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Transport News Brief Week 51
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The latest news roundup from the SMMT.
New Magnum to break cover at CV Show
Renault says it will launch a new version of its iconic Magnum range in early 2008, with the new, maximum capacity truck making its international public debut at the CV Show in mid April. The new Magnum has a completely redesigned and even roomier cab interior, with the already high roof raised another 20 cm to give over two metres headroom. When launched in 1991 the original Magnum set cab comfort standards with the first flat-floor cab. The new model offers a choice of 460 or 500 hp DXi13 engines, producing 2,300 or 2,450 Nm torque and driving through Renault's Optidive automated gearbox. Renault says the new truck should help operators make fuel savings of up to 5%. "With the International launch at the CV Show and with deliveries due in the second half of the year, the Renault Magnum has reasserted its position as the benchmark for the long haul market," said Nigel Butler, UK sales and marketing director for Renault.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
Telematics supplement in The Independent
Ram Business Information is to publish a special supplement on Vehicle Telematics Technology in The Independent in early April. "The supplement will outline all the benefits of modern telematics technology for people trying to manage fleets and drivers," said its editor, Robin Meczes. He plans to look specifically at fleet management tracking systems, after-theft recovery systems, satellite navigation systems and other location-based solutions and services. "You'll find more information about the supplement at www.rambusinessinfo.co.uk."
More from Robin Meczes on +44 (0)7 813 096 688 or robinmeczes@rambusinessinfo.co.uk.
Vehicle makers may face big fines for CO2 penalties
The SMMT's Week in Brussels reports that the European Commission is due to adopt rules on the enforcement of an average CO2 emission limit 120g/km for cars by 2012. This has led to media rumours that car makers could be fined billions of euros a year in penalties for failing to meet EU emissions limits. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Financial Times Deutschland, Brussels may charge €95 per gram and per car for excess CO2 emissions or fines up to €13bn a year. Greenpeace wants sanctions to be in the range of €150 per gram. There are no similar limits for commercial vehicles yet, but don't hold your breath.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Chinese tyres at CV Show
Shanghai-based GiTi Tire will be at next year's CV Show for the first time and will spend a 'significant amount' to publicise the firm's ever-increasing range of truck and bus tyres. GiTi will use its stand, 8141, to help raise the profile of the GiTi brand and product range. The firm is one of China's largest makers and supplier of tyres, with five factories and over 45 sales and service offices in China and exports to over 80 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Africa. CV Show organisers say they are delighted that GiTi is to use the event as a launch platform for its marketing and sales efforts in the UK.
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
MAN drops ERF name
MAN says that following the end of ERF production a few months ago, it has decided to change the name of its UK subsidiary from MAN ERF UK Ltd. to MAN Truck & Bus UK Limited. "Let me be clear, this does not mean we are about to reduce our service levels to the many thousands of ERF operators still running our trucks," said Des Evans, boss of MAN Truck & Bus UK. "We were proud to have the brand in our business and we will continue to take great pride in supporting ERF operators for as long as the trucks are around." The firm says that as growing numbers of ERF customers switched to D20 and D26-engined MANs to meet Euro 4 emission levels, ERF sales fell to unsustainable levels.
More from Simon Hall on +44 (0)1 263 584 199 or comms@btinternet.com
Compromise on plans to liberalise vehicle parts market.
According to the SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin, the legal protection for the design of visible spare parts will end in 2012, following the European Parliament vote last week. MEPs backed a compromise that will give vehicle makers five years to prepare for an open market.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Traffic presenter raises £70,000 for Transaid
BBC Radio 2's traffic presenter Sally Boazman just helped raise more than £70,000 for Transaid, the international development charity by cycling 425km across Kenya's Rift Valley as part of a 21 strong team. The total makes Cycle Kenya one of Transaid's most successful fundraising initiatives ever and will give a big boost to its projects across Africa. The charity is working to cut poverty through vital and sustainable transport solutions in the region.
More from Chantelle Cummings on + 44 (0)2 073 878 136 or chantelle@transaid.org
EU Air Quality Directive targets PM2.5
The SMMT's Week in Brussels says that the European Parliament aims to revise EU air quality rules, setting new maximum concentrations of the largest, 10μ (micron) particles (or PM10s) and extending legal limits for smaller particles, down to 2.5μ, from 2015. The move comes amid calls for tougher limits from some groups.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
More cash for timber transport
The Scottish Government will extend the life of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund until 2011, giving £15m over the next three years. The fund aims to help the forest industry cut the impact of timber trucks on Scotland's rural roads. A new Scottish Timber Miles project will start in January 2008 and run through the year, collecting data from timber hauliers across Scotland. The aim is to help identify timber transport trends and analyse the effects of rising fuel prices.
