Growth continues in CV market
The commercial vehicle market continues growth for the ninth consecutive month, up 23.2 per cent to 24,567 units, according to the latest figures from the SMMT.
The commercial vehicle market continues growth for the ninth consecutive month, up 23.2 per cent to 24,567 units, according to the latest figures from the SMMT.
SMMT figures on new car registrations showed a positive start to the year as the numbers grew 6.7 per cent in January to 164,856 units – the strongest January since 2007.
HiQ has launched what it calls the HiQ-In-A-Box concept with a new centre in Maidstone. HiQ-In-A-Box is designed to give franchisees an accelerated expansion route to market by delivering a turnkey ready-made centre. Explaining the initiative, Mark Widdows, HiQ national franchise manager, said:
Former HiQ retail director, Farrell Dolan has been appointed Bridgestone’s new north Europe consumer sales and marketing director. Having spent a month with Bridgestone already, Dolan is optimistic about the coming year, expressing his excitement about the company’s potential. He said that he had been impressed by the sales team’s knowledge and professionalism, as well as the Firestone brand’s mid-range proposition. Dolan joins new managing director Robin Shaw at the helm of Bridgestone’s activities in the north Europe region during a period of reorganisation following a number of retirements and departures, including former MD John McNaught.
Milltek has released detailed specs on its all-new system for the VW Golf GTi MkII 8 valve. The car, which is considered increasingly collectible, is the latest to get an upgrade under the Milltek Classic banner; a re-engineered range of classic car exhausts for some of the most iconic retro cars. Milltek says its Golf solution offers “a full ‘front to back’ tuning upgrade, bringing weight savings, aesthetic improvements and power gains along the way.”
Drive DMACK, the current WRC 2 teams world champion run by the authorised tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship, will defend its title in 2015 with two Ford Fiesta R5s. Returning driver Jari Ketomaa will start at Rally Sweden, while Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy winner Sander Pärn will make the step up to WRC 2 at Rally Portugal. In terms of its tyre supply deal, Dmack said that it will provide a complete range of upgraded tyres this season, featuring evolved construction and compound specifications to boost performance across all surfaces.
Yokohama has signed a deal to become the official tyre supplier for the 2015 Top Gear Live UK Tour. Yokohama tyres will be used on all vehicles featured during the five-venue tour. Commenting, Yokohama HPT Ltd managing director David Seward said: “I am delighted that Yokohama has been confirmed as official tyre supplier for the 2015 Top Gear Live UK Tour. The series of events really brings the television series to life and I am sure that our products will deliver the performance that the drivers require on every level.”
Nexen Tire reports that operating earnings increased 18 per cent in 2014. According to the Korea-based tyre manufacturer, this was based on lower raw material costs and improved sales. Meanwhile sales were 1.7 per cent higher at US$1.68 billion, raising the operating ratio nearly two points to 11.9 per cent. Net income rose 4.7 per […]
Hermes UK, the consumer delivery specialist, has renewed its three-year tyre contract with Michelin solutions, saying the efficient management of its tyres helped contribute to a 12 per cent reduction in diesel bills over the last three years. The Effitires contract – Michelin solutions’ name for an outsourced tyre management deal – will cover the entire Hermes UK fleet of 190 tractor units, 368 rigid trucks and 760 trailers.
Just last week Energy Minister Amber Rudd raised the prospect of petrol costing less than £1.00/litre ahead of the general election as crude prices continued to fall. However from a low point of $45/barrel for Brent Crude in mid-January, there has been a significant rally back to $54/barrel this week. The point is that this makes is less likely that fuel will get as low as a pound a litre any time soon.
Altaf Jiwani, director and chief financial officer of Phillips Carbon Black Ltd resigned at the close of business on 30 January 2015. The news, which originates from regulatory filings, adds that Raj Kumar Gupta has been appointed as CFO in his place, effective 1 February 2015. At the same time Kusum Dadoo has been appointed […]
Exhaust manufacturer Milltek has excited classic and retro car enthusiasts everywhere with the launch of its Milltek Classic range. Having been at the very front of exhaust tuning for well over three decades, Milltek’s engineers have used their extensive experience to re-define and redesign a carefully chosen selection of newly engineered systems for key classic cars.
David Gauke MP, financial secretary to the Treasury, has written to the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) in response to the RMI’s pre-autumn statement submission.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is warning that despite 50 years of seat belt laws, far too many drivers and passengers are still putting themselves and others in great danger by not wearing seat belts. The first seat belt law came into force in January 1965, which saw all new cars in the UK required to have seat belt anchorage points on the outer front seats – and paved the way for far-reaching compulsory seat belt wearing laws in the decades after.
Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) will return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2017 with a car developed and built entirely at its technical centre in Cologne. Over the next two years TMG will continue its test programme with the Yaris WRC in preparation for a return to the series in which it won four drivers’ and three manufacturers’ world championships in the 1990s.
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