Negative Nelly - 9 July 2024

Motoring Podcast - News Show

FOLLOW UP: CHINESE BUILT EV TARIFFS COME INTO EFFECT

The interim tariffs, from the EU on Chinese built EVs, has come into effect. Some of these have been tweaked, with Geely’s penalty dropping a fraction. The EU also published a document to explain who was hit by what and why. To find out more, click this Reuters link here.

SAIC have asked for a special hearing with the EU as it states some of its evidence has been ignored. SAIC are the hardest hit of all companies, with a 37.6% additional cost added to all their vehicles. To read more, click this Reuters article link here.

China has imposed stricter control on some rare earth material, which might impact those importing from China. Click this electrive article link here, to read further on this.

There are signs that the tariffs are having one intended consequence, with Smart considering building a production plant in Europe. You can read more, by clicking this Autocar article link here. BYD are ahead of all others though, as they announce an agreement to open a factory in Turkey, a deal worth $1 billion. Click this BBC News article link to read more.

EUROPEAN GSR2 COME INTO FORCE

The European General Safety Rules 2 (GSR2) have come into force now, with systems such as intelligent speed limiters being fitted to all cars in the EU, including Northern Ireland. This will mean that UK cars will also have them fitted but they are not legally required. If you wish to read more, click this EVO article link here.

JUNE 2024 NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS

June saw another month of flatline registrations, with a 1.1% increase on 2023. However, BEVs did take a market share of 19% for June, raising it to 17.9% for the year to date. However, Private registrations are dropping, worryingly so, yet again as the market share decreases 15.3% for the month, with it now down 12% for the year to date. A reminder, salary sacrifice is not a private registration, no matter how hard you really wish it was. Click this link from the SMMT to read more.

To read the article from Matt Prior explaining who will end up paying for the mandate policy, click this Autocar link here.

Autocar also have an Editor’s letter for the new UK Government, with recommendations on how they can help the car industry. Click this link to read that.

EVS TO PAY LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE IN 2025

Since 2020 Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed that EVs will pay the congestion charge from the end of 2025. Apparently, many have discovered this widely known news and are shocked. If you wish to learn more, click this EV Powered article link here.

GM FINED IN US FOR FAILING EMISSION TESTS

Between 2012 and 2018 some GM models produces around 10% more emissions than were declared. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in the US, has fined the car maker $146 million as a result. GM still state they have done nothing wrong. To read about this story, click this Jalopnik link here.

CHARGE CARS GOES INTO RECEIVERSHIP

The Arrival spinoff, which was to use their batteries and technology in restomoded EV Mustangs, has gone into receivership with all employees being made redundant. There are claims the company had models built and were due to deliver to customers. If you wish to read more on this story, click this Autocar article link here.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Honda Prelude

Honda are bringing the Prelude back to the UK, this time with a hybrid powertrain. Honda acknowledge that there are a lot of SUVs out there but they also like sporty cars. This will be a two door coupe based heavily on the Civic platform. To read more about this good news, click the Autocar link here.

Defender Octa

The Defender brand has decided their model needs an injection of ridiculous power. 626bhp, 4.4 litre V8 derived from BMW, will be inserted into 110 sized cars with only 1070 being built. The claim is it will be as good on the road as it is off the road. Interesting, as it is a large SUV that comes with off-road heritage. In order to find out more, click this Autocar link here.

Nybolt EV

Nybolt now have made their concept a working prototype to demonstrate their battery technology, which is quite astonishing. Designed by Julian Thompson, there is a clear likeness to the Mk 1 Elise, with similar front end and shape. The technology developed by Nybolt will allow the 35kW battery pack to be charged from 10-80% in 4 minutes 37sec if plugged into a 350kW charger. Also, it will have a maximum range up to 155 miles, according to WLTP. To read more on this very interesting development, click this EVO link here.

New U license for Australia

Australia is to introduce a new driving license, named the U-class license, that is for those who wish to drive vehicles with a gross mass up to 4.5 tonnes and a power-to-weight ratio of 370bhp per tonne or more. This does not include buses and motorcycles. Essentially it is a counter to all of the ridiculously powerful EVs and hypercars that technically anyone could buy and drive on the public roads. To pass you must take an online course, which we are not sure does enough but it is a step and may also either be adopted by other countries but also cause a pause for thought by the OEMs. Click this Driving Masters article link here, to read more.

LUNCHTIME READ: HOW BAD ARE MODERN CAR INTERFACES?

EVO enlist the help of a commercial pilot to try and navigate a modern car’s interface and give feedback. It is quite enlightening and hopefully manufacturers and legislators start to pay attention to all this, as it is a topic this show often speaks about. To read, click this link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: SLEEPERS

Autocar have another slideshow that we are sharing with you, this time cars that are genuinely rapid but did not need to shout about it, sleepers. Do you agree with the choice made? What would you pick? Click here to check out the options.

AND FINALLY: HOW DO YOU SAY TAXI WITH A G

Genesis are taking over the Ring Taxi duties, from BMW as they no longer have their cars hurtling around the track making passengers terrified or sick. The Genesis Track Taxi programme is open for business. They will be using the G70 3.3T car to enable mere mortals to experience the Nordschleife with an expert driver. To find out more, click this Motoring Research article link here.

Here is the link to Daniel Achterhuis visiting the Nurburgring video, click here.