The EV curse hits Luton!

[@trumenjst]

My two brothers had been working at EV facility producing parts, one in Germany, another in France. Both lost their job due to the "lack of demand". It was a few months ago.

[@BarrieCrampton]

Sorry to hear that

[@matthewgodwin3050]

As an ex-employee of MG Rover, your brothers have my sympathy. The people running these companies often lack foresight, and as always, it's everyone else who suffers.

[@Chrislayeruk1]

It’s not lack of demand, it’s lack of demand at a too high price… Tesla sells, BYD sells, Xpeng sell, Leap motors sell… They all sell if he product is good enough and priced correctly

[@MikeJones-mz5ig]

America is so gummed up with petrol pickups, they can't move.

[@GT380man]

@@Chrislayeruk1Indeed, they sell, to a niche market. Most people do not want & will not buy an EV. I won’t. It’s nothing to do with price, depreciation, range, infrastructure or safety. It’s because the entire, underlying rationale for them is fraud. Mistakes Were Not Made. It’s wholly intentional and designed to destroy personally owned, powered transport of any kind. This is why 50cc motorcycles are also to be outlawed. Most of south east Asia gets about on small capacity motorbikes.

[@Ayeright.]

The vast majority of drivers don t want the inconvenience and expense of a toaster on wheels.

[@rayro999]

In Parliament, the Labour Minister claimed the reason EV's aren't selling in volume is because they aren't going fast enough towards EV Nut Zero. Seems they think the only way to get people to buy EV's are by taking ICE cars off the road and giving people no choice. This despite Starmer saying last week that Labour will not interfere in the lives of working people.

[@timhicks2154]

EV’s will surely bring about the demise of most car manufacturing industries

[@ericevans6382]

Please look at the bigger picture, The EU imported over half a million Chinese-made cars in 2022, with around 63% being battery-electric. The share of Chinese-made BEVs entering Europe has increased from 1% in 2019 to over 50% in 2023,and to top it china don't want European cars deisel petrol or electric,so to keep the factory's working they just kept making them so now they are in the shit paying to store thousands of cars for up to a year so far that no one wants because china are matching if not bettering design quality and price So in answer to your reply I think there will be a big change in the next few years and it will be all about evs whether we like it or not.

[@Tl-rs1dv]

Who wants a van built by forced labour owned by CCP ​@@ericevans6382

[@daveb2wright]

Strange how these people who work in shady organisations and NGOs always have an influence that screws things up for the rest of us! Once again greed and money is the motivation.

[@GT380man]

It’s primarily about control and power. Money isn’t the objective, but a lubricant & enabler.

[@dingopisscreek]

The surest way to go out of business is to make something no one wants. That is what is happening to eV manufacturers.

[@GT380man]

True. But in making EV, what we do want & need, diesel vans, are now literally unavailable & aren’t going to be available. The hardworking lads who race around the country, building, delivering and repairing things, will have fewer & fewer chariots in which to do their jobs. Tragedies abound.

[@ronaldgoddard9733]

Barrie, I worked at the Luton car plant for Vauxhall from 1974 until the plant closed in 2002. The car builds were transferred to Ellesmere Port. While this was a strategic decision as the van plant across the road needed hundreds of additional employees , not many transferred to ellesmere. It meant uprooting and moving. I transferred to the Warehouse operations which was the other side of Luton, nearer where I lived. Some transferred to the headquarters at Griffin House in Luton. There were options. Sadly the writing has been on the wall for the van plant for some time. Very few people want EVs, unless they are company cars. There is even less demand for vans. Sadly the warehouse was bulldozed last year and Griffin House too, there is no escape route to continue employment. Several of my colleagues from plant days who transferred to the van plant have been hit again. The future is looking very bleak for motorists, thankfully it will not affect me or you. Great videos by the way. I keep Loki g at your website - I’m looking for a Range Rover…

[@BarrieCrampton]

@@ronaldgoddard9733 thanks for watching 👍

[@mikeandhev]

Great work as usual Barrie, keep it up! 😃

[@DaleSteel]

The general plan is to make motoring too expensive and too annoying so that they can massively reduce the amount of vehicles on the road hence reduce emissions. Also add in the bonus of control.

