UK Automotive Industry News from autoindustry.co.uk

Tuesday 13th May 2008

Bajaj Auto and Renault-Nissan Alliance to build Tata Nano competitor priced w...
Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of the Indian two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj and Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault and President and CEO of Nissan, today announced that they will form a joint-venture company to develop, produce and market a car code-named ‘ULC? with a wholesale price range starting from US$2,500. The new joint-venture company will be 50% owned by Bajaj Auto, 25% by Renault and 25% by Nissan.

Delphi reports $589m loss in first quarter
Delphi Corp. reported on Friday 9th May first quarter 2008 revenues of $5.3 billion, and a net loss of $589 million, up from $533m a year earlier. Delphi also announced the refinancing and extension of the terms of its debtor-in-possession credit facility to 31st December 2008. Subject to bankruptcy court approval, Delphi will increase the requested capacity of its DIP credit facility from the previously announced $4.1 billion to $4.35 billion, providing the company with approximately $250 million in additional liquidity.

eCall launch likely to be further delayed -ACEA
It is unlikely that the planned eCall EU automated emergency call system will be launched in time to meet the European Commission's 2010 target, according to Wolfgang Reinhardt, head of regulatory affairs at the European car manufacturers association (ACEA). He told Automotive News Europe (12 May), "It will take years to put a European system in place, 2012 or even longer."

Bosch sets up lithium-ion battery development unit
Bosch has set up a second project unit in addition to its hybrid powertrain unit, which will develop high-performance lithium-ion batteries, and focus the company’s efforts on further developing the core competence it needs for the increased use of electrical motors in drive systems.

Mazda tests car-to-car safety systems
Mazda has started public road trials of an advanced safety vehicle it calls Mazda ASV-4. The system uses vehicle to vehicle communications to alert drivers of oncoming vehicles at blind intersections or on twisting roads where visibility is limited. Mazda has started public road trials of an advanced safety vehicle it calls Mazda ASV-4. The system uses vehicle to vehicle communications to alert drivers of oncoming vehicles at blind intersections or on twisting roads where visibility is limited. The aim is to lessen the severity of - or even eliminate - two-vehicle collisions at blind intersections, rear-end collisions and accidents when a vehicle turns right by reducing driver error. Testing of the two-vehicle blind collision avoidance system has already started and road trials of the right-turn and rear-end collision avoidance systems will begin later this year. The trials, now into their fourth phase, are based on the Japanese government's Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) Promotion Plan designed to promote the development, practical application and wider use of ASV technologies and reduce the number of traffic accidents. The ASV project was launched by the Japanese government in 1991. Test results from Phase One to Phase Three have already resulted in the development by Mazda of a rear vehicle monitoring system that detects vehicles approaching from behind at highway speeds, and a pre-crash safety system, which uses milliwave radar to monitor for oncoming obstacles, then alerts the driver and automatically applies the brakes if necessary. The ASV project's fourth phase started in 2006 and is due to finish in 2010.

Northgate Vehicle hire offers free 3-month telematics unit trials
Northgate Vehicle Hire ? which has more than 68,500 vehicles on its fleet operating from a national network of 90 locations - is offering to any business hiring a new vehicle on its flexible rental system Norflex, the option of trialling a GPS vehicle monitoring unit free of charge for three months. Benefits can include reduced fuel use.

Australia increases luxury car tax to 33%
While the Australian commonwealth government has today increased its luxury car tax , a submission to a government-commissioned review on Australia's automotive industry by the government of the most automotive-intensive state, Victoria, says keeping car import tariffs at 10% rather than cutting them to 5% by 2010 as planned would help offset the disruption of global challenges to the domestic industry.

Autoliv develops airbags for pedestrian protection
The Swedish airbag specialist Autoliv is reported to have developed an airbag to inflate under the car's bonnet, reducing the impact on any pedestrians or two-wheeler riders who land on it. Another, at the base of the windscreen, stops the victim’s head going through the glass. The bags are triggered when sensors detect that a person is heading towards the car after being hit, according to The Times? website, which quoted a spokesman for Autoliv.

Creditors informed of Carter & Carter plc?s losses and debts
The statement of affairs issued to creditors of the failed apprentice training group Carter & Carter and reported by the Autobody Projects subscription website shows the state of the business when its directors called in administrators from Deloitte Touche on 11th March 2008. In the year to 31 July 2007, Carter & Carter a turnover of £119m on which it made a pre-tax loss of £117m. In the 7 months to 29 February 2008, they had a turnover of £66m on which a pre-tax loss of £24m was recorded.

Santa Pod hosts first green UK drag meet
The UK?s Santa Pod Raceway near Northampton hosted a brand new event on 25th April, showcasing alternative energy in a drag race challenge at the venue's quarter mile strip.