Make your own up - 21 January 2025

Motoring Podcast - News Show

FOLLOW UP: BT ENDS EV CHARGER PILOT

After converting just a single junction box to enable EV charging, BT has pulled the plug on their project. Originally touted as having a potential to convert up to 90,000 cabinets, the company is focusing on improving wifi provision for EV chargers. To learn more, click this Autocar article link here.

FOLLOW UP: FTC SUES JOHN DEERE OVER REPAIR MONOPOLY

In the US, the Federal Trade Commission along with Illinois and Minnesota, have taken John Deere to court over claims of a monopoly on repair to their equipment. The claims explain how due to only John Deere being able to fix farm machinery their is a loss of earnings as the farmers have to wait for a technician. This has potential knock on for the motoring industry. Click this 404 Media article link, to read more.

EV POWERTRAIN FACTORY TO BE BUILT IN SUNDERLAND

A company owned by Nissan, Jatco, will build a factory in Sunderland that will produce the car company’s next generation EV powertrains. The UK Government is investing £50 million in the project. If you want to read more, click this Autocar article here.

STELLANTIS UK MANAGEMENT CHANGES

Stellantis UK have made changes to their management team, again. This time Nicola Dobson will head up Peugeot. Giuseppe Cava will be the MD for Fiat, Fiat Professional and Abarth. Damien Dally will lead the Leapmotor brand. Nick Richards will be the director of pre-owned vehicles. Tom Ray is in charge of business-to-business for all brands. To learn more, click this AMOnline link here.

FTC BANS GM FROM PASSING DRIVER DATA ON

For the next five years, GM is banned from passing driver data onto consumer reporting agencies, in the United States. Additionally, they must make it clear what data they do collect and give people choice over if it is collected and used. Click this article from the Federal Trade Commission for more details.

HINO SETTLES US EMISSION BATTLE

In the United States, the Toyota subsidiary Hino, has settled with regulators an emission scandal involving their diesel engines. Fined $1.6 billion, plead guilty and banned from importing their engines to the country for five years. Amazing what happens to non-US companies, compared to their own. Click this BBC News article link for more.

CANOO FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY

The EV startup, Canoo, has filed for bankruptcy after it failed to find further funding. To find out more, click this TechCrunch article here.

CHARGE CAR HAS BEEN BOUGHT

The collapsed EV restomod company, Charge Car, has been bought and resurrected, by a consortium who plan to follow through on the program of building electric Mustangs. If you wish to read more, click this Autocar link here.

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NEW NEW CAR NEWS -

KGM Actyon

KGM has revealed details of their new SUV, the Actyon. Aimed at the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq and Honda CR-V, it will initially come with a 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine producing 161bhp. Prices are expected to start from £31,995. Click this Autocar article to learn more.

Toyota Urban Cruiser

The Urban Cruiser name returns, on a new electric SUV from Toyota. Due to arrive later this year, with a rumoured price over £30,000. This is very similar to the eVitara we covered recently. Click this Top Gear article link to read more.

BYD Atto 2

BYD is launching the Atto 2 SUV in Europe. Sitting between the Dolphin and Atto 3, in their range. Rivals are expected to be the likes of the Vauxhall Frontera and Renault 4. Range, for the 45.1kWh battery, is expected to be around 194 miles. Prices are thought to be around the mid £20,000s, in line with the competition. Click this Autocar article to read more.

DS plans

DS has bold plans. No, you don’t seem to understand, we really do mean BOLD. Not content with not competing with Mercedes, BMW and Audi they now are aiming higher and looking to challenge the likes of Bentley. They seem to like the thinking from Jaguar and are following suit, although we have to wait for the rebrand and adverts. Click this Autocar article to read more.

LUNCHTIME WATCH: WILL THE MINI JEEP MAKE IT TO AREA 51? EP.3

The third instalment of the insane journey by Ed March and a mini Jeep he has modified, to Area 51. Hope you like snow and tank tracks! Click this YouTube link to watch this brilliant video.

LIST OF THE WEEK: HOW TO ESCAPE YOUR CAR IF THE ELECTRONIC DOOR HANDLE FAILS

Consumer Reports has listed all the ways to get out of cars that have electronic door handles, if they fail. There is a lack of consistency in how brands enable you to use and override, let alone where it is located. Click this article link to read more on this dangerous and stupid door handle evolution.

AND FINALLY: VISIT POTHOLE LAND

The enterprising residents of a village near Wrexham have decided to try and cash in on the state of their roads by setting up a tourist attraction called Pothole Land. Once again, people using humour to point out the ridiculous state of the UK’s infrastructure. And no, AI won’t make a difference. Click this BBC News article to read more.