[@colliehouse3133]

Milk floats were supposed to vanish from our streets when supermarkets took over the milk market. Let’s keep that reality in place.

[@russcattell955i]

Ironically, ev's are ideal for door to door type deliveries. our Postwoman uses an e van.

[@rayro999]

@@russcattell955i Sounds good until you realise they pay huge amounts to buy or lease the van and the van is literally worthless two or three years down the road. Rapid depreciation of EV's means that asset is not an asset but a liability. How long before most scap merchants refuse to take EV's in the same way as most scappers wont' take fridges and freezers.

[@ericevans6382]

Sorry but you are talking bull

[@rayro999]

@@ericevans6382 Thank you for your informative and comprehensively researched reply. Sure people will change their mind over whatever it is you are moaning about. 🤣

[@grahamthacker6498]

@@rayro999 WELL SAID, perfect response to an idiot.

[@russcattell955i]

Just watched the tv news item on Luton factory closure. Several people in the street asked about ev's. Overwhelming no thanks was the response, closing comment from presenter was, many would be buyers are unsure ! What a blatant lie. Such attempted mind conditioning, more spin than a prima ballerina.

[@nsweeney3970]

Zealotry and Business do not mix

[@sassasins031]

Vote Reform.

[@kevinmoffatt]

Interesting these people always work for non profit organisations; simple reason is that, if they were employed by an organisation tasked with making a profit through innovation, expertise and business nous, they would fail miserably. So they get their politico chums from uni to arrange a shoe in to some NGO and live the good life, usually at the taxpayers expense.

[@G-ra-ha-m]

Funny the government never ever work for us, they never represent us.

[@1x3dil]

It was ever thus , and will probably bring down the whole thing . The government are not interested in manufacturing , and definitely don’t care about people who work in these factories . Barry is always spot on , and while I’m about it cheers to his good self as well . Personally I think the die is cast and the Cs will take the crown, they might even giving time improve their products . A few specialists branded may hang on but for the rest it’s good night Vienna , as for the technology that will keep going till the resources run out or something better comes along . Ether way China will just switch over without breaking step . My late grandfather born in 1898 world often say ( never wake the sleeping dragon) seems the old lad might have had a point . Kind regards to all

[@G-ra-ha-m]

KZbin deleted my comment at random.

[@farmerned6]

Got a EV 4x4 pick-up , that can carry 1 ton, tow 3.5 ton, and do it ALL DAY LONG on one charge? And cost the same to buy as a diesel one? Until then , don't bother me.

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

Only one day???

[@niged]

Great work Barrie. Any news yet on Car manufacturers meeting the UK government on the ridiculous net zero mandate??

[@seantaylor9758]

There is a place for a battery car but not for everyone. I re-think is needed here. The days of the Vauxhall Victor, Chevette and Viva all came out of Luton so a shame when everything come to a halt.

[@williamfitzpatrick7248]

When will the sheeple get it , people don’t want them , simple

[@rbnhd1144]

I'm British and understand how the UK registers license plates with prefix changes every 6 months, I moved to America years ago, nothing happens like that here, nobody cares are about license plate numbers, they do not indicate that you have just purchased a brand new car, there is no status hang ups or bragging rights, I do think the UK would have more consistent car sales if they didn't have that system., It creates unnecessary highs and lows.

[@primafacie6442]

Consumerism 101, to create the envy effect.

[@rbnhd1144]

@@primafacie6442 Oh yes and it does exactly that, I buy what I like and what suits me, I never try to impress others, Id sooner downplay it all, People are such saps, playing that game, trying to impress their so called "Friends". If people stopped buying the unnessecary throw away crap they buy on daily basis that's imported from China, we would not be in this position, Con-sumerism really is the waste of the worlds resources. Buy what you need and take care of it.

[@nicnak4475]

I must be old as I remember when the new regs came out on August the 1st ! 🤣My late mother was offered a deal in August 1967, when the regs changed for the first time, £16 to chop her E reg Morris 1300 4 door in for a new 2 door Morris 1300 F reg.

[@GeorgesDupont-do8pe]

Of all places, would have thought Luton would be particularly wary. Anybody taken responsibility for the airport car park meltdown yet?

