The very first public appearance of a Pirelli tyre for the 2021 World Rally Championship (WRC) will take place at the 2020 GP Ice Race this weekend. During the event, Pirelli will display will a Sweden-specification studded Sottozero Ice J1 tyre in 205/65 R15 size. This tyre will be one of several used by WRC cars from next season.
Autogem has begun 2020 with an exclusive agreement to become sole trade distributor of Michelin Pro-Series Hybrid wiper blades. Autogem said the new addition to its portfolio fits its philosophy of assisting its installer partners with industry-leading products which save time, improve engagement and increase revenue streams. Examples of this can also be seen in Autogem’s Groove Glove and i-sensor TPMS tools, which the company states are amongst the fastest selling universal TPMS solutions anywhere.
Vehicle customiser Sterling Automotive Design has signed a new partnership with Davanti Tyres. Blackburn-based Sterling is a new design house specialising in reimagining iconic vehicles with British style. Their work includes bespoke full-vehicle, premium customisations and lighter-touch enhancements to external bodywork or upholstery. Sterling brand director Doug Topott said fellow British brand Davanti shares “a similar ethos” to the company.
As the February 2020 issue of Tyres & Accessories goes to press, the United Kingdom is officially leaving the European Union after three years of intense dispute and debate. At the same time, 2019 wasn’t a great year for the automotive and tyre industries (see page 36 onwards for further details of what has transpired during the last 12 months). And with a no-deal scenario presenting the possibility of import tariffs on and parts, 2020 doesn’t look like it is going to be a whole bunch better. However, while the disappointing performance of the car and tyre markets is linked to Brexit, the issues are not one and the same.
Pirelli is expanding its 2020 racing range with the Phantom Sportscomp RS, an 18-inch classic motorcycle competition tyre that combines the vintage Phantom Sportscomp pattern with the latest in track tyre technology. The tyre is approved for road use and aimed at riders competing in classic sprint and endurance races. A second product entering the portfolio this year is the Diablo Rosso Scooter SC, a tyre for racing scooters.
Continued disruption, restructuring and re-shaping of the automotive industry will be required to make increasing levels of R&D affordable whilst simultaneously representing a major growth opportunity in the year ahead, according to engineering consultancy Horiba MIRA.
CAM is introducing a new online payment gateway in April 2020 that will align with future trading conditions to be negotiated between the UK and its EU trading country partners in the months ahead. It will also meet the SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) Regulation, part of the EU Revised Directive on Payment Services, which came into force on 14 September 2019, aimed at reducing fraudulent crime associated with online debit and credit card payments.
Offering market-leading levels of precision, repeatability and a 90-second wheel alignment check capability, the Beissbarth Easy 3D+ is now available from Everard, the German specialist’s exclusive UK distributor. With this unit, workshops can complete a full vehicle alignment in as little as 20 minutes.
As car security systems become increasingly sophisticated, thieves are turning their attention to car parts instead. This is bad news for owners of vehicles fitted with alloy wheels, but Ford now offers a way of keeping those wheels yours – and the solution is guaranteed to get car owners talking.
Four tyre plants in Japan and the Americas are amongst seven Bridgestone Corporation facilities to receive Caterpillar Inc.’s highest Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP) rating. The manufacturer of construction and mining equipment has awarded Platinum Level certification to Bridgestone’s Hofu and Shimonoseki (Japan), Des Moines (USA) and Santo André (Brazil) plants.
Dawsongroup has selected international development organisation Transaid as one of its two lead partner charities. The UK owned business specialising in the provision and funding of supply-chain assets across Europe has joined 37 corporate members from across the transport and logistics industry supporting Transaid’s primary goals of improving commercial driving standards and ensuring better access to healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid projects are currently underway in 12 countries, including Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Bridgestone claims its Turanza T005 is reinventing the wheel after the tyre received critical acclaim in the year or so since it’s launch.
In 2018, the world’s number largest tyre and rubber company introduced its Turanza T005 touring tyre to the market, delivering wet performance and fuel economy, combined with high mileage, to give drivers full control in challenging daily situations.
Drive My Career is an industry-first employment initiative which was launched to address franchised retailers’ concerns that not many young people generally consider the automotive retail sector as an option for their professional careers.
UK car production fell -14.2 per cent in 2019, to 1,303,135 units, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), with a -6.4 per cent drop in December rounding off a third year of decline. Output was affected by multiple factors, including weakened consumer and business confidence at home, slower demand in key overseas markets, a number of significant model production changes and a shift from diesel across Europe. Factory shutdowns in the spring and autumn, timed to mitigate expected disruption arising from the anticipated departure of the UK from the EU on 29 March and 31 October, also had a marked effect.
