CO2 CHARGE
Road taxes for new vehicles
registered from April 1 in the UK
will increase significantly due to the
adoption of WLTP CO2 emissions
figures. Previously CO2 emissions
from the NEDC test were used to
calculate the taxes.
Research by cap hpi has found
that the average diesel, petrol or
hybrid car will see its CO2 emissions
rise by 19.7%. Diesel vehicles are
particularly hard hit, with their CO2
emissions soaring by 30g/km, while
petrol-hybrid are up by 29.3g/km.
The government has introduced
changes to the benefit in kind tax
system to avoid passing all of the
tax increase onto drivers, but cap
hpi has calculated that average
company car tax bills will rise by
£714 ($1452 AUD) per car per year,
while road tax will go up on average
by £300 ($610 AUD) per year.
Across all new cars sold in the UK
average emissions will rise to 161g/
km under WLTP tests, compared to
135g/km with NEDC.
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INTEGRATED
INTELLIGENCE
Verizon Connect has launched an
integrated video solution aimed at
helping fleets operating in the UK,
Ireland, the Netherlands and Australia
reduce risks and improve safety.
Verizon Connect Integrated Video uses
artificial intelligence (AI) to capture and
automatically classify video according
to how severe an event is, showing
only what is relevant and important
to business owners and operations
managers, as well as machine learning
to help businesses improve driver
behaviour and protect the bottom line.
Verizon Connect Integrated Video
also provides real data insights to help
commercial drivers stay safe on the road
and protect them against false claims.
“Delivering our commitment to
customers means creating innovative
solutions, powered by the latest
technology that helps our customers
move their business forward,” said
Derek Bryan, vice president EMEA,
Verizon Connect. “We’re delivering
next-level solutions, powered by
advanced AI and machine learning to
help our customers be safe, productive
and efficient all over the world.”
LEVEL 4 LOCKDOWN
New Zealand’s declaration of a state
of emergency and “Level 4” lockdown
to the coronavirus pandemic has seen
all car dealerships effectively close
except to provide parts and servicing as
required for vehicle owners working in
essential services.
New Zealand Motor Industry Association
(MIA) chief executive David Crawford
told GoAuto that the automotive sector
was fully supportive of the lockdown
measures undertaken by the Ardern
government’s ‘Alert Level 4 – Eliminate’
strategy that was put into place just after
midnight on March 25.
He also said new-vehicle distributors
and their franchised dealers had
responded quickly to ensure that all non-
essential services are shut down.
“In New Zealand there is overwhelming
public support for strong measures to
prevent the spread of the coronavirus,”
Mr Crawford said.
“There is little appetite from the public
for businesses to try and find reasons
to stay open at this time. Pleas from
businesses to stay open are met with
disbelief and come across as self-
serving money before safety.”