Insurance giant Axa calls for clarity on self-driving cars June 16, 2022 French insurer Axa has called on the government to offer greater clarity around autonomous vehicles to support the rollout of self-driving cars. The French insurance firm called on the government to put in place laws that enable the deployment of self-driving vehicles, as it said lawmakers should work with the insurance sector to “pave the [...]
Suez keen to buy back UK business ahead of Veolia competition ruling June 16, 2022 French waste and water firm Suez is gearing up to buy back its former UK business. The UK’s competition watchdog is set to make a judgement next month on whether rival Veolia can take over the arm. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had warned last month that the merger could result in council bills [...]
EV and hybrid to make 80 per cent of Ferrari’s sales by 2030 June 16, 2022 Electric and hybrid vehicles will make 80 per cent of Ferrari’s sales by 2030, according to the company. The luxury marquee pledged to build “even more unique” cars as it makes the transition to net-zero. “Everything we do will always focus on being distinctively Ferrari,” chairman John Elkann told investors this morning. “The opportunity set of [...]
Shapps confirms plan to use agency workers to replace striking rail staff June 16, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed he will use agency workers to cover for striking rail staff if industrial action drags on throughout the summer. Shapps today said the government was looking at a “look at a full range of options” to minimise disruption from striking workers, adding that people with “transferable skills” could be asked [...]
Halfords calls on government to rethink scrapping of EV grant June 16, 2022 Motoring retailer Halfords has called on the government to rethink its decision to scrap the £1,500 grant for the purchase of new electric cars. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced on Tuesday it would “refocus” the funding available away from the grant to encourage other road users, including taxis and delivery vans, to make the [...]
Not there yet: Rail numbers lag behind, reaching 62 per cent of pre-Covid levels June 16, 2022 Rail travel continues to lag behind, as passenger journeys made in the last quarter amounted to 62.1 per cent of 2019 levels. According to a report published today by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), a total of 275 million journeys were made between January and March – three times more than 2020 levels [...]
Speedy recovery of business air travel will bring billions to UK economy June 16, 2022 A speedy recovery of business air travel could bring extra billions into the UK’s pockets, according to a study published today by WPI Economics. Figures showed that business travellers returning to pre-pandemic levels by 2023 would lead growth rates increasing by 50 per cent by 2030, whereas passenger levels going back by 2025 would cause [...]
Uber calls on rivals to offer employment benefits as Bolt faces trade union lawsuit June 15, 2022 Uber has called on its rivals to give drivers employment benefits, after one of the UK’s biggest unions said it is taking legal action against ride-hailing app Bolt over its lack of workers’ protections. Britain’s third largest trade union, GMB, is set to file legal proceedings against Bolt, in a bid to force the Estonian [...]
DfT accuses TfL of failing to provide recommendation for pension reform June 15, 2022 The Department for Transport (DfT) has accused Transport for London (TfL) of failing to provide a recommendation for its pension reform just as the latest round of government funding is set to expire next Friday. DfT permanent secretary Bernadette Kelly told TfL commissioner Andy Byford last week the government had launched a formal dispute period [...]
TfL urges Londoners to stay home on Tuesday as thousands of workers set to walk out in Tube and rail strikes June 15, 2022 Transport for London (TfL) has urged Londoners to avoid travelling on 21 June as thousands of workers are set to walk out in a separate tube and rail strike. TfL said it was expecting severe disruption across the Tube network following the planned strike called last week by the unions RMT and Unite. The industrial [...]