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Recent data released by the DVLA and Department for Transport (DfT) has illustrated that the UK car parc is older than it has ever been. Older cars are undoubtedly popular, and as a result aftermarket support will be required for these vehicles long into the future.
An arable farm in Ireland is reporting “significant improvements” to its soil health since moving its tractor fleet onto Michelin Ultraflex technology tyres. Coolcroo Farm, in Tipperary, used to run a mix of competitor brands but switched to Michelin following technical advice from local account manager Christopher Eakin.
National garage chain Servicesure has crowned Harrogate garage Simon Graeme Auto Service Centre the Autocentre of the Year in its 2020 annual awards. The North Yorkshire business beat stiff competition from a Servicesure network comprising 554 independent garages across England, Scotland and Wales in the third annual Servicesure Autocentre of the Year Awards. The awards celebrate best practice, success and outstanding customer service shown across the Servicesure network. An event would ordinarily be held in person, but awards were delivered individually to this year’s winners in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zalloys International Limited, manufacturer of WHEELUV Alloy Protection, has launched to the aftermarket a “patented, OEM quality and impact-resistant” wheel protection system that “offers technicians and installers a unique profit opportunity.” Built to withstand the elements, WHEELUV Alloy Protection has undergone rigorous testing and is industry approved, used by vehicle manufacturers and tested by HORIBA MIRA and Intertek to offer total quality assurance. Intertek has subjected WHEELUV to up to five year accelerated ageing tests.
Ford posted better-than-expected figures for the third quarter, recording a net income of $2.4 billion. However, David Leggett, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, suggested that the company could be facing tough times ahead. Says Leggett: “Like several other carmakers, Ford is getting a boost from higher demand – especially in the US – after the pandemic-induced low points earlier this year. High margin trucks are selling very well and there are signs of a turnaround, too, in China which has been a disaster area for Ford in recent years.”
Analysis of online used car buying trends reveals that German brands have dramatically extended their lead in sales and searches by motorists during the second half of 2020. The online car supermarket BuyaCar.co.uk has found that German brands grew their share among the 10 most popular cars from 52.4 per cent in the first six months of the year to a whopping 71.7 per cent in the months since July 1.
The Institute of the Motor Industry’s Annual General Meeting on 27 October 2020 saw the announcement of its new president, Professor Jim Saker, as well as the appointment of two new vice presidents: Linda Jackson (PSA) and Sandy Burgess (SMTA). Kevin Finn and Tony Tomsett were also confirmed as