What Fatal Flaws are damaging the US Car Industry?

News sources such as the Independent have reported that a fatal flaw is driving the US Car industry backwards. On the Canvey Carriage Company blog this week, we ask what these fatal flaws are and what does it means for the current state of the international car market.

At the Canvey Carriage Company – the Canvey, Essex-based used car provider, known for the quality of the versatile service we offer, we provide you with used cars from all over the world, including the US, which is one of the most prolific makers on the planet. That is why we watch the market closely; to make sure any changes won’t affect the first rate service we strive to give you.

Millions of Vehicles Recalled by Ford and General Motors

So what are we dealing with here, how large is the scale of the problem over there? Well it seems it’s larger than you might think, as the Independent has reported that Ford recently announced the recall of 1.4 million vehicles. Furthermore General Motors (GM), its closest revival, has recalled an astonishing 15.8 vehicles so far this year.

The reason  that the US’ largest two car manufacturers are recalling cars is because people are finding that their vehicles have faulty ignitions, steering, brakes, disabled airbags etc. Specifically, for example, out of the 1.4 million vehicles recently recalled by Ford, 1.1 million Ford SUV’s were thought to be at risk of a loss of power steering, whilst 200,000 Ford Taurus Sedans, are thought to be prone to corrosion issues.

How dangerous are These Motors?

There’s a reason that these cars are being recalled and this reason is generally that they can be very dangerous and lead to road accidents that could even be fatal. Take GM for example. The fact they have recalled 15.8 vehicles in 2014 – 13.8 of them in the US alone, is astounding. The fact that they did so in part because of reports that faulty issues caused 13 road deaths, is even more striking.

Whilst at Canvey Carriage Company, we recognise that this is a problem mostly confined to our cousins across  the Atlantic, we realise that it could affect cars in Britain as well, which is why we would advise you to be really careful that you get a car fully check before you buy. 

Canvey Carriage Company Asks: Are Car Prices About to Go Up?

Reports that came out last week suggested that a future rise in interest rates may push up what you pay for a new car.  Is there any truth in this? Canvey Carriage Company Explores.

Canvey Carriage Company – The Cost Effective Used Car Service

We prioritise rock bottom prices here at the Canvey Carriage Company. A Canvey, Essex-based used car provider, we’ve built up a reputation as the showroom where you can bag a quality bargain for your latest used car.

The services of used car providers such as Canvey may be more in demand than ever, according to industry experts, as the wallet friendly prices currently trending in the national car industry may be set to disappear, as the national interest rate gets raised by the Bank of England.

Set to Hit Pre-2008 Levels of Economic Growth

For anyone who reads the money pages of their local rag, you’ll know we’re in the midst of an economic recovery. Accoridng to practically every financial expert around, our economy is stronger than it’s been since the recession, and we’re set to return to pre-2008 levels of growth by the summer.

This has been spurred on in no large part by the Bank of England setting their benchmark interest rate at 0.5% last year in a bid to spur British business growth. It clearly worked for the car industry, as UK car production jumped 12% in March alone and people are buying British cars in droves.

So Goes the Interest Rate, Goes the World

It seems like the bubble could burst a little now, though, as UK Hyundai CEO Tony Whitehorn has suggested that even small rises in the interest rate would impact the car industry, as it would restrict access to the funding people need from lenders to buy their car.

Reuters reported that Whitehorn said of the situation "I think it just has significant ramifications to confidence and directly into accessibility of funds to buy cars." Whitehorn has a point, as the interest rate will rise at some pint – it has to in order for the economy to keep on growing.

That is why used car services such as those supplied by Canvey Carriage Company are going to become more important than ever in the coming months – the interest rate can’t stay at 0.5% forever!

Canvey Carriage Company’s Top Five Road Safety Tips

If you want to make sure you stay safe on the road and get the most out of your used car for years to come, this blog post might just be the thing for you, as this week Canvey Carriage Company lists its top five road safety tips!

At Canvey Carriage Company, we’ve built a reputation as the Canvey Essex-based used car broker that you can count on for quality service. We’ve managed to do that, quite frankly, through the application of one very old fashioned principle. We care about our customers.

That care is why we provide the safest, most cost effective used cars you’ll find this side of the British Isles; it’s also why we provide you with an extensive MOT service that your wallet will love.  That’s why we want to make sure you play it safe on the road.

The Top Five Ways You Can Stay Safe on the Road

We’ve seen many a driver over the years, and a fair few of them have played it risky on the roads and paid the price. Our time in the business has given us the knowledge of how to stay safe on the road and here’s what we learned:

Don’t Be Tempted to Overtake: When you’re in a rush and you’re stuck behind a driver cruising at a snail’s pace, it’ll seem tempting to overtake them. Really tempting. Don’t. Did you know that hundreds of accidents are caused every year on the road because of overtaking? Maybe just beep them instead?

Keep Your Distance: It’s always a good idea to keep a healthy distance between you and the drivers in front and behind at all times on the road. Think of it this way, if you don’t and they come to a sudden stop, you’re screwed. Use your mirrors to keep your car at a healthy distance. 

Stick to the Speed Limit: We know you’re on a motorway and it’s so tempting to put your foot down, but you really shouldn’t. Did you know that 3,267 people were killed or seriously injured in speeding accidents in 2011 alone? Stick to the speed limit.

Be Aware of What’s Around You: Have you ever had to suddenly stop because a pedestrian has unwittingly walked into the road? Everyone has, and to drive safely you need to be aware of what’s going on around you. Don’t use mobiles while driving, check mirrors, ask your passengers to keep an eye out etc.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time: People who are in a rush tend to be careless on the road; carelessness tends to lead to accidents. Set off early when you’ve got to arrive at your destination by a specific time, so you can concentrate on the road. 

