Optare plc has been crowned the winner of SMMT’s 2012 Award for Automotive Innovation, for its Optare Versa EV – the UK’s first fully operational, full-sized, battery-powered electric bus.

Gathering public opinion throughout the whole of 2012, automotive industry standards body, Motor Codes, has compiled a report on customer satisfaction with car dealers and service centres across the UK.

1. TFL Congestion Charge consultation announced
2. Backbench committee holds Industrial Policy & Manufacturing debate
3. Manufacturing output expected to decline over next 3 months
4. TRS and Which Way Now skills portals developed
5. UK automotive manufacturing receives boost from 1,000 bus order for ADL

1. EU budget negotiations commence
2. EU and Canada move towards conclusion of trade negotiations
3. Commissioner Hedegaard speaks at EUCAR annual conference
4. Tonio Borg secures MEP backing to replace Commissioner Dalli

November’s edition of the funding and support guide is now available to download below. CLICK TO VIEW: Download publication

Echoing the upward trend for UK vehicle manufacturing, Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) has won orders for almost 1,000 vehicles, worth £220m, all of which will be delivered in the next 18 months.

Over 125 UK-based suppliers will gather at a specialist networking event today, meeting more than 25 lenders, to discuss the financial needs of the UK’s £4.8bn supply chain and improve the two-way dialogue between the sectors.

Swindon is Honda’s flagship production facility in Europe and already manufactures the regular Civic and CR-V models. In April, 500 new associates began working at the plant, bringing the total number of employees to 3,500.

Over 150 transport professionals, media and other opinion formers attended the first Commercial Vehicle Forum, organised by the CV Show Partnership and held last week in central London. It was no surprise that key challenges facing the industry took centre stage.

Download the November bulletin here.