More from Claire Martin on +44 (0)1 313 146 506 or claire.martin@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
90% more EU cash for transport and energy
According to the SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin, the EU aims to spend €11bn next year on long-term economic development. The plans include €6.1bn on research and 93% more on energy and transport projects, taking spending on this sector to €2bn. Agricultural spending accounted for 40% of the LTED budget.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Darling promises a greener Budget
The SMMT's Week in Westminster bulletin reports Alistair Darling, chancellor of the exchequer saying, "sustainability will be at the heart of the next budget". He says the UK Government aims to promote zero carbon homes and suggested similar measures for cars in the next Budget, due in March or April 2008. Darling was speaking at the Prince of Wales' Accounting for Sustainability conference recently.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Filling the driver void
Clearstone, which says it is the UK's leading truck driver training and recruitment firm, has a new service aimed at the growing demand for temporary drivers. Launched to catch the Christmas rush, this aims to 'fill the industry's skill shortages void' by finding drivers and other people for single shifts through to high volume jobs. The firm says the number of drivers in temporary jobs is up 67% compared to the beginning of November. "The temporary recruitment service is an exciting new market for us," said Scott Feldman, head of marketing at the company.
More from James Warnette on +44 (0)8 453 700 655 or james@octopuscomms.net
Cuts to red tape save £800m
John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, has unveiled over 200 red tape reduction proposals from 18 Whitehall ministries, according to the SMMT's Week in Westminster bulletin. The move is part of drive to cut regulation by 25% by 2010. The Government says cuts to red tape save UK businesses and others more than £800m a year. Did anyone publish the cost of changing the names of government ministries?
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Regional Transport Statistics published
The UK Department for Transport just published 'Regional Transport Statistics: 2007 Edition'. This, the seventh annual edition of this publication gives a wide range of transport data on personal travel, public transport, road vehicles, road safety and freight.
More from www.dft.gov.uk
Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
The next issue of Transport News Brief, out later this week, will carry our now traditional Christmas Quiz. As usual, there won't be questions about the automotive and transport industries, so that you can take a copy home without too much risk of accusations that you're taking your work home - again. To give you time to think about some of the answers, we'll send you them around Thursday 3 January. Transport News Brief should be back to its normal the following week. And the prize for getting lots of those answers right? A warm glow of self-satisfaction. In the meantime, have a splendid Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Cheers. Robin Dickeson, editor
Renault says it will launch a new version of its iconic Magnum range in early 2008, with the new, maximum capacity truck making its international public debut at the CV Show in mid April. The new Magnum has a completely redesigned and even roomier cab interior, with the already high roof raised another 20 cm to give over two metres headroom. When launched in 1991 the original Magnum set cab comfort standards with the first flat-floor cab. The new model offers a choice of 460 or 500 hp DXi13 engines, producing 2,300 or 2,450 Nm torque and driving through Renault's Optidive automated gearbox. Renault says the new truck should help operators make fuel savings of up to 5%. "With the International launch at the CV Show and with deliveries due in the second half of the year, the Renault Magnum has reasserted its position as the benchmark for the long haul market," said Nigel Butler, UK sales and marketing director for Renault.
More from Penny Randall on +44 (0)1 582 479 619 or penny.randall@renault-trucks.com
Telematics supplement in The Independent
Ram Business Information is to publish a special supplement on Vehicle Telematics Technology in The Independent in early April. "The supplement will outline all the benefits of modern telematics technology for people trying to manage fleets and drivers," said its editor, Robin Meczes. He plans to look specifically at fleet management tracking systems, after-theft recovery systems, satellite navigation systems and other location-based solutions and services. "You'll find more information about the supplement at www.rambusinessinfo.co.uk."
More from Robin Meczes on +44 (0)7 813 096 688 or robinmeczes@rambusinessinfo.co.uk.
Vehicle makers may face big fines for CO2 penalties
The SMMT's Week in Brussels reports that the European Commission is due to adopt rules on the enforcement of an average CO2 emission limit 120g/km for cars by 2012. This has led to media rumours that car makers could be fined billions of euros a year in penalties for failing to meet EU emissions limits. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Financial Times Deutschland, Brussels may charge €95 per gram and per car for excess CO2 emissions or fines up to €13bn a year. Greenpeace wants sanctions to be in the range of €150 per gram. There are no similar limits for commercial vehicles yet, but don't hold your breath.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Chinese tyres at CV Show
Shanghai-based GiTi Tire will be at next year's CV Show for the first time and will spend a 'significant amount' to publicise the firm's ever-increasing range of truck and bus tyres. GiTi will use its stand, 8141, to help raise the profile of the GiTi brand and product range. The firm is one of China's largest makers and supplier of tyres, with five factories and over 45 sales and service offices in China and exports to over 80 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Africa. CV Show organisers say they are delighted that GiTi is to use the event as a launch platform for its marketing and sales efforts in the UK.
