HR dependant - 22 October 2024

Motoring Podcast - News Show

FOLLOW UP: TESLA STILL HIT BY SWEDISH STRIKES

In Sweden, the strikes by various workers from a variety of industries that serve parts of Tesla’s business has expanded to include the union Vision. Those that work on the Tesla Supercharger network will no longer service, repair or run maintenance on the charging stations. To learn more, click this Automotive News Europe article link here.

STELLANTIS TO SHAKE UP UK BUSINESS

Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis and wielder of the big hammer affectionately named “cuts”, has said there will be an announcement in the next few weeks for the “correction” they will be making to the UK business. In recent months the company has threatened the UK Government, as seems to be their Plan A in all countries, with closing production plants. The main bugbear is the ZEV mandate and, in the company’s eyes, a lack of financial support from the Government. Click this Autocar article to read more.

STELLANTIS UK GET A NEW MD AFTER SURPRISE EXIT

Mario Gazia Davino has made the shock move of leaving the company with immediate effect. Peugeot UK’s new director has been promoted to run the UK operation for Stellantis, and also Peugeot until a successor can be found. There is a lot of upheaval and changes of personnel within the company, both in the UK and Europe, in recent times. If you wish to read more on this, click here for an article from Auto Retail Network.

VW FINANCE HIT WITH FINE BY UK REGULATOR

Volkswagen Financial Service, one of the largest car finance operators in the UK, has been fined for failing to fairly treat customers in financial distress. The time period in question is January 2017 and July 2023 and covers around 110,000 customers. On top of the £5.4 million fine, the company has agreed to pay compensation in the order of £21.5 million to customers who suffered harm. In order to find out more, click this AMOnline article link here.

JLR APPOINTS NEW SALES DIRECTOR

JLR has appointed Angela Shepherd, as the group’s new sales director to help it transition to the luxury market. JLR are trying to move to a hybrid dealer and agency model. Click this AMOnline article link to learn more.

VOLVO SHAKE UP MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

In an attempt to create a company that is “designed to increase simplicity, speed and collaboration and reduce complexity by flattening our structure”. The most senior person to be impacted by this is the Chief Commercial Officer and deputy to the CEO, Björn Annwal. To read more on this matter, click here for an electrive article link.

MASERATI UK APPOINTS NEW BOSS

Peter Charters has left Maserati with immediate effect and has been replaced by Mariangela Del Vecchio. She will also be looking after Scandinavian operations. You can read more, by clicking this AMOnline article link here.

MORGAN CEO STEPS DOWN

Morgan Motor Company’s CEO, Massimo Fumarola, is to leave the company and be replaced by the chief technical officer, Matthew Hole. Click this Autocar article link to learn more.

TELSA driver assistance system INVESTIGATEd. AGAIN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation in to the driver assistance system from Tesla, Full Self Driving Beta. There are concerns that it is unable to detect objects in some weather conditions, such as bright sunshine or fog. Click this BBC News article link here, for more.

This week we are asking, if you can, please go support Alex Robbins, a friend of the show, who is raising money for Mission Motorsport. You will have heard us talk about this wonderful charity before and Alex is being insane enough to walk from their HQ to Anglesey Circuit in time for the annual Race of Remembrance. Only about 250 miles! CLICK THIS LINK HERE TO GO TO THE JUST GIVING PAGE.

NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

Paris Motor Show

We round up the Paris Motor Show, with Andrew being a bit ‘meh’, overall and Alan feeling a bit more positive about what was shown to us.

Click this Autocar link to read more.

LUNCHTIME watch: WAS TESLA’S “WE ROBOT” PRESENTATION JUST HOT AIR?

Matteo Licata, writing for Hagerty, dissects the Tesla “We Robot” event. He’s much more polite that the chaps are, as we all not so much saw behind the curtain but question if there was a curtain at all to peak behind. Click this link to read that article.

To watch the latest Looking Out: The Podcast episode, click this YouTube link here.

LIST OF THE WEEK: GREATEST SUPERCARS NEVER MADE

Autocar being us another slideshow, this time covering cars we all wanted but never made it to production for one reason or another. Do you agree with Alan’s choice? Don’t forget to tell him what you would have from the many options. Click here to see what is on offer.

AND FINALLY: WHEN FORZA ADDS YOUR CAR TO THE GAME

The Drive brings us an article on what happens and what it feels like when the Xbox racing game, Forza Motorsport decide to add your car to the game. Click this link here to read about that.