. Alan and Andrew are quite scathing about how this situation has arisen and how this was a very obvious outcome but now politicians and the industry are equally surprised. Click this Autocar article link for more.

We recommend you also click this BBC News article link, as it gives some context to what that means to the UK and potential ramifications if a trade war is started.

SAT NAV WARNING OVER NEW WELSH 20MPH SPEED LIMITS

Sat nav manufacturers are warning motorists not to trust their systems after the recent implementation of 20mph zones across Wales. They are recommending that the software is updated and to be watchful of the speed limit signs on the roads. To read more, click this BBC News article here.

If you would like to see the extent of the new 20mph zones, click this link to a map showing just how many or few roads are actually affected.

UK ROAD REPAIRS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN FIVE YEARS

The RAC ha found that UK road and pothole repairs are at their lowest level in five years, with some councils carrying out no resurfacing work and many others doing no surface-dressing work. If you would like to learn more, click here to read the Autocar article explaining it all.

CALLS FOR UK GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN AV LAWS

Parliament’s Transport Committee has released a report outlining the areas the Government needs to tighten up the law for autonomous vehicles, if it wants a safe deployment of the technology. Where it is asking for language to be less vague and wooly is very admirable, but still there is the delusion that the way it is being developed will actually result in any safe AV operations is worrying. Click this link to read the committee’s report.

ELECTRIC CAR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE ONTO IN ADMINISTRATION

Onto, the electric car subscription service which wrapped up nearly all the costs...

INDUSTRY CALLS FOR MORE GOVERNMENT HELP

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called on additional help from the Government, to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. During their one day conference, called Electrified, they proposed four incentives that would help make the switch easier for the private buyer. You can find out more, by clicking this link here.

NEW EV MINIS WILL BE BUILT IN THE UK

BMW is investing £600 million in their Oxford and Swindon plants to enable it to build the new Mini Cooper Electric and the Mini Aceman. This secures around 4,000 jobs and does include some financial support from the UK Government. To find out more, you can click this Autocar article link here.

EU INVESTIGATES CHINESE STATE SUBSIDES

The European Union will begin an investigation into whether the Chinese Government subsidises their car industry and that gives them an unfair advantage in Europe. Alan and Andrew are quite scathing about how this situation has arisen and how this was a very obvious outcome but now politicians and the industry are equally surprised. Click this Autocar article link for more.

We recommend you also click this BBC News article link, as it gives some context to what that means to the UK and potential ramifications if a trade war is started.

SAT NAV WARNING OVER NEW WELSH 20MPH SPEED LIMITS

Sat nav manufacturers are warning motorists not to trust their systems after the recent implementation of 20mph zones across Wales. They are recommending that the software is updated and to be watchful of the speed limit signs on the roads. To read more, click this BBC News article here.

If you would like to see the extent of the new 20mph zones, click this link to a map showing just how many or few roads are actually affected.

UK ROAD REPAIRS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN FIVE YEARS

The RAC ha found that UK road and pothole repairs are at their lowest level in five years, with some councils carrying out no resurfacing work and many others doing no surface-dressing work. If you would like to learn more, click here to read the Autocar article explaining it all.

CALLS FOR UK GOVERNMENT TO TIGHTEN AV LAWS

Parliament’s Transport Committee has released a report outlining the areas the Government needs to tighten up the law for autonomous vehicles, if it wants a safe deployment of the technology. Where it is asking for language to be less vague and wooly is very admirable, but still there is the delusion that the way it is being developed will actually result in any safe AV operations is worrying. Click this link to read the committee’s report.

ELECTRIC CAR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE ONTO IN ADMINISTRATION

Onto, the electric car subscription service which wrapped up nearly all the costs of owning and running an EV into one monthly fee, has gone into administration. Legal & General, their major backers pulled out which gave the company no choice but to wind up operations. The rising cost of charging, interest rates and other cost of living issues combined with the fall in value of the cars they have on the books made the business unviable. To find out more, click this Autocar article link.

VILLAGE HOTEL CHOOSES IONITY AS CHARGE POINT PARTNER

Ionity will supply all Village Hotel locations in the UK with rapid chargers that will be open to both members and the public. These are expected to be all operational by the end of 2024. Click here to read more, thanks to electrive and their article.

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 - Smart #3

Smart has revealed the #3, the bigger sibling to the #1. Following on with similar looks, but in a bigger overall package, the SUV is inoffensive if unexciting. There is a silly amount of performance for a family vehicle, but that seems to be the way with electric cars today. Click this CAR article link to find out all of the details.

Peugeot E-3008

The next generation 3008 has been revealed by Peugeot, first in electric only form, which includes a silly coupe SUV design. The external looks are quite smart, with the three claw mark motif being retained. The interior looks really nice and another evolution on the excellent work Peugeot have done in that department. Which makes it all the more confusing why they have made a family orientated practical vehicle, well, less practical. If you would like to learn more, click this CAR link here.

Fiat 600e

Fiat has shown us all the 600e, which has a lot of design touches of the 500 but in a much better resolved package than they previously managed with larger 500 models. This will come in electric only form and is the cheapest of the Stellantis options for the same sized vehicle, including the Jeep Avenger and Vauxhall Mokka. Click this driving electric article link to read more.

Volkswagen ID X

VW has showered the very dull ID.7 with stick on parts, a “sporty” interior and increased performance and called it the ID X. The chaps are thoroughly unimpressed by this car and the execution of the idea. To find out more, in a morbidly fascinated way, click this Autocar link here.

Jeep Recon

Jeep are aiming at the Defender Defender, with their model push in Europe and the UK. The Recon is bigger than the Avenger that is just out, and will be all electric with around about 600bhp. JLR will not have an electric version by the time this comes to our shores. If you want to find out more, click here for the Autocar article link.

ELegend EL1

ELegend, a German company, is building a very small number of electric homages to the Audi Quattro Sport. With huge performance and being hand built, there is a bit of a spicy price tag. But the car looks great. Click here to read more, from EVO.

LUNCHTIME READ: HOW THE AUDI TT WENT FROM DOODLE TO DESIGN ICON

Tim Stevens writes in Hagerty, for this week’s recommendation. The design classic that is the Audi TT and it’s history is explained. Thoroughly fascinating story, even if it did give Alan flashbacks to all the mood boards he saw at university. To read about the TT, click this link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: THE FIRST ELECTRIC CAR MADE BY EVERY CAR MAKER

Move Electric supply this really interesting slideshow of first electric cars, from very recently all the way back to the near dawn of motoring time. Do you agree with Alan and Andrew’s choices? Don’t forget to get in touch and let them know after you click this link to find out what options there are.

AND FINALLY: FROM DRIVE EVENT TO DISASTER RELIEF

The UK Mazda PR Team were meant to be driving with a host of journalists through the Atlas Mountains, but the night before start was when the dreadful earthquake hit Morocco and the areas they were in and due to drive through. Click this link to a Guild of Motoring Writers article explaining how the Team reacted and did what we would all hope we would do in the same situation. Well done to all involved for trying to do what they could in dreadful circumstances.