From the chair: February 2020

From the chair: February 2020

by | Feb 3, 2020 | From the Chair

The quickening approach of pure battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles is providing a further challenge to PRs and agencies. We simply don’t have the infrastructure to support a big ev-car or van launch with most hotels running to just a couple of recharging points which...
From the chair: January 2020

From the chair: January 2020

by | Jan 1, 2020 | From the Chair

The Christmas “post” always includes one piece of mail with a shorter life-span than a turkey – the annual SMMT yearbook for the coming 12 months. It is only a matter of hours or days before this hardy annual goes soft and become outdated. In fact it has been...
From the chair: December 2019

From the chair: December 2019

by | Dec 2, 2019 | From the Chair

Concern about the diminishing levels of investment in UK car manufacturing has, together with other Brexit uncertainties, made 2019 a particularly introspective year. It is perhaps constructive then to look at France which has a car market of similar size to the UK’s....
From the chair: November 2019

From the chair: November 2019

by | Nov 19, 2019 | From the Chair

The annual Western Group of Motoring Writers PR Driving Day is scheduled for 3 June 2020. This internationally unique event was given the go-ahead by members of the 36-years-old group when attending their ordinary and annual general meeting hosted by Mitsubishi Motors...
From the chair: October 2019

From the chair: October 2019

by | Oct 1, 2019 | From the Chair

The motor industry is facing doom and gloom or opportunity and expansion, depending on your viewpoint. Whatever happens with Brexit at the end of this month and its implications for Britain, a bigger sea change for the industry has been underway for some time....
From the chair: September 2019

From the chair: September 2019

by | Sep 3, 2019 | From the Chair

Electric cars are a subject on which most people have an opinion, but not always founded on facts so it was interesting recently to hear the views of a specialist: Jon Hunt is manager of Alternative Fuels at Toyota. Toyota is the world’s sixth largest manufacturer by...
From the chair: August 2019

From the chair: August 2019

by | Aug 5, 2019 | From the Chair

Our writing world is facing another crisis, and it’s not Brexit. While Governments, interest groups and manufacturers talk up and talk down the possibilities, probabilities, likely or unlikely events surrounding 31 October, I’m looking further ahead. What are we going...

From the chair: July 2019

by | Jul 1, 2019 | From the Chair

As we pass mid 2019, the car manufacturing scene in Europe presents mixed messages.  Ford announced the closure of its Bridgend plant, grim news, but not entirely unexpected. The contract to make petrol engines for JLR is running out and on the continent other...

From the chair: June 2019

by | Jun 3, 2019 | From the Chair

In a few days we will be holding our immensely popular and unique PR Driving Day.  A lot has happened since the first one was held over three decades ago and while most of the changes we have witnessed each June usually mean new faces and some old ones missing, I...

From the chair: May 2019

by | May 1, 2019 | From the Chair

The motor writing world seems to be constantly in turmoil with changes to staff, contracts and commissions, new projects and publications, and the whirlwind of social media blows across the industry. But it has been very satisfying to see a rise in applications for...

From the chair: April 2019

by | Apr 2, 2019 | From the Chair

For some time the car industry has been focused on electric traction. This is particularly so with European manufacturers who have long been under political pressure to reduce levels of CO2. European makes have also had to contend in short order with the demands of...

From the chair: March 2019

by | Mar 1, 2019 | From the Chair

In three months time, The Western Group Annual PR Driving Day on 5 June will take on a new look, writes Robin Roberts. For the first time, a small range of motorcycles will be included and available to test ride and those without riding licences will be able to sample...

From the chair: February 2019

by | Feb 4, 2019 | From the Chair

This month brings mixed news on the motoring front. The French government now seems likely to abandon its experimental 80kph (50mph) speed limit which applied to all roads except dual carriageways and autoroutes.Intended to last until July 2020, the limit was...

From the chair: January 2019

by | Jan 2, 2019 | From the Chair

It’s that time of year. Preparations are underway for the annual Western Group of Motoring Writers PR Driving Day at Castle Combe Circuit, Chippenham on 5 June 2019. That’s when, for one day only, the motor industry PR machine gets into gear and the UK’s finest PRs...

From the chair: December 2018

by | Dec 3, 2018 | From the Chair

Changing times reflected in new rules and regulations of The Western Group of Motoring Writers at the AGM. The Western Group of Motoring Writers has made the biggest change to its constitution since foundation in 1983. This year’s annual general meeting, courtesy of...

From the chair: November 2018

by | Nov 1, 2018 | From the Chair

The opinions of AA spokesman Edmund King’s are often sought as a representative of the motoring public spokesman on behalf the motorist and his common sense views are always a welcome counterpoint to anti-car minorities. His recent remark that the chancellor should...