Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/527016
VIII Motoring maltatoday, Sunday, 14 June 2015 Auto executives warn UK exit from European Union would be 'bad for both' Two German heads of iconic English car brands urged the UK to remain in the European Un- ion in the interest of both sides during the Automotive News Eu- rope Congress here. The pro-EU sentiment was also expressed by the CEOs of Aston Martin and Volvo during the event. "I would not be very happy if Britain exited the EU. It would be bad for both sides," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW Group's management board member re- sponsible for the Mini and Rolls- Royce brands. Ralf Speth, chief executive of Tata Motors' UK-based subsidi- ary, Jaguar Land Rover, told Au- tomotive News Europe that 20 percent of JLR's cars are sold in continental Europe, but it also imports a lot of content from there. "We are very interested in hav- ing a free exchange of goods and technology so we can prosper together," Speth said in an inter- view after his keynote speech at the event. For major automakers with global manufacturing footprints and billions of dollars worth of cars and parts moving back and forth across international bor- ders, an exit would mean the loss of free f low of goods between one of Europe's largest econo- mies and the remaining coun- tries in the European Union. According to the latest statis- tics from the UK and German auto industry associations, both countries export more than 77 percent of all cars produced lo- cally, although no figures were available specifically for trading between the two. The UK does run a sizable trade deficit with the EU, however. In the three months to April 2015, it wid- ened by 200 million pounds to 21.3 billion pounds (about $33 billion). Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said executives might be dwelling too much on short-term aspects like trade f lows rather than see- ing a unified EU as a necessary counterweight to trading blocs both in the West and East. "I be- lieve we need a strong Europe in the global competition against Asia-Pacific and the U.S.," he said. "A lot of things are being discussed regarding the future of Europe such as the taxes we will have and what type of la- bor laws [we will have]. I think it's good to have the UK point of view included in these discus- sions." The UK opted out of the us- ing the euro, preferring to re- tain its pound sterling. Years of observing the euro zone mud- dle through its debt crisis only served to strengthen the deep misgivings over the European project and galvanize support for the isolationist UK Inde- pendence Party at the expense of the conservative Tory party. To shore up fringe factions within his EU-sceptic Tory base, UK Prime Minister David Cam- eron promised to put the issue of an exit to a popular vote in the UK if re-elected as head of the government. He later surprised pollsters with an emphatic and resounding election victory for the conservatives early last month, raising the specter of a troubled Europe slowly frag- menting into pieces. Germany's carmakers immedi- ately responded to the outcome, with the head of the VDA auto industry group, Matthias Wiss- mann, warning the next day the risks from the feared UK exit from the EU far surpassed those of Greece's potential exit from the bloc. "As important as it is for the European Commission to tack- le the 'Greek issues,' it is much more crucial to the future of Eu- rope that Great Britain remains in the European Union in the long term," Wissmann said fol- lowing Cameron's victory. "Now the European Commission and the German government must do everything they can to keep Britain in the European Union." The individualisation champion Opel ADAM will be even more unique from now on. New tech- nologies and features will extend the motley ADAM family: The Swing Top canvas roof is being launched as an optional feature on the mini-crossover ADAM ROCKS and will also be avail- able on the other Opel ADAM urban lifestyle cars. The new ADAM SWINGTOP offers an unrestricted view of the sky at the push of a button. Opel has also increased the options for transmissions and now offers Easytronic 3.0, the latest in auto- mated transmission technology, for drivers who no longer want to shift themselves permanently. The new system not only allows for quicker and softer automatic gear changes but also helps re- duce consumption and emis- sions by around eight per cent. "These new attractive possi- bilities will further strengthen our large ADAM family and give everybody the opportunity to configure their personal ADAM favourite," explained Ryan Butti- gieg, General Manager of Cars International, Agents for Opel in Malta The choice of colours is also unlimited. With over 19 different bodywork colours, customers can personalise their own ADAM until the very last detail. Apart from increasing driving comfort, improving efficiency was key during the develop- ment of Easytronic. In combina- tion with the 64 KW/87 hp 1.4- litre naturally aspirated engine, Easytronic 3.0 cuts fuel con- sumption by up to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometers for the combined cycle compared to a five-speed manual transmission. This is equivalent to a reduction of CO2 emissions by 10 grams per kilo- metre. In this arrangement, the ADAM 1.4 ecoFLEX with Start/ Stop consumes 4.7 litres per 100 kilometers and emits 109 grams of CO2 per kilometre, meaning that it makes the leap from effi- ciency class C to B. Pop over to the Opel showroom at Cars International in Mdina Road, Qormi, to have a first-hand experience of the Swing Top and the Easytronic 3.0 AT Technol- ogy on Opel ADAM models and book a test drive by sending an email to opelsales@cil.com.mt or by calling 2269 2122. You can also visit opel.com.mt or the Fa- cebook page Opel Malta. Swing Top and Easytronic 3.0 options on Opel ADAM models