More from Robin Dickeson on +44 (0)2 073 449 222 or rdickeson@smmt.co.uk
MAN drops ERF name
MAN says that following the end of ERF production a few months ago, it has decided to change the name of its UK subsidiary from MAN ERF UK Ltd. to MAN Truck & Bus UK Limited. "Let me be clear, this does not mean we are about to reduce our service levels to the many thousands of ERF operators still running our trucks," said Des Evans, boss of MAN Truck & Bus UK. "We were proud to have the brand in our business and we will continue to take great pride in supporting ERF operators for as long as the trucks are around." The firm says that as growing numbers of ERF customers switched to D20 and D26-engined MANs to meet Euro 4 emission levels, ERF sales fell to unsustainable levels.
More from Simon Hall on +44 (0)1 263 584 199 or comms@btinternet.com
Compromise on plans to liberalise vehicle parts market.
According to the SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin, the legal protection for the design of visible spare parts will end in 2012, following the European Parliament vote last week. MEPs backed a compromise that will give vehicle makers five years to prepare for an open market.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Traffic presenter raises £70,000 for Transaid
BBC Radio 2's traffic presenter Sally Boazman just helped raise more than £70,000 for Transaid, the international development charity by cycling 425km across Kenya's Rift Valley as part of a 21 strong team. The total makes Cycle Kenya one of Transaid's most successful fundraising initiatives ever and will give a big boost to its projects across Africa. The charity is working to cut poverty through vital and sustainable transport solutions in the region.
More from Chantelle Cummings on + 44 (0)2 073 878 136 or chantelle@transaid.org
EU Air Quality Directive targets PM2.5
The SMMT's Week in Brussels says that the European Parliament aims to revise EU air quality rules, setting new maximum concentrations of the largest, 10μ (micron) particles (or PM10s) and extending legal limits for smaller particles, down to 2.5μ, from 2015. The move comes amid calls for tougher limits from some groups.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
More cash for timber transport
The Scottish Government will extend the life of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund until 2011, giving £15m over the next three years. The fund aims to help the forest industry cut the impact of timber trucks on Scotland's rural roads. A new Scottish Timber Miles project will start in January 2008 and run through the year, collecting data from timber hauliers across Scotland. The aim is to help identify timber transport trends and analyse the effects of rising fuel prices.
More from Claire Martin on +44 (0)1 313 146 506 or claire.martin@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
90% more EU cash for transport and energy
According to the SMMT's Week in Brussels bulletin, the EU aims to spend €11bn next year on long-term economic development. The plans include €6.1bn on research and 93% more on energy and transport projects, taking spending on this sector to €2bn. Agricultural spending accounted for 40% of the LTED budget.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Darling promises a greener Budget
The SMMT's Week in Westminster bulletin reports Alistair Darling, chancellor of the exchequer saying, "sustainability will be at the heart of the next budget". He says the UK Government aims to promote zero carbon homes and suggested similar measures for cars in the next Budget, due in March or April 2008. Darling was speaking at the Prince of Wales' Accounting for Sustainability conference recently.
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Filling the driver void
Clearstone, which says it is the UK's leading truck driver training and recruitment firm, has a new service aimed at the growing demand for temporary drivers. Launched to catch the Christmas rush, this aims to 'fill the industry's skill shortages void' by finding drivers and other people for single shifts through to high volume jobs. The firm says the number of drivers in temporary jobs is up 67% compared to the beginning of November. "The temporary recruitment service is an exciting new market for us," said Scott Feldman, head of marketing at the company.
More from James Warnette on +44 (0)8 453 700 655 or james@octopuscomms.net
Cuts to red tape save £800m
John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, has unveiled over 200 red tape reduction proposals from 18 Whitehall ministries, according to the SMMT's Week in Westminster bulletin. The move is part of drive to cut regulation by 25% by 2010. The Government says cuts to red tape save UK businesses and others more than £800m a year. Did anyone publish the cost of changing the names of government ministries?
More from www.smmt.co.uk
Regional Transport Statistics published
The UK Department for Transport just published 'Regional Transport Statistics: 2007 Edition'. This, the seventh annual edition of this publication gives a wide range of transport data on personal travel, public transport, road vehicles, road safety and freight.
More from www.dft.gov.uk
Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
The next issue of Transport News Brief, out later this week, will carry our now traditional Christmas Quiz. As usual, there won't be questions about the automotive and transport industries, so that you can take a copy home without too much risk of accusations that you're taking your work home - again. To give you time to think about some of the answers, we'll send you them around Thursday 3 January. Transport News Brief should be back to its normal the following week. And the prize for getting lots of those answers right? A warm glow of self-satisfaction. In the meantime, have a splendid Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Cheers. Robin Dickeson, editor
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