Tag Archives: bosses

News

BYD Seagull may come to UK in model’s reasonably priced EV push

BYD’s UK bosses are eager for the corporate to supply the low-cost BYD Seagull electric car to British patrons.

No resolution has but been taken nonetheless on if and when the three.8-metre-long Seagull would launch within the UK, but when it does it will probably be the cheapest electric car on sale within the UK.

In China, it’s priced from the equal of £8000, a worth at which BYD is known to make the automobile profitably and nonetheless supply a spread near 200 miles.

BYD’s UK advertising boss Mark Blundell mentioned he was “keen to have it” when requested in regards to the potential UK launch of the Seagull and mentioned there was a transparent area under the BYD Dolphin hatchback within the vary for it. It is bought because the Dolphin Mini in some markets.

Blundell mentioned it was BYD’s technique to “make electric cars accessible to all” and eager pricing was a part of that. “EVs shouldn’t just be for well-off people…[we need to] have affordable EVs in the range, and need accessible EVs, not just £50, 60, 70,000 ones”.

Blundell was talking at an occasion to mark the one-year anniversary of BYD’s launch within the UK. The agency has not set any targets for UK gross sales or development however the agency, which bought extra electrical automobiles than some other automobile maker globally final yr, together with Tesla, is effectively backed, effectively funded and impressive – and development akin to that achieved by MG within the UK is conceivable over the following few years.

In the medium time period, Blundell mentioned he’d prefer to see BYD “established as a credible brand, with an established infrastructure and dealer network and to be part of the landscape” within the UK. “We need coverage in key markets and robust aftersales.”

The agency plans to go from 21 to 60 sellers within the UK by the summer season, giving good geographic protection throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Blundell was the primary workers member within the UK on BYD’s automobile aspect – it has been promoting buses within the UK for 10 years now, too – however the agency has round 40 workers now and shall be including 100 or so extra within the subsequent few months.

BYD operates a wholesale retail mannequin and retains a great inventory of automobiles to have the ability to get them to patrons rapidly; Blundell quoted a typical two-week lead time to get automobiles to patrons after orders.

Part of its capacity to maintain prices so low is by producing so many components in-house and proudly owning a lot of the logistics and provide chain; one instance given by Blundell is that the agency has lately commissioned its personal cargo ship that holds 7000 automobiles.

“We control what we can control,” he mentioned. “We’re switched onto provide chain and logistics and ‘build our own’“ in the case of elements.

That coverage will even lengthen to the agency’s new automobile European manufacturing unit in Hungary that shall be on stream subsequent yr, though Blundell mentioned it was not but determined which fashions could be constructed there.

News

Cadillac-backed Andretti Formula 1 bid rejected for 2025

Formula 1 bosses have rejected plans by Andretti Autosport, backed by General Motors (GM), to enter the game in 2025 – however have left it as a risk for the 2028 season.

Racing big Andretti Autosport, which runs groups in Indycar and Formula E amongst different classes, had introduced a bid to enter F1 in a partnership with GM’s Cadillac model final yr. The Andretti Cadillac squad needed to enter the game in 2025 utilizing buyer energy models whereas GM developed the aptitude to construct its personal models.

Those plans have been authorized by the FIA, world motorsport’s governing physique, late final yr, however additionally they required the backing of Formula 1 proprietor Liberty Media, which controls the business rights to the championship.

F1 chiefs have launched a prolonged assertion outlining why they don’t imagine Andretti Cadillac justifies a spot on the grid from 2025. They say their discovering have been primarily based on the possible competitiveness of the entry, its business and logistical affect and its future energy unit provide preparations.

The assertion famous that “the presence of an 11th team would not, in and of itself, provide value to the championship”. It famous that probably the most important method for a brand new entrant so as to add worth was by being aggressive however added “most of the attempts to establish a new constructor in the last several decades have not been successful”.

The assertion additionally stated: “While the Andretti name carries some recognition for F1 fans, our research indicates that F1 would bring value to the Andretti brand rather than the other way around.”

