Linguistic Issues - 13 December 2022

FOLLOW UP: ARRIVAL ‘PAUSES’ JV WITH MERCEDESRecently Arrival announced a joint-venture with Mercedes-Benz, to make electric vans in Europe. However, they have just stated there will be a ‘pause’ in the deal as they focus on the US market and becoming cash flow positive. You can learn more by clicking this Reuters link here. REGULATOR STATES FUEL PRICES NOT DROPPING FAST ENOUGHCompetition and Markets Authority has concluded their investigation into retailer fuel prices, with the conclusion that they do not fall quick enough, especially compared to the increases. This is not surprising to anyone, as we have all seen the price gouging by those making huge profits. Click this Autocar link to learn more. BMW FINED BY UK REGULATOR OVER LACK OF DATAAccording to the BMW Group the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has no jurisdiction to demand information from it, only BMW UK, over the investigation into anti-competitive practices that is running concurrently with the European one. The CMA disagrees and is now fining the company. More can be read on this by clicking this MSM news article link. TOYOTA RESHAPING EV STRATEGYToyota is reshaping their three staged EV strategy to move certain aspects further up the timescale. They will be holding a large call with relevant supplies in February 2023. To learn what this means, click this Market Screener link here. VW BOARD TO BE GIVEN SOFTWARE ‘REALITY CHECK’Oliver Blum, the VW Group CEO, will present what is being described as a ‘reality check’ of their software program, to the Group board. The much heralded V2.0 release will likely be put back from 2026 to at least 2028. Don’t forget one VW CEO has lost their job thanks to their software woes. Click this Reuters link to learn more. M&S TEAMS UP WITH BP PULSE FOR EV CHARGERSFurthering their partnership, where M&S stores can be found at BP forecourts, BP Pulse is going to be the provider for rapid EV chargers installed at shops across the country. The plan is for 900 to be installed, being a mix of 50kW and 150kW capable chargers. To read more, click this Move Electric article here. WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY EV DESIGN COMPETITION LAUNCHEDMotability and Callum Design have teamed up to launch a design competition for students to come up with a future-proof and affordable design for wheelchair friendly EVs. 60 submissions have already been received with the winner being announced in January 2023. Click here to learn more, from the Move Electric article. UK ESCOOTER LAWS DELAYEDSurprising no one, the Government has confirmed there will be a delay in producing laws designed to take account of escooters and their use in public spaces. As the trials have been extended for hire escooters and ministers stating they are analysing the data collected, this comes as no surprise. Click the Move Electric article here to learn more. If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCASTWRC: TÄNAK JOINS M-SPORTThe final big piece of the WRC driver puzzle has been slotted into place, with Ott Tänak joining M-Sport for 2023, where he cut his rallying teeth as a member of their junior rally team. Click here to read what Malcom Wilson thinks this means for the team on DirtFish. LUNCHTIME READ: FIXING MY LEAKY PEUGEOT DROVE ME TO THE BRINK OF MADNESSDavid Obuchowski, writing for Jalopnik, takes us through the trials and tribulations of trying to fix a 1989 Peugeot in the US. Only those with a strong constitution should read this! Also, is a reminder for those of us who have relatively easy access to garages willing to help and parts supplies. Click here to read this excellent piece from David. Thanks to listener Ant Brown for bringing this to our attention. If you stumble across any interesting articles, videos or podcasts you feel should be shared do get in touch and those few like will end up in the show!LIST OF THE WEEK: 30 YEARS OF HONDA’S TYPE-R CARSAlan is picking from the list, which long time listeners will understand means he won’t be picking a couple of potential options, but the list is good. Do check out Hagerty’s article and see if you agree with his choice by clicking this link. AND FINALLY: SUPERMARKET CAR PARKS FROM THE 1980SGavin Braithwaite-Smith, via Hagerty, has found that Sainsbury’s has a photographic archive of their shops and car parks. Obviously, at that point he searches for the most eighties of eighties picture he can. Click this link here to read and see what we are enjoying and also to access the archive to loose an afternoon running through the amazing resource.