Tag Archives: scrapped

News

Report: Tesla Model 2 scrapped in favour of robotaxis

Tesla has scrapped plans for a brand new ‘Model 2’ entry-level electrical automobile, Reuters experiences.

The long-promised new mannequin line, which boss Elon Musk lately prompt may enter manufacturing late subsequent 12 months, was tipped to return to market at lower than £25,000 as a rival to the likes of the Volkswagen ID 2, Renault 5 and MG 4 EV.

Citing three sources accustomed to the matter and inner firm messages, Reuters says the project has been scrapped and the platform that was to underpin the EV will now be used for a line of autonomous robotaxis, produced at a lot decrease volumes.

Tesla refused to remark when approached by Autocar and Musk responded to the report with a submit on his social media platform, X, that learn merely: “Reuters is dying”.

Tesla has lengthy hinted at plans for a cut-price new automobile to sit down beneath the Model 3 saloon and Model Y crossover however has solely given restricted indications of its positioning over the previous few years.

Most lately, the agency launched a shadowy teaser picture of its silhouette, suggesting it will successfully be a downsized tackle the Model 3.

The American agency spoke of formidable plans to promote an astonishing 700 million examples of the automobile, codenamed Project Redwood, over its lifetime.

Tesla’s transfer away from the cheaper finish of the EV market comes at a time when inexpensive Chinese cars, such because the BYD Dolphin, are arriving within the UK. 

Crucial to the Model 2’s viability was a brand new manufacturing course of known as Unboxed, which primarily revolves round lowering the quantity of labor achieved at every stage of the manufacturing line, avoiding any pointless motion or disassembly of the automobile or its parts throughout its journey down the manufacturing line.

For instance, the seats can be mounted on to the underfloor battery pack, with all the unit then raised right into a bodyshell that has been painted in sections to keep away from the necessity for door removing and reinstallation.

Initial manufacturing for the Model 2 was tipped for Germany. The automobile’s platform was considered unrelated to different Teslas.

Reuters suggests this manufacturing course of and the platform to which it applies will as an alternative be deployed for Tesla’s long-mooted autonomous ride-hailing car – which will not be produced in the identical colossal volumes.

It quotes a supply as saying “Elon’s directive is to go all in on Robotaxi”.

News

Tax hike for pick-ups reversed by UK authorities

One week on from proposed new company car taxes for double-cab pick-up vehicles HMRC has scrapped the plans.

Company automobile scheme customers who purchased or leased a double-cab pick-up truck had been as a result of see the benefit in kind (BIK) funds sky rocket below proposals introduced on 12 February, however in a dramatic U-turn after criticism from farmers and the motor trade it has reversed its determination.

HRMC had introduced that they’d not take into account double-cab pick-up trucks as industrial autos, as their second row of seats allowed them to have a twin perform as a private car.

The change to firm automobile tax BIK for double-cab pick-up vehicles was as a result of be applied on all new purchases or leases from 1 July 2024, and would have meant house owners not paid a flat fee of BIK for all industrial autos and as a substitute be taxed utilizing the emissions-based system used for passenger vehicles.

Double-cab pick-up house owners would due to this fact seemingly have been lumbered with the very best 37% fee of BIK because of the excessive CO2 emissions of most pick-up vehicles.

In a press release, HMRC stated “its existing guidance will be withdrawn” and that double-cab pick-ups would “continue to be treated as goods vehicles rather than cars”. As a outcome, “businesses and individuals can continue to benefit from its historic tax treatment”.

The preliminary determination was as a result of a ruling within the Court of Appeal that said multi-purpose autos like pick-up vehicles are passenger vehicles, after HMRC received a case towards Coca-Cola over the classification of five-seat vans.

The repercussions of that ruling had meant that the tax “loophole” permitting pick-up vehicles to be classed as industrial autos was forged into doubt, threatening the excessive quantity of gross sales for pick-up vehicles within the UK.

Despite the change of coronary heart, nevertheless, it’s going to solely have an effect on double-cab pick-ups with a payload of multiple tonne. Double-cab pick-ups with payloads under 1000kg, just like the Ford Ranger Raptor, will proceed to be classed as passenger vehicles.

News

UK purchased twice as many vehicles because it scrapped this yr

The UK purchased greater than twice as many vehicles because it scrapped in 2023, based on knowledge obtained by Autocar.

Obtained by Freedom of Information request, it revealed that 798,363 vehicles and light-weight industrial automobiles (LCVs) had been scrapped between the beginning of January and the top of October. 

That’s lower than half of the 1,889,758 new vehicles and LCVs bought over the identical interval, and a drop in contrast with the 857,107 automobiles scrapped over the identical interval final yr.

This was regardless of the increase probably offered by London’s ULEZ scrappage scheme, which had its eligibility standards broadened in early August. 

Autocar just lately reported that the ULEZ scrappage scheme was struggling to satisfy demand from candidates, following the enlargement of the clean-air zone on 29 August.

The earlier ULEZ scrappage scheme – which ran in 2021 and had a lot stricter necessities – was alone answerable for taking some 15,000 vehicles off the street, based on Transport for London.

Nonetheless, the UK’s automobile parc continues to age: European trade foyer group the ACEA printed figures in January revealing that the UK’s common automobile was 10 years outdated.Cars in scrapyard

The Ford Focus was the most-scrapped automobile within the UK this yr, with 42,637 examples going to scrapyards.

The Focus has lengthy been one of many UK’s favorite vehicles. On its arrival in late 1998, it set a brand new benchmark for family-minded consumers, handily beating its rivals in nearly each respect.

It had extra radical, forward-thinking styling, rode extra comfortably, dealt with higher and but wasn’t considerably dearer.

Between 1999 and 2009 – over two generations – the Focus held the highest spot on the UK’s annual new automobile gross sales charts.

After that time, the smaller Ford Fiesta grew to become the nation’s most-bought automobile, however the Focus remained an everyday fixture within the prime 10. 

Since 2009, there have been one other two generations of Focus, however the long-running hatchback will meet its end in 2025, amid Ford’s wider reinvention in Europe.

Scrapped Vauxhall Zafira