News in brief - Wheels Within Wales

Following successful trials in the UK, the iconic, zero-emission, smart fortwo electric drive is ready for small series production.
Reaction from customers taking part in the UK trial, including the Metropolitan Police, universities, local councils, architects and energy companies, has proved so encouraging that smart's parent company, Daimler AG, can confirm that the smart electric drive will go into small series production, with cars coming to the UK in early 2010. Featuring a lithium-ion battery the second generation smart electric drive's power source will have a longer range, boast a shorter charging time and will give improved performance.

With Brits becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, and initiatives aplenty to encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint, moneysupermarket.com reveals motorists are keen to go green with new generation hybrid and electric cars.
It found more than a third of motorists (39 per cent) would buy a hybrid or an electric model if they had to buy a new car. However, there is still some way to go to turn Britain's drivers greener as the poll also revealed over a third of motorists (36 per cent) wouldn't consider buying a hybrid or electric car, with 21 per cent admitting to not knowing enough about them.

The European Commission made a payment of €2.7 million from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund to help Spanish car workers hit by competition.
The money will help some 600 workers made redundant as a direct result of production in the automotive sector being shifted to countries outside the EU in Morocco, Turkey and Taiwan, increased imports of cars and their components into the EU and reduced EU market share in production of motor vehicles.