F1 chiefs did notice that having GM present energy models would add business worth, but in addition highlighted that this was offset by Andretti’s plans to make use of buyer engines whereas GM ramped up its programme, and {that a} new powertrain constructor would face a steep problem to be aggressive – particularly with a brand new technical package deal as a result of be launched in 2026.

The assertion highlighted challenges and additional prices an eleventh staff may trigger for race promoters and concluded that the bid “would not add value to the championship” and subsequently “should not be successful”.

Despite that blow, F1 chiefs didn’t shut the door totally on Andretti Cadillac – suggesting it may revisit forward of the 2028 season. The assertion stated: “We would look differently on an application for the entry of a team into the 2028 Championship with a GM power unit, either as a GM works team or as a GM customer team designing all allowable components in-house.”

How Andretti gained FIA backing

While the Andretti bid has been rejected by F1 bosses, it has beforehand been authorized by the FIA, which has lengthy been eager to broaden the grid of the top-flight class. 

News

F1 to analyze hydrogen energy for future motorsport use

Formula 1 technical bosses will examine the potential of hydrogen for future use in motorsport as a part of a brand new working group.

The new Hydrogen Working Group shall be tasked with evaluating the event and use of hydrogen inside each motorsport and “wider mobility”.

The physique will embody figures from motorsport governing physique the FIA, F1 and Extreme H, the hydrogen-powered off-road racing sequence that is as a consequence of launch in 2025.

The group will have a look at each hydrogen gas cell and battery programs corresponding to those who shall be used to energy the primary Extreme H vehicles, in addition to how hydrogen can be utilized extra extensively as a part of motorsport infrastructure, corresponding to transportation, charging, storage and administration. A key focus may also be trying on the security of the know-how.

While F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds and different figures shall be on the panel, there isn’t any indications that the class is adopting hydrogen powertrains.

F1 is concentrated on reaching net-zero however, at current, chiefs have put a concentrate on the event of environmentally pleasant artificial e-fuels to energy its subsequent technology of hybrid energy models.

Symonds stated: “Our sport has a tradition of bringing new technologies to the forefront of public perception in incredibly short timescales. We do this by being open-minded to all solutions and embracing cross-functional engineering.”

He added that F1 was “committed to promoting sustainability” and in consequence wanted “to explore all areas of decarbonisation of the mobility sector, [which] must include sustainable liquid hydrocarbon fuels, electrification and hydrogen”.

Extreme H shall be a sister sequence to battery-electric Extreme E. The plan is for the 2 classes to share occasions and use the identical chassis (produced by Spark) however with totally different powertrains.

Bosses intention to disclose a prototype racer earlier than the top of this 12 months, have an in depth testing programme happen in 2024 after which launch the sequence the next 12 months. They intention for it to develop into an official FIA World Championship in 2026.

News

New Alpine A310 Coming as Electric, Four-seat A110

The French company, Alpine, is planning to reintroduce the A310 as a stylish, four-seat electric sports car. The company’s executives have confirmed that the upcoming model will stay true to Alpine’s core values of lightness and agility. This revival of the A310 is part of a larger initiative by the Renault Group’s sporting brand to launch seven new electric cars by 2030.

The new A310 will share the same Alpine Performance Platform (APP) as the upcoming electric A110 coupe, which is scheduled for release in 2027. It is expected that the A310 will serve as a more practical option compared to the flagship two-seater A110, similar to the relationship between the Porsche 718 Cayman and 911 models.

The APP architecture focuses on performance and flexibility and will form the foundation for a compact four-seater that promises engaging driving dynamics, aiming to become an iconic future sports car. Alpine’s marketing director, Bruce Pillard, emphasized that even though their future models will be electric, they will retain the essence of Alpine vehicles with their agility and lightweight feel.

Design director Antony Villain stated that they plan to create a 2+2 sports car that combines the concept of the A310 with the current APP platform. The final design is expected to be completed within 18 months.

This decision to make the A310 a four-seater aligns with Alpine’s broader strategy to transition from a niche manufacturer to a major player in the global automotive market. Their diversified lineup will include the A290 hot hatchback based on the Renault 5, the A110 in both coupe and roadster versions, the A310, the GT X-Over crossover, and luxury models in the D- and E-segments. All of these models are set to be released within the next seven years.