[@leeandjancruise]

The people in charge ie the government are a breed of their own, do you think they ever say to their partner "it's nice today come on love let's go out for a ride in the car" or "I love this bit of country road I'm gonna give it the beans down this stretch" or "my engine has double overhead cams and twin turbos and multi point fuel injection". No they're all as exciting as magnolia painted walls. We the general public want some excitement in life, something that gives us excitement or pleasure or economy for the commuters to drive but definitely not range anxiety and inflated costs.

[@apislapis]

We both know that travelling from Luton to Ellesmere Port means relocating whole families to 'the Port.' It wouldn't be the first time this has happened as many of my school friends in the 70s had southern accents. It's not a great choice but better than being unemployed. But how long will the Port factory last in the current chaotic climate? It ain't good Barrie. Keep speaking the truth.

[@jonthornalley1344]

From what I've seen of Luton I would move to Liverpool anyway job or no job, it's paradise. It's got no council funded jihad centres but you can't have everything

[@richarddutchholland4780]

“EV’s have always been for the minority and not the majority”

[@acelectricalsecurity]

The sad thing is thousands of people have to lose their jobs before the powers that be, decide to take notice, it's a shame those idiots don't lose their jobs.

[@GT380man]

The powers that be not only knew what would happen, but it was always the objective. They don’t need “alerting to the problem”. They knowingly created the problem. Some of us have been pointing stuff like this for years. Geoff Buys Cars realised early that the EV push is nothing to do with getting us into EVs, but getting us OUT of diesel and petrol vehicles. While that was happening, mass manufacturing of ICE vehicles was shuttered and won’t be coming back. Precisely what is happening at VW right now. Those “temporary” plant closures will become permanent without ever having to officially announce it.

[@martinsoelby5902]

No to mention the fact that many have negotiated long term deals to drive the parts cost down. Many don’t have the knowledge to go with their options.

[@TESTA-CC]

2070 needs to be the target, with time naturally infrastructure and new technology evolves. People would naturally be interested in new technology because its there choice. When its forced upon you, people will always rebel, its common sense and the Government have lost touch with its work force, the tax payer and the car Manufacturers.

[@douglasb.5601]

There should be no target as C.C. is a scam.

[@AndyK.1]

what happened to glasses guide ?

[@marklivesey6069]

Biggest employers of child slavery

[@rbnhd1144]

With a name like Walker we know what Colin's plans are for us.

[@anthony208]

Very sad to hear about anyone losing their jobs and any increase in business taxation/costs is never good for employers, employees or customers in the end. But I wonder if Vauxhall bosses to the opportunity to partly blame increased business costs for closing the Luton factory to mask the fact they had designed and were producing a van that is simply not fit for purposes! Consequently with the exception of British Gas, who converted to Vauxhall electric vans, but have now replaced 50% of their electric vans with diesel. Nobody else is purchasing a Vauxhall or their derivative namesake electric vans that had a maximum 70 mile range on the motorway, even less if you put the heaters, wipers, lights or carried anything on the roof or inside the van. Oh and forget using it to tow any trailer if your business required this facility. Not forgetting that the increased production costs of an electric van have contributed to the massive price rises along with inflation, pandemic profiteering etc, effectively doubling the price of a new van over the last 5-10 years with a knock on effect pushing up ICE van prices in the process. It really isn’t surprising that they are going to close Luton🤔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@sushiginger444]

Bit early for scotch Barrie?

[@colvaughan9596]

Better have a brandy first

[@JeffPower-dv3zl]

❤😂🎉😊

[@marklivesey6069]

We've had electric cars for 100 years... they don't work

[@DumbGoogle-yz9cr]

Its worse than that, the ones 100 years ago worked now they are oversold and underachieved

[@RobertSmith-di5ll]

I thought Vauxhall was Luton and vice versa

[@DumbGoogle-yz9cr]

Business idea - cant build new cars? Rebuild old ones completely and sell them at new car prices (as old as you can to avoid emission bullshit)

[@tonivaripati5951]

Do people really want to live and work in Luton?

