Latest news with #Bentleys
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs help push U.K. auto sector to worst production figures in more than 70 years
The U.K.'s auto sector is reeling from its worst month for production since 1952—when the Morris Minor ruled the country's roads and Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne—as Trump's tariff war added to a bearish environment for the country's biggest carmakers. U.K. plants producing cars like Range Rovers, Bentleys, and Toyotas pumped out 59,200 models in April, marking the lowest monthly output figure in more than 70 years, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Carmakers are set for their worst start to the year in production terms since 2009 and the depths of the Great Recession. Commercial vehicle exports fell by more than 75% in April as automakers digested the fallout of Donald Trump's tariffs on the car industry and his more sweeping plans announced on 'Liberation Day.' Cars bound for the U.S., which took around a sixth of the U.K.'s car exports, experienced a slight decline in April, with EU exports fuelling the biggest drop. U.K. luxury carmakers, including Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin, were regarded as being particularly vulnerable to a trade war because much of their appeal comes from keeping most production from its historic local plants. Jaguar Land Rover said in early April that it would be pausing U.S. shipments while it assessed the fallout from Trump's tariff announcements. The carmaker sold more than 128,000 cars to the States, its biggest market, in 2024. The end of March also marked the closure of Stellantis-owned Vauxhall's factory in Luton, where the carmaker employed more than 1,000 workers. Employees at the 120-year-old factory faced a stark ultimatum: a 140-mile relocation north or accepting a redundancy package. A calendar quirk of the Easter break falling later in 2025, which accordingly shuttered production for an extra two days over the bank holiday, also contributed to depressed production figures, the SMMT said. Indeed, March production figures showed nearly 80,000 vehicles being produced in the U.K. that month. April's awful production figures are likely to be an anomaly, and not just owing to the quirk of the calendar. Earlier in May, the U.K. and U.S. hammered out a landmark trade deal that would see import tariffs on cars to the States reduced from 25% to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles. The development is expected to prevent a lot of pain in the U.K. auto market, and SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes is taking a victory lap after demonstrating the sector's influence on the U.K.'s international relations. 'Government has recognised automotive manufacturing's critical role in driving the UK economy, having successfully negotiated improved trading conditions for the sector with the US, EU and India in the space of a month,' said Hawes. 'To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK.' This story was originally featured on
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Specialist reveals one thing you use daily that is dirtier than a toilet and harbors loads of bacteria
When most of us think about dirt and bacteria, we might picture a grimy public restroom or a filthy subway seat. But what if we told you there's a place in your car that's even dirtier than a public toilet? Yes, you read that right! It doesn't matter if your car is sparkling clean or a total mess—there's one spot that's practically a breeding ground for germs, and you're touching it every time you drive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to motoring specialists Plates Express, the steering wheel is the dirtiest part of your car. It's something most of us never even think about. Sure, we might toss out empty coffee cups and vacuum the floor mats, but we rarely consider giving that wheel a good scrub. It's a surprising oversight, given how much contact it gets on a daily basis. 'You wouldn't go weeks without washing your hands, but drivers go months without wiping down the one surface they touch every single day,' James Taylor, a luxury car cleaner, told the Daily Mail. It's a simple but jarring point. Every time you hop into the driver's seat, your hands—fresh from touching door handles, food wrappers, or your phone—are instantly transferring bacteria to the steering wheel. What's even more concerning is that even the fanciest cars aren't immune to this issue. Taylor shared that he's cleaned luxury Bentleys that looked spotless, but when he tested the wheel with a swab, the bacteria levels were through the roof. 'People touch their face, their phone, their food — then grab the wheel,' he explained. And it's not just the hands that contribute to this dirty secret. Sneezing or coughing behind the wheel can also leave behind a host of germs, adding to the wheel's hidden collection of bacteria. A simple fix for a major problem The good news? It's a surprisingly easy problem to fix. Taylor recommends a simple wipe-down with an antibacterial wipe or a car interior cleaner at least once a week. