GLOVE-BOX GUIDE

publication date: Sep 4, 2008

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author/source: Robin Roberts

A new era has started at the Arvin Meritor plant, Cwmbran with the opening of an expanded trailer axle and brake testing laboratory by Prof Karen Holford, Joint Head of the Institute of Machines and Structures at Cardiff University, who said it was now a “world class” centre.
	STRESS TEST: Arvin Meritor engineer Graham Porritt points out stress points to Prof Karen Holford and Dr Huw Davies, of Cardiff University.
The plant employs 800 people and has been making braking components for over 60 years but has now added trailer axle manufacturing transferred from its Wrexham facility.

Ford U.S. sales fell 27 percent in August, their 21st decline in 22 months.
Sales of cars and trucks dropped to 155,690 from 212,120, the Dearborn, Michigan-based company said in a statement. Ford further pared its planned second-half production in North America by 50,000 vehicles. At the same time, Nissan saw its sales rise for the fifth month and lifted 14pc.

Eighteen months after the retail launch in Europe of New Outlander, the extremely successful mid-size SUV has now started production at Mitsubishi’s Nedcar plant in Born, Holland.

The Road Haulage Association has called on the Chancellor to vary the duty level on diesel and petrol to ensure that the pump price of the two fuels remain roughly the same – as has been the accepted price position of the two fuels for years.

Even in mid-2007, diesel was typically just 2p or 3p more expensive that petrol. But over the past year the price of diesel fuel has risen much faster than the price of petrol, opening up a gap of up to 15p.

A survey has revealed that the majority of British motorists are living life in the fast lane – with 71 per cent of those questioned by RoadPilot admitting to breaking the speed limit on more than a quarter of all journeys.

Kwik-Fit has calculated that the 2.4 million British motorists due to MOT their car during the peak MOT month of September, based on figures from the Government’s testing centres.

A 6ft 7in motorist has found that his new smart fortwo certainly doesn’t fall short when it comes to space or saving money.

Keith Edwards, who is a member of the Tall Persons Club GB & Ireland, opted to downsize to his smart fortwo passion cabrio when he could no longer justify the running costs, or the need, of a large saloon as his company vehicle.

The Punch Bowl Inn, Crosthwaite, Cumbria has been selected as the Michelin Pub of the Year 2009 in Michelin’s Eating Out in Pubs guide published this week.