[@primafacie6442]

Barry, the auto “market” simply isn’t being allowed to respond to normal market stimulus (as in the natural product cycle evolution). In fact the auto market has been pushed for decades by the emissions control regulations (Euro 4/5/6 more recently, that almost ended the VAG Group for cheating) that has incrementally introduced catalytic control, stop start rubbish, smaller engines, even now Adblue, but this is the final authoritarian push to 100% electric (knowing full well that western nations don’t have the electrical infrastructure to generate and distribute the power necessary). Indeed by introducing specific mandated dates (2030/2035) it’s pure top down CONTROL by supranational organisations (aka world government) and compliant puppet Western governments. These people always had control over money supply (achieved by introducing central banks), but next up is control (to limit) of human movement and the food supply via anthropogenic climate alarmism. To the sceptics…..if you have a serviceable ICE car and only do less than 6000 a year, can it be greener to scrap it and buy a brand new manufactured EV? This is not about limiting anthropogenic climate change, but rather it’s just one singular facet of a broader agenda to limit (the size of) and to control the general populations.

[@MrBrendanrex]

Both Ofgem and my local DNO have stated that when everyone has an EV, there's enough capacity for each home to put 25-30 miles of range into an EV every day, to be shared out between how many EVs live there. The government could get us used to this by rationing petrol & diesel fuel. Easily done by issuing coupons so that each household can buy 20 litres per week. No coupon, no fuel. Does anyone remember the coupons sent out by the government in 1974 when fuel rationing was being seriously considered? Naturally, if you needed more fuel, you would have to buy it from spivs on the black market at inflated prices. In the EV world, the spivs are the commercial charging stations.

[@rbnhd1144]

Id say that's another 1100 jobs LOST as most wont move to Ellesmere port, Id bet Ellesmere port wont be around much longer with how things are going.

[@timford4873]

Quentin Wilson is thst hypocrite

[@BarrieCrampton]

yep, i agree

[@nsweeney3970]

Climate and EV shilling rats

[@dodgerboe]

Bottoms Up 🌈🤪

[@BarrieCrampton]

👍

[@Chrislayeruk1]

It’s not an EV curse, it’s the fact that China and Tesla saw the future and invested in EVs along with renewables whereas legacy auto did nothing. This is management failure… Chinese EVs from the major brands and Tesla are better than almost anything from legacy auto… It’s that simple…

[@RogueTrader-]

Neither Tesla or any Chinese maker make an electric or hybrid van that is fit for purpose in 90% of commercial sectors.

[@DumbGoogle-yz9cr]

Chinese? BYD aka burn your driveway? And tesla? So where is the Tesla lorry that should be everywhere?

[@Tl-rs1dv]

China creates more CO2 than any other country , removing CO2 is supposed to be the reason for EV mandate and 2030 stop of ICE sales in UK . China uses forced labour .

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

"....EV curse hits Luton" = Natural progression from burning stuff to get around in complex combustion engines to getting around using clean electric motive power.

[@mikapeltokorpi7671]

Best Hits of Brexit going strong.

[@BarrieCrampton]

Brexit 😂 check out Germany 😂😂😂😂👍🇬🇧

[@markmiller5577]

Ukfires .... Org Reports Absolute zero Read Thier plan

[@timhicks2154]

Ah. Still blaming Brexit I see! 😂😂😂

[@nsweeney3970]

Best hits of the government interfering with the free market trying to force people to buy a crap and inferior product (EVs) when nobody wants them. Great job, the motor industry is being put into headlock they'll never get out of thanks to this socialist interference.

[@kevinmoffatt]

Don't sweat it, your friend Herr Starmer will soon fix it for you and then, if you're a taxpayer he will arrange for truckloads of your money to be shipped over to shore up their collapsing car industry.

[@ADYDRURY1234]

It's all the other companies who will also go under when Luton closes. Years ago I worked for an engineering company who made the welding jigs for the car plant in Darlington, that was the companies main income, the company I worked for also had other companies supplying it,.it's the whole chain. I wonder how many of those Luton workers voted Labour with their mental net zero bullshit.. I am now a self employed electrician and I have been fitting domestic car chargers since around 2012, the majority of our customers have e got pissed off with their EV and gone back to ICE. They are all excited when they first get their ev then reality starts to sink in when they have been stuck in some shit hole car park a few times.