Saving the British car industry

[Dieselman]

And the Environment.....

It looks like the British car manufacturing plants could be saved by making Eco cars, as they are going to be big business.

Great news.

GM Ampera..

Would anyone here buy such a car..??

 

[Adam230K]

If they made a V8 version i'd be first on the list

 

[nick mercedes]

Would anyone here buy such a car..??

Given it's an Opel, I assume it was designed and developed in Germany, on behalf of it's (near bankrupt) American parent company?

There is no British car industry (we just put them together for foreign companies) I'm not so sure that eco cars aren't just good PR to get government handouts to keep factories going.

Aren't LDV using the same excuse?

 

[Dieselman]

I've added a poll so you can let us know your thoughts.

Nick, are you saying that you are not now bothered about where a car is built as long as it's designed in Britain.?
That seems to contradict your previous posts and surely if that is the case then you could buy just about any car as Britain is still the World leader in car design.

I'm confused.

 

[nick mercedes]

Nick, are you saying that you are not now bothered about where a car is built as long as it's designed in Britain.?

I like to buy British things, but the trouble with the car industry is that it's all in foreign hands, and all this "great news for the UK car indusrty" stuff thus becomes a bit redundant.

Anyway I'm off in my (British made!) eco van to deliver some eco parts to my eco customers with their low carbon eco garages.

If I stress eco and low carbon enough do you think I'll get a government hand out too?

 

[Dieselman]

If I stress eco and low carbon enough do you think I'll get a government hand out too?

You have to Walk the Walk as well as Talk the Talk.!

 

[nick mercedes]

You have to Walk the Walk as well as Talk the Talk.!

Think of all the carbon I've saved by flogging used parts to people over the years.

I'm green, me.

 

[wemorgan]

I like to buy British things, but the trouble with the car industry is that it's all in foreign hands, and all this "great news for the UK car indusrty" stuff thus becomes a bit redundant.

Well not entirely redundant I'd say. 'British' OEMs owned by foreigners still provide jobs within the UK. Even cars like the Honda Civic, made in Swindon, have parts designed and manufactured in the UK.

 

[nick mercedes]

Well not entirely redundant I'd say. 'British' OEMs owned by foreigners still provide jobs within the UK. Even cars like the Honda Civic, made in Swindon, have parts designed and manufactured in the UK.

I know what you mean, I washed the van on Sunday and was pleased to see "Made in England" stamped on the wheels, even though a quick google revealed that the company that made them got taken over by an Italian company and the UK factory was shut last year....

I went to Uni in Coventry, and back then there were little factories all over the city making stuff, but they all seem to have gone now.

I suppose Rover's demise didn't help.

 

[verytalldave]

............about 40 years too late.

 

[grober]

I believe the Ampera is the "Europeanised version" of the Chevrolet Volt and shares the American developed powertrain with GM's new Delta platform. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt Today's manufacturing environment economics dictate cars are essentially a "global design" with detailed variations for various local markets so I'm not sure if you can assign a "country of origin" to any model with certainty nowadays.

My guess old cynic that I am is that GM will be "pimping" their electric car technology round Europe looking for the biggest European government handout they can get. The question the UK has to ask is whether the US technology will be better/ more affordable than than any other global electric technologies around in the future. Wherever it comes from, the nation will be expected to pay for the privilege of manufacturing it, assuming its even offered to us!

Would I buy one. If it meant the difference between that and taking the bus YES.

 

[st4]

If it were good and reliable I would buy one.

 

[recycled]

when everyone has bought one, expect the tax on it to become more than a petrol or diesel. then we would start changing again.

 

[st4]

when everyone has bought one, expect the tax on it to become more than a petrol or diesel. then we would start changing again.

Probably, see my post on the Tesla car on how I think the government could tax eco cars without having to use big bro tech.

I fully believe we can have electric cars without road tolls, gps based pricing etc. I reckon it would do it by taxing batteries to buggery or taxing electicity to charge the things.

Still, if the car goes and stops well and doesn't spy on me I have no issue with it. Looking at Teslas roadster we could be in for a treat. I have other idea's re electric cars. I will do a poll and see whether I am right.