Now that the city of London has voted out “red Ken” in favor of Conservative candidate Boris Johnson, it is expected that the congestion charge scheme may undergo some changes. One electric car company, NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine), is showing no fear and is sounding positive about the future with their new mayor. They are even predicting increased business in the coming year. Julian Wilford, co-founder of the London-based company, states, “We know that Boris recognises the many benefits of owning an electric car,” in a press release that extends an invitation to the politician to give their shop a visit as well as discuss their upcoming plans. Perhaps they read his “colorful” opinion piece in the Telegraph in defense of that other London-centric electric car, the G-Wiz.
And what of those future plans? They plan on adding yet more models to their already-varied vehicle line-up which includes the Vectrix and Mega Multi Truck. For more a more detailed look into the future hit the jump for the press release.
Press Release :-
NICE Car Company to introduce more clean car choices in Boris’s London
London’s electric car company NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine) says it expects to build sales under new mayor Boris Johnson. That’s thanks to a combination of exemption from the capital’s congestion charge, free parking and growing concern among Londoners over the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel.
While the new mayor has said he will reform congestion charge, NICE believes owners of its Mega City car should continue to pay nothing to enter the zone. Small and pretty, the cars travel up to 40 mile on just one overnight charge, more than adequate for the majority of daily journeys. Crucially, they are also pollution-free; they emit no CO2, no NOX and no carbon monoxide.
“We know that Boris recognises the many benefits of owning an electric car,” said Julian Wilford, co-founder of NICE cars. “But we also understand the importance of choice to the mayor – and to our customers. At the NICE Car Company we have the widest range of zero-emissions vehicles on the market and hope the new mayor will find time to visit our West London base to learn more.”
Petrol and diesel now cost more than £5 a gallon which means around 14p per mile for an owner of a medium-sized car, capable of 35mpg. NICE owners pay around a tenth of that - just 1.5 p per mile. As Vehicle Excise Duty is also CO2-based, they also benefit from no annual road tax.
Launched at the British Motor Show in 2006, the NICE Car Company will be back at the ExCeL-based show from 23 July to 3 August this year. It will have a bigger stand, with several model launches. It will also reveal more about plans to have electric models in many different market segments by the end of the year.
In addition to motor show, NICE is looking forward to its first-ever SMMT Test Day on 22 May 2008. The Millbrook driving event will present an opportunity to launch a new car to the media, one of the first model launches by any participant at the event.
RIA Novosti cited Ms Valentina Matvienko governor of St Petersburg, when delivering the annual address to the Legislative Assembly of the city, as saying that General Motors will launch its new plant at St Petersburg on November 5th 2008.
Ms Valentina Matvienko said “The second automobile plant of General Motors will be launched on November 5th 2008 and that laying the foundation stone of Hyundai has been slated for June when St Petersburg hosts the Economic Forum.”
The report added that General Motors, will launch in St. Petersburg the plant worth roughly USD 300 million with the annual capacity of 70,000 cars. Captiva off highway vehicles are amid the models to be made by GM in that city of Russia.
General Motors is represented in Russia already. The company has a joint venture with local automobile giant AvtoVAZ. GM-AvtoVAZ was set into motion September 2002 and it currently makes Chevrolet Niva off highway vehicles and Chevrolet Viva cars.
Vehicle sales confidence indicator, compiled by auto financier Wesbank, dropped to 5.1 points in the first quarter from 5.4 points in the fourth quarter of 2007, it showed on Wednesday.
The indicator, which polled 500 vehicle sales staff, finance and insurance people, measures confidence on a scale of 1-10 with the highest score indicating an upbeat market and the lowest score indicating a subdued market.
“Given the rate hike and fuel increase, the South African vehicle sales market has fallen on tough times. With the bleak economic picture that is being painted by many commentators, the positive future outlook of dealers may be misplaced,” Wesbank said.
In the medium term, Wesbank said the respondents’ expected the market to pick up slightly with the indicator reading rising to 5.2 in the next three months before climbing to 6.1 by this time next year.
“This seems optimistic given predictions that, even without the current proposals on electricity pricing not taken into considerations, CPIX is only expected to return to the target levels in the last quarter of 2009,” Wesbank said.