If you're in the market for a used car, visit Canvey Carriage Company.

Canvey Carriage Company on Toyota HQ move

At Canvey Carriage Company we have lots of Toyotas available, but news has come in today that Toyota plan to move their HQ from Southern California to Dallas, Texas.

After a rumours have been circulating for some time, Canvey Carriage Company can now report that the move will go ahead with an expected move in date to be around early 2017.

Toyota Prius available from Canvey Carriage Company

The Japanese car giant are relocating from Torrance, just outside of Los Angeles, and the move will bring

much of the manufactures operations under one roof. This includes Toyota’s sales, marketing, servicing, advertising and quality control. As well as this some manufacturing operations will be moved to Texas, which currently operates in Kentucky.

The move by Toyota will be staggered, and begin to take place at the end of 2016. Toyota set up in California in 1957, beginning in a shop at a former rambler dealership in Hollywood.

Torrance mayor has described the move as “sad news”. Adding that "Toyota has been an integral part of the city."

Toyota’s move means that all three major Japanese car manufactures, which account for a large proportion of the US auto market share, will have left the state where they first moved in the beginning of their US operations.

Nissan moved most of its operations from Gardena, California, to Franklin, Tennessee, outside Nashville in 2006. Just last year, Honda decided to move a number of executives from Torrance to Columbus, Ohio.

Speaking to employees, Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz said: "Currently, we’re operating as multiple affiliates in a connected-but-independent way. In other words, we still have silos, and that’s slowing our decision-making processes. Our goal is to become not a group of dedicated affiliates, but one company -- One Toyota."

Lentz added: "Many roles will transfer, unchanged, to the new locations. Some new roles will be created, while others may evolve to meet the changing needs of the new organization."

It’s a bold move for Toyota, but one that they must believe will benefit the company going forward.

Canvey Carriage Company discuss Apple CarPlay

Canvey Carriage Company were pleased to hear that Apple has confirmed that their upcoming iOS CarPlay dashboard won’t be limited solely to new cars. Japanese electronics company, Pioneer, who produce dashboard media receivers, have confirmed that they will begin supporting CarPlay this summer.

These receivers will be able to pick up CarPlay in the form of a firmware update to Pioneer’s existing line of NEX units. The receivers range in price from $700 (around £420) to $1,400 (around £840). The upcoming CarPlay support update was announced by Pioneer via press release, with Apple later confirming the news.

This new technology will allow drivers to control iPhone features such as media playback and navigation through Siri. Siri operates through voice commands. They will also be able to use a touchscreen function on their vehicle dashboard. Users must physically tether their iPhone 5, iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C to the units to activate the system. They must remain tethered throughout use. The technology will be able to predict potential journeys based on previous travel and will incorporate apps like Spotify to give users a broader range of services.

Before this announcement was made, rumours were flying around that Mercedes-Benz were looking into aftermarket solutions for CarPlay support. It has now been confirmed that CarPlay will be included in the production of all 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars, as well as the Ferrari FF and the Volvo XC90 SUV. Honda, Hyundai and Jaguar Land Rover are expected to follow suit soon too.

This is all great new for car stereo fitters. The new CarPlay system will have an incredible presence in the car stereo industry and will help to inject some life into what has, in recent years, been a flailing business. This would mark the return of an industry that Apple inadvertently stole with the dawn of the iPod.

Indian Car Sales on the Up

Canvey Carriage Company were today reading about a modest pickup in the number of car sales in India so far this year. After two years of decline, analysts have said they can see a very slight recovery coming in the aftermath of the country’s general election.

In the last financial year, car sales dropped by 5%. This fall came during a period that many are calling the worst period in India’s fledgling auto sector. It comes after a 7% fall in the previous year. However, car sales are expected to increase now that India’s annual economic growth is headed back to 7-8%.

Experts are saying that 2014 won’t be nearly as bad as 2013, but that’s largely because 2013 was a terrible year all round. However, much of the predicted recover depends on the outcome of the election. It is felt that a stable government can do wonders for the economy.

If you’re interested in a quality used car, contact Canvey Carriage Company for details of our full range. You can visit our website or call us on 01268 690015.

Canvey Carriage Company on Noiseless Motors

Canvey Carriage Company were pleased to read about new legislation this week that will make it mandatory for electric cars to make artificial engine noises. This is to aid blind and partially sighted people, to ensure they hear the cars coming, and was voted on in the European Parliament. They also decided that conventional petrol and diesel engines should make 25% less noise than they do currently.

Mandatory “acoustic vehicle alerting systems” (AVAS) will be install in all new electric and hybrid cars to protect vulnerable pedestrians and road users. Groups including Guide Dogs for the Blind have been lobbying for this system for a number of years, since electric and hybrid cars were introduced. All-electric cars, such as the Toyota Prius, currently emit very little sound when they’re in electric-only mode.

Liberal Democrat MEPs have successfully campaigned for the introduction of the AVAS to be a mandatory requirement; previous campaigns suggested a voluntary installation policy. Car manufacturers in the EU will now have five years to implement this change and comply with the ruling. The hope is that road accidents will be reduced, lowering injury and death rates.

It is generally agreed that quiet electric cars will become a common sight on our roads within the next few year, so it’s important to protect the interests of blind pedestrians, children and the elderly, who may be more vulnerable at the roadside. The AVAS will sound very similar to cars with regular combustible engines, which will allow all pedestrians to hear it and judge how safe it is to cross the road.

Conventional passenger cars will also be subject to change in the coming years since the European Parliament ruled to lower conventional passenger car noise by four decibels for cars, vans, buses and coaches, and three decibels for trucks. It is hoped that this will reduce noise nuisances caused by vehicles by around 25%.