It was Sadiq Khan’s extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to outer London that won it for the Tories. This diabolical scheme to penalise drivers of older cars and van-owning tradesmen in the outer suburbs has aroused a level of rage which must now be a lesson to all serious contenders in the general election. The ramifications go far beyond this single, apparently anomalous, success for the Conservatives.
Archiv: cars / industries
By-election results live: Scrap 2030 petrol car ban, Tories urge Sunak
Rishi Sunak has been urged to scrap the ban on new petrol and diesel cars scheduled for 2030 after a surprise Tory by-election win was driven by a green scheme revolt.
While the Tories fell to substantial defeats in the Selby and Ainsty and Somerton and Frome polls, their victory in Boris Johnson’s former constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip came after a campaign centred on opposing the expansion of Sadiq Khan’s ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez).
By election results live: Sunak warned Tories set to lose ‘hell of a lot of seats’
Rishi Sunak has held on to Boris Johnson’s former seat in Uxbridge – a win widely seen as a result of Ulez – despite suffering two painful by-election blows.
What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone?
If your vehicle doesn‘t meet the ULEZ emission standards and isn‘t exempt, you will be required to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive inside the zone. This charge can amount to over £4,500 a year, per vehicle.
When does Ulez expand? How Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the zone helped to decide the Uxbridge by-election
Sadiq Khan’s controversial Ulez scheme has been described as the deciding factor in the Conservatives holding onto Boris Johnson’s old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
The cleaner-air levy has faced opposition since it was introduced 2019, with the intention of purifying London’s air. Drivers of more-polluting vehicles are subject to a £12.50 tax in the ultra low emission zone, in a move similar to the congestion charge.
U.S. And EU Look To Launch Trade Talks On Critical Minerals
The United States and the European Union could launch talks on critical materials trade when U.S. President Joe Biden welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the White House on Friday.
China to create rare-earths giant by joining three state companies
(October 24, 2021)
China accounts for 60% of the world‘s production of rare earths according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The top export destinations are Japan (49% by value) followed by the U.S. (15%), according to Chinese media.
For the Xi leadership, rare earths can also be used as a diplomatic trump card. When China protested Japan‘s nationalization of the Senkaku Islands in 2010, Beijing stalled exports of rare earths as a means to pressure the Japanese side. The new move to restructure the rare-earth industry, therefore, may affect rare-earth supply to Japan and the U.S., analysts warn.
China says the West should respect its ‚own pace‘ as Europe and US face magnesium supply crisis
The paper said the magnesium shortage was not a simple issue that could be resolved by increasing production from China.
„Global supply chains face challenges of climate change targets, high inflation and logistics obstacles,“ it noted in an editorial on Monday.
‘A perfect storm’: supply chain crisis could blow world economy off course
Along with ongoing Covid-related restrictions in some large manufacturing countries such as Vietnam, and a well-documented shortage of components such as computer chips, factories are simply not producing enough.
British car production dropped by 27% year on year in August as a lack of semiconductors and led to a big drop in the number of vehicles exported to Australia, the US and China. On Thursday, Volkswagen, Ford and Opel maker Stellantis announced fresh temporary closures in Germany because of the chip problem.
Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.
Yes, California approved, but an unelected county official illegally overrode. Also, all other auto companies in US are approved to resume. Only Tesla has been singled out. This is super messed up!
Tesla’s Elon Musk reopens factory, defying county orders and daring officials to arrest him
FREMONT, Calif. — Tesla’s Elon Musk is in a showdown with California officials over the reopening of a major factory, one of the most prominent examples of a powerful business defying health orders that require all but essential activities to cease.
Musk continued to ramp up production at the company’s Fremont facilities Tuesday, where the company produces its Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles.
Uzautosanoat, MAN, Sinotruk sign JV deal
Uzautosanoat, the Chinese Sinotruk International Investment Limited and the German MAN Truck & Bus SE signed a joint venture agreement for UZ Truck and Bus Motors to be based at JV MAN Auto-Uzbekistan plant, Uzavtosanoat said in a statement.
Boris Johnson‘s mission impossible: PM announces last-gasp visit to Dublin to see Leo Varadkar and keep a Brexit agreement ALIVE after saying furious bust-up with Angela Merkel meant a deal was off the table
No10 sources said Mrs Merkel told the premier during the 30-minute showdown that the province must remain within the EU‘s customs union indefinitely.
EU-CONOMY: Germany’s central bank warns EU’s largest economy Germany is on the brink of recession as car manufacturing growth plummets and Brexit batters exports
EUROPE‘S largest economy Germany could crash into recession as car manufacturing growth plummets and Brexit cripples exports, its central bank has warned.
Bundesbank said that lower consumer spending and softer overseas demand has caused the economic downturn.
Germany braced for catastrophic Trump auto tariffs – which could create a perfect storm for Europe
US taxes on car imports could act as a massive jolt to the bloc’s economy, wiping €14.5bn (£12.9bn) off GDP, according to analysis from investment advisers, Redburn. The firm’s economists believe a “nasty turn” in EU-US trade tensions is coming, which when combined with market nerves over Italian debt, could shake the eurozone.
If the US presses ahead with tariffs, Germany, which relies on carmaking for a fifth of its manufacturing activity, could see 0.28pc shaved from its GDP alone, Redburn claims.
Egypt: Explosion destroys vehicle in central Cairo, cause unclear
A minibus was also left gutted following the incident in the Dokki district. While the cause of the blast remains unknown, officials have reportedly said a faulty car battery may be to blame.
DNA that led to Golden State Killer suspect‘s arrest was collected from his car while he shopped
When the suspected Golden State Killer drove into a Hobby Lobby parking lot in April, investigators were waiting nearby. As he walked into the craft store, it gave them a perfect chance to collect a secret DNA sample.
Police swabbed the driver‘s side handle of Joseph James DeAngelo‘s car, according to arrest and search warrants released Friday.
Tesla Model S Driver Says Autopilot Was On Before Crash Into Firetruck: Police
(14.May) The owner of a Tesla Model S that crashed into a parked firetruck in Utah last Friday said she had the car’s semi-autonomous Autopilot system engaged at the time of the incident, police said Monday.