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It doesn't take long, but it can dramatically cut down on the number of germs you're exposed to every time you drive. Yet many drivers still neglect this simple step. A survey by found that 32% of drivers clean their car only once a year, and an alarming 12% never bother to clean it at all. This isn't just a matter of aesthetics—it's a real hygiene issue. It's also a matter of basic self-care. After all, we're quick to wash our hands after using the bathroom, but we often forget about the surfaces we touch every single day. More than just a dirty wheel And while drivers are worrying about keeping their steering wheels clean, there are plenty of other distractions that could use some attention, too. A recent Lemonade survey found that more than half of Gen Z drivers admit to eating behind the wheel, and about a third drive while tired. These habits add even more reasons to ensure the wheel is kept clean—imagine all those crumbs and coughs and phone taps mixing together right where you place your hands! If nothing else, maybe this information will inspire you to grab a wipe and give that steering wheel a quick once-over. It's one small change that could make a big difference in your daily health.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Post
This thing you touch every day is filthier than your toilet — but you probably never clean it
You filthy animals. It doesn't matter if your car is impeccably clean or if it looks like the inside of an NYC dumpster in an alleyway — there is one area of a car that is as dirty as a porta potty toilet. It turns out that the steering wheel is the dirtiest place in a car, according to motoring specialists Plates Express. Usually, when people think of tidying up their cars, they'll do the obvious — throw out garbage lying around, maybe take a vacuum to the corners or dust the car's console, but it seems that drivers are rarely wiping down the spot that attracts the most germs. Cars often get forgotten about when it comes to keeping them clean. czitrox – 'You wouldn't go weeks without washing your hands, but drivers go months without wiping down the one surface they touch every single day,' James Taylor, a luxury car cleaner, told the Daily Mail. This is problematic news because a car can harbor a lot of bacteria — especially the steering wheel. And as expected, 'People touch their face, their phone, their food — then grab the wheel,' Taylor said. 'I've cleaned Bentleys that looked spotless — but when you swab the wheel, the bacteria levels are through the roof,' he revealed to the outlet. Aside from the obvious germs that harbor on a driver's hands — things like sneezing and coughing when driving will also wind up on the wheel. Most people barely clean their car — let alone the germ-filled steering wheel. Space_Cat – According to Taylor, all it takes is a simple wipe down once a week using an antibacterial wipe or a car interior cleaner to get rid of the grossness on the steering wheel. According to a survey by 32% of drivers clean their car once a year, and 12% don't even bother to clean their vehicles. Here's to hoping if anything, they'll at least do a quick wipe down on the dirtiest part. And while drivers should be cleaning their cars more often — they should also always be more focused on the task at hand, especially Gen Z. A Lemonade survey revealed that 54% of the generation born between 1997 and 2012 eat while behind the wheel, and a whopping 32% drive while tired. 15% of Gen Z also admitted to having heated arguments while steering the car, while 13% of them drove with a pet in their laps — talk about a slew of distractions.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alex Albon's ‘hardest year of life' after mum was given six years in prison
Alex Albon is preparing for the Monaco Grand Prix after a strong start to the Formula 1 season for Williams, and here is a look at his life away from the circuit Formula One ace Alex Albon has kicked off the 2025 season in fine form and is eyeing his first podium finish at the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix. The Williams star has already notched up more points this year than any since his switch from Red Bull in 2022. With the Monaco GP on the horizon, Albon has secured consecutive 5th-place finishes in Miami and Imola. But British-Thai driver Albon, 29, has expressed ambivalent feelings about his recent outing in Italy, as he continues to chase his elusive next top-three finish after a five-year drought. He engaged in a tussle with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and came in just behind Lewis Hamilton, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri snagged third place. "Back-to-back P5s and [we're] coming away today a bit disappointed, which is a bit strange to say," Albon confessed. "I think maybe I could have raced Charles a bit differently. "I could have done a bit better there. Obviously, I lost out to Lewis, and maybe I could have been a bit more patient with my overtake of Charles. "I was kind of licking my lips! I thought I could even get Oscar up in front as well, such was the pace in the new tyres we had on the car." Here's a look at Albon's life beyond the F1 circuit. Mum's prison sentence Albon grew up in Suffolk with his younger brother and three sisters. His family faced adversity when his mother, Kankamol, was imprisoned in 2012. Mirror Sport reported how Albon's mother was handed a six-year prison sentence for her involvement in a £7.5million car scam. Kankamol had been selling luxury vehicles like Ferraris, Bentleys, and Rolls-Royces at discounted prices, promising buyers they could resell them for a profit. However, most customers never received their cars. She was ultimately released from prison in 2015. Albon's mother was arrested in 2008 and pleaded guilty to false representation and cheating the public revenue. As a result, her £4m country house in Essex was repossessed, and the police recovered an additional £60,000 by selling her Mulberry handbags. During her 2012 trial at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Rupert Overbury described her crimes as a "massive, greed-driven fraud. You persistently defrauded investors. The majority never saw a car." Albon has spoken about the impact this had on him as a teenager. In the Netflix documentary series Formula One: Dive to Survive, he recalled it as "by far the hardest year I've had in my life," remembering how he "saw her get locked up and taken away." Golfer girlfriend Albon is currently in a relationship with Chinese professional golfer Lily Muni He. The couple has been dating publicly since 2019, having met through social media due to their mutual interest in each other's sports. The 25-year-old golfer, who has one million followers on Instagram, turned pro in 2017 and achieved her first professional win on the Symetra Tour in July 2018. She joined the LPGA in 2019. She's a regular fixture at Albon's races, and the Williams driver has previously shared how their shared experiences as athletes help them connect on a deeper level. "On top of everything, we understand and we get each other," Albon told Golfweek. "We started our sports as rookies, and we've gone through tough times together. The highs and lows of being an athlete, I think you can resonate that with any athlete."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
King Charles III Snubs Tesla and Buys an EV From Wuhan, China
It emerged Tuesday that King Charles has snubbed the toxic Tesla brand for Lotus, ordering a fully electric, $210,000 Lotus Eletre SUV, according to U.K. tabloid the Sun. Despite Lotus having its roots in the U.K., their cars are now manufactured in Wuhan, the Chinese industrial hub synonymous with the outbreak of COVID-19. The royals have long sought to buy British cars, favoring Rolls Royces, Land Rovers and Bentleys, but many of these brands have fallen into the hands of foreign owners in recent years, with production often moved overseas. Charles is famously the owner of a pale blue Aston Martin DB6, a 21st birthday present from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, which has been converted to run off biofuels. Another iconic British brand, Aston Martin has struggled under a succession of owners in recent decades, and is now owned 18% by the Saudi public investment fund. Lotus was established as a boutique British sports car brand in 1948 but was 51% acquired by Chinese owners Zhejiang Geely in 2017. They moved production from the U.K. to Wuhan in 2022. The new Lotus will be specially painted in the traditional scarlet colors of royal livery, known as 'royal claret,' and will be used at one of Charles' country homes, the report said. It is a fully electric car and has a range of 280 miles. The Sun said it goes from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 162 mph. A source told the Sun: 'The king has always liked eco-friendly vehicles, but seems conscious that royal claret is the right look, even when off duty. It will look far more professional for the king's personal car to match the state vehicles. The palace has hinted that if Bentley can't make limousines for official use run on electric, they would look at other manufacturers.' The U.K. is due to ban pure petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Two state Bentleys on ceremonial occasions are exempt from the legislation but are due to be converted to run on biofuel. Tesla, meanwhile, has been at the epicenter of a months-long slump following Elon Musk's controversial work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Trump administration. The Tesla CEO has spent the past four months making drastic cuts to federal agencies across the country—and shifting his attention from the automotive company's headquarters in Austin to the White House. Musk's shift in priorities arguably impacted the company's sales, which recorded a roughly 9 percent drop in the first three months of the year in the United States, according to The New York Times. Though factors like competition impacted the plunge, Musk's close ties with the Trump administration were also heavily cited as reasons for the fall. Some longtime Tesla investors even publicly pleaded for the billionaire to divest from his work at DOGE.
