‘Early doors’ – to borrow a phrase from our editor – for me ahead of the Easter break hence an earlier than usual look back at an already shortened week.
Interviews always go down well with just-auto readers and we have a chat with Tenneco on emissions control technology trends that was very widely read this week.
A study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) forecast that by 2030 some 25% of miles driven in the US could be in shared self-driving electric cars. The study suggests that the convergence of three trends – ride sharing, autonomous drive and vehicle electrification – will transform the automotive industry. This story, just today, supports that view.
The UK industry is now in a position of having to defend diesel in a market where, not so long ago, tax and emissions policies encouraged buyers to choose diesel models. Don’t blame SMMT at all for getting some sane facts out there.
Audi launched its delectable A5 cabriolet in RHD UK. They were lucky to get a range drive day sample car back from me (and my non-driving, drop top-loving other half would have had to be removed forcibly). Build quality is superb.
Finally, first quarter sales and financial results are starting to trickle in. Gotta be impressed with Daimler’s group EBIT for the first quarter 2017 that was “significantly above market expectations”.
Have a nice Easter. Easy on the chocolate.
Graeme Roberts, Deputy Editor, just-auto.com