A SURVEY of three cars being offered for sale at a Cynon Valley garage to uncovered the fact two of the cars were dangerous.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s trading standards officers and VOSA staff joined forces to complete a survey of cars being offered for sale at Aberdare Car Sales.
The survey formed part of an ongoing campaign across the Rhondda Cynon Taff area to ensure the cars being sold to residents and driven on the roads meet safety standards and do not put the public at risk.
During the inspection last August, three cars on the forecourt of the Canal Road business were tested.
Two of them, including one trading standards officers had just taken for a test drive, were found to have defects that rendered them dangerous.
A Ford Mondeo and a Volkswagen Golf had tyre treads below the legal limit of 1.6mm.
When questioned, the manager admitted he did not know what the legal tread limit was.
The Golf, which officers had been allowed to take for a test drive, also had a faulty handbrake.
Manager Lyndon Alun Davies appeared at Aberdare Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted the two offences and was fined £350, ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £15 and also £455 court costs.
“It is concerning we continue to identify faults on these cars and managers of such businesses have to get the message,” said Rhondda Cynon Taf Council trading standards manager Tony O’Leary.
“We simply cannot have innocent customers driving away from showrooms on to public roads in vehicles that are illegal.
“There is a wealth of advice and support on offer for businesses to ensure their stock is safe and they are abiding by the law.
Norwegian automaker Think Global said Monday it planned to sell low-priced electric cars to the masses and will introduce its first models in the U.S. by the end of next year.
The battery-powered Think City will be able to travel up to 110 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of about 65 mph, the company said. It will be priced below $25,000.
Oslo-based Think said venture capital firms RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers had made investments to fund its entry into the U.S. under the auspices of Think North America.
“This is not a toy,” said Wilber James, RockPort managing partner. “This is a serious car that we expect to sell.”
Think North America is likely to be based in Southern California, the investors said, and the cars it sells here will be assembled locally. The venture investors will own half of Think North America. In March, General Electric Co. invested $4 million in Think Global.
Although technology for electric cars has been advancing — and consumer interest has been rising amid growing concern over gasoline prices and greenhouse gases — few vehicles have come to market. Last month, San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla Motors began production of its Roadster, an electric vehicle that costs $100,000.
The Think City “is a mass-market vehicle,” said Kleiner managing partner Ray Lane, dismissing comparisons to the Roadster. Tesla’s car is being produced in relatively small numbers, with roughly 300 expected by the end of this year. “Our desire is to be selling 30-40-50,000 of these cars in a couple of years.”
Think Chief Executive Jan-Olaf Willums said the company would bring test vehicles to the U.S. in the coming months.
The Think City runs on sodium batteries, but future versions could use lithium ion batteries, Willums said. The company is working with A123 Systems and EnerDel Inc., to develop the batteries, which would boost range and speed.
With most automakers focusing on hybrid technology, only a handful, including Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motor Co., have announced plans to produce all-electric cars. Mitsubishi’s MiEV is set to go on sale in Japan next year.
Ford Motor Co. was the longtime owner of Think but sold it in 2003. It was purchased by Norweigan investors two years ago, and began selling cars in Norway this year, with sales in Sweden, Denmark and Britain expected this year. The company said its annual production capacity in Europe is 10,000 vehicles.
The Think City, a two-seater that can be fitted with two additional seats for children, has a mostly plastic exterior and is 95% recyclable. Willums said a convertible was in development. “Women want to buy it immediately,” he said.
Toyota through its sole agent PT Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) won 33.25 percent of car sales in Indonesia in the first quarter of 2008, the company`s president director Johnny Darmawan said here on Monday.
In the first quarter of this year the total car sales in Indonesia were recorded at 135,607 units or an increase by 60.8 percent if compared with the same period a year earlier.
Johnny said that Toyota led the market for all non-commercial vehicle (non-passenger) types such as sedan cars, multifarious vehicle (MPV) and sport vehicles (SUV).
“In the first quarter, we succeeded not only in maintaining our position as a market leader but also in leading all market segments for non-commercial vehicles,” he said.
On the sedan car segment, TAM controlled 41 percent of the sales with 3,548 units while on the 4×2 segment Toyota car was leading with a sale of 37,306 units or 43.1 percent, he said.
The same was also true to the 4×4 market segment, Toyota was leading with a market sale of over 40 percent.
In the first quarter of 2008, Toyota`s sales for Vios and Limo cars which were included in the mini-sedan segment reached 1,410 units (28.6 percent) and 545 units (11 percent) respectively.
The sales of Corolla and Camry which were included in the middle sedan car segment were recorded at 827 units (47.2 percent) and 763 units (46.7 percent).
“TAM`s sales of sedan cars increased 308 percent compared with those in the corresponding period last year. The increase exceeded the national sedan car sales level which rose 177.3 percent,” Johnny said.
The sales of Toyota sedans were ranked first with a market share of 41 percent, followed by Honda (31.8 percent) and Suzuki (14.3 percent).
In the 4×2 (MPV) segment, Toyota led the market with a controlled share of 43.1 percent, followed by Suzuki (15.5 percent) and Daihatsu (14.7 percent).
“In this segment, the highest sales remained with those of Avanza mini buses (16,158 units) and Kijang Innova (14,033 units). It was followed in the third place by Daihatsu Xenia with a sale of 7,778 units,” he added.
RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, will offer an exciting line-up of important Ferrari sports and racing cars when they return to Maranello, Italy on May 18th for the much-anticipated ‘Ferrari: Leggenda e Passione’ auction event. Headlining the list of significant consignments for the single-day event is a pair of rare and ultra-desirable California Spyders, a 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe Pinin Farina with celebrity provenance, and a 1951 Ferrari 340 America Coupé with a superlative racing history.
London, England (April 14, 2008) – Ferrari aficionados will have a rare opportunity to peruse and bid on some of the marque’s finest – and oldest – sports and racing cars next month when RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, returns to Maranello, Italy for their much-anticipated Ferrari: Leggenda e Passione auction event.
To be held May 18th at Maranello’s legendary Ferrari factory, the single-day event will present dozens of significant vintage Ferraris for auction, as well as a selection of newer Ferrari models, and items from one of the world’s most important Ferrari memorabilia collections, Jacques Swaters’ famed Ferrari Francorchamps Collection.
“Our upcoming Ferrari Leggenda e Passione auction is set to be a truly historic and international event, highlighting over 50 years of Ferrari history,” said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM’s European Operations.
“We have received tremendous early interest in the event and have secured a magnificent assortment of consignments, including some of the earliest Ferraris produced, making this a ‘must attend’ event for professional collectors and those with a predilection for the Ferrari marque,” he added.
Headlining the growing list of significant consignments are no less than two rare and ultra-desirable California Spyders – a magnificent 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder, (s/n 0923GT) and a stunning 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spyder (s/n 2377GT) with celebrity provenance. Completed on March 3, 1961, 2377GT was shipped to the US in the 1960s after being purchased by Academy Award winning actor, James Coburn, who shared a passion for Italian sports cars with close friend and fellow Ferrari enthusiast, the legendary Steve McQueen. Over the course of his 25-year ownership, Coburn was a regular sight in his Spyder, using it as a daily driver to and from the movie studios. Additionally, on weekends, he, along with McQueen and fellow actor James Garner, could often be found testing their driving abilities through the winding Hollywood hills. Throughout Coburn’s ownership, he repainted the vehicle three times, first in dark blue, followed by silver and finally burgundy; today the car appears in its original black and includes extensive documentation relating to its restoration and maintenance.
Another star attraction with celebrity provenance, and just confirmed for the May auction, is a fabulously restored 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe Pinin Farina (s/n 0265EU). Fitted with a prototype 3.0-litre 250 type V12 engine, this unique example was purchased new by renowned film director Roberto Rossellini and used on a road trip to Sweden by him and his wife, three-time Academy Award winning actress, Ingrid Bergman.
Also set to cross the block at the Maranello event is a legendary 1951 Ferrari 340 America Ghia Coupe, (s/n 0150A). Regarded as one of the rarest of all early racing Ferraris, this example was the last of four 340 Americas bodied by Carrozzeria Ghia, and the only one with a superlative racing history. Sold new in 1952 to noted Ferrari patron, Antonio “Tony” Paravano, the car was subsequently shipped to California before making its racing debut at Torrey Pines in July 1952, closely followed by an appearance at the grueling Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, where Jack and Ernie McAfee drove it to a respectable fifth place finish.
To coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Ferrari Daytona, the May event will also offer an ultra-collectible, award-winning 1971 Ferrari GTS/4 Daytona Spyder, a fully restored 1971 Daytona Coupe; and a totally original 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, with just one owner from new and 2,500 original miles.
One of the most talked about displays at last week’s New York International Auto Show was a crumpled Ford Taurus. Ford wanted to show visitors how well the car withstands a collision.
This is relatively new terrain for automakers, which historically–and religiously–avoid any suggestion that automobiles actually collide, that you might lose your life in one of their products. Safety features are most often promoted by showing how the vehicle miraculously avoids trouble: the SUV that swerves to avert a child darting into the street, the family sedan that abruptly stops on slick pavement, inches short of a fender bender with a car that had mistakenly nosed into an intersection and so forth.
Automobile safety has always been hard to explain, difficult to sell. And car makers have allowed unspoken white lies about safety to move their product. Drivers who ride high in a vehicle, for example, report feeling safer because they can see out over traffic. Yet a vehicle with a high center of gravity is more likely to roll. Large and heavy cars cocoon passengers in copious steel, protecting them in the event of a collision. Yet large and heavy vehicles are more likely to lose traction (and are very difficult to regain control of once they skid or spin). They’re more likely to be involved in an accident in the first place.
There are signs that this conventional wisdom is changing. Volkswagen ran a memorable, if controversial, campaign for its 2007 Jetta and Passat called, “Safe Happens.” Commercials showed passengers riding along casually and nonchalantly before a violent crash. The passengers emerge unharmed and the vehicle is mostly intact. Viewers hated the commercials for dramatizing the fears that lurk with anyone who straps on a safety belt in an automobile. But the ads raised consumer interest in Volkswagen.
SmartCar realized that safety was a crucial consideration for its debut. Engineers at the company are justifiably proud of the canny ways the car protects its occupants. They put videos of the crash tests on the Internet even before the ForTwo went on sale in the United States. At any press event, they have crumpled, rolled and battered vehicles on display.
The stock markets may have tanked, oil prices may have sky rocketed and interest rates may have gone up. But that has not stopped the common man from walking into a car dealership and driving home his set of dream wheels. Most car companies sold more cars in India during financial year 2007-08 than they have ever done before. And there’s one big reason for this: the onslaught of new models hitting Indian roads.
With more options on the table, customers have flocked to showrooms and the numbers tell the story. Maruti Suzuki rode strong with a 12% growth in sales. While small cars continued to dominate the company’s sales with a 13.4% growth, its brand new Maruti SX4 sedan helped it break the domination of Honda City in the mid-size sedan category.
And as a result, Honda, bound by capacity constraints for most part of the year, found it tough to keep up its sales during the year. But it was General Motors (GM) that recorded the highest growth in percentage terms. Again a new model the Chevrolet Spark coupled with some customer incentives and interesting variants garnered the numbers.
Next in line was Fiat, which saw a revival in sales thanks to its distribution tie-up with Tata Motors. But with just 3379 units sold over the year, the company still has a long way to go if it wants to make its presence felt. The newly launched diesel Palio with the 1.3 litre Multijet engine and the upcoming Linea and Grande Punto may just do the trick.
Another star attraction during the year was the Mahindra Renault Logan, an entry level sedan which gave the existing biggies a serious run for their money.
Perhaps the best validation of the fact that new model launches have driven sales comes from Tata Motors, which witnessed a decline in sales because it could not offer something new to its customer. During the year, company executives reiterated this lacuna, assuring customers that 2008 will be the year to watch out.
The refurbished portfolio includes the new Indica and the much-awaited Nano. Ford too had a similar story to tell. While there might be some sighs of relief in Dearborn, Michigan with the income of $2.3 billion from the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover, the falling sales in market like India must be a cause of worry.
It’s a new month, and new April incentives are gradually rolling out. GM’s the first to post, and thus far the deals are slightly underwhelming.
Chevy is offering $1,500 cash back on its Impala sedan, a perennial best-seller despite its otherwise bland personality. The carmaker is also giving back $2,000 on the 2008 Avalanche, which Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays lauded in his review when the truck first hit the scene. Both cars also have 36-month, 2.9% financing offers.
Chevy is continuing its usual high-dollar truck incentives in April, offering between $1,500 and $3,250 cash back on its various Silverado trucks. Incentives expire April 30.
