BMW warns production of iconic Mini could move out of Oxford in event of no-deal Brexit March 5, 2019 German car maker BMW has warned that production of its iconic Mini could be moved out of Britain if it leaves the EU without a deal. Peter Schwarzenbauer, who sits on the company board and is responsible for Mini and Rolls-Royce cars, told Sky News that the car giant would "need to consider" a production move [...]
Eurostar business passengers rise 12 per cent in ‘record’ year of growth March 5, 2019 Eurostar's business passenger market increased by 12 per cent last year while overall passenger numbers swelled to 11m. The high speed rail link between London and the continent saw passenger numbers increase by a record seven per cent from 10.3m in 2017 to 11m last year, while sales revenues increased 12 per cent from £880m in 2017 [...]
Green shoots: British new car registrations up for first time in five months March 5, 2019 February brought signs of hope for Britain’s embattled car manufacturing industry, with new car registrations rising for the first time in five months. New car registrations in the UK rose 1.4 per cent to 81,969 vehicles after five straight months of decline, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Read [...]
Long haul: Bombardier aircraft breaks record for furthest ever flight in a business jet March 5, 2019 Business jets are more frequently associated with luxurious furnishings, gourmet cuisine and eye-watering price tags than intrepid attempts to push the limits of travel. But passengers on one Canadian-built aeroplane were popping the champagne corks yesterday because of just that, after setting a new world record for the longest ever flight by a business jet. Read [...]
Automakers and the tech giants are battling over the future of the car industry March 5, 2019 More than 100 years after the petrol-powered car passed go for the first time – and despite worldwide sales at a record high in 2018 – stress fractures are starting to appear. Tesla is on track to outsell both BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the US, car sales in China are declining for the first time in [...]
John Laing’s diverse portfolio drives global expansion at green-focused infrastructure firm March 5, 2019 Infrastructure investment company John Laing’s shares rose this morning as it announced strong growth in net asset value per share over the course of 2018. The group said it had resisted the global climate of political and economic uncertainty which has stymied infrastructure investment in some regions by maintaining a diverse portfolio. Share rose one [...]
DX delivers the goods as it narrows losses and improves sales March 5, 2019 DX Group hailed “encouraging progress” in its half-year results today as it narrowed losses and boosted revenue. Read more: St Modwen cashes in on fast-growing logistics sector as asset values rise The results Revenue rose seven per cent year on year to £157m while its loss before tax dropped from £14.1m in the same period [...]
Prices of petrol and diesel inch up in February after months of reduced prices March 4, 2019 The price of petrol and diesel inched up in February, ending three months of price reductions. Data from RAC Fuel Watch shows that the average price of a litre of petrol in the UK increased by just under a penny to 120.42p at the end of the month, while diesel increased by 1.24p to 129.88p [...]
Flybe shareholders approve airline sale to Virgin-led Connect Airways March 4, 2019 Shareholders in ailing airline Flybe have today approved its acquisition by Virgin-led consortium Connect Airways. At a general meeting today, 63 per cent of shareholders voted with the board's recommendation that they approve the sale, while 37 per cent staged a revolt and voted against it. Flybe has been urging its shareholders to accept the Connect [...]
Uber cars stock children’s books to boost bedtime reading for World Book Day March 4, 2019 Long known for getting time-poor commuters from A to B, Uber today launched a scheme to help London parents get home in time to read bedtime stories to their children. The ride-hailing company has teamed up with Penguin Random House imprint Puffin and the National Literacy Trust to launch a “mobile libraries” programme ahead of World Book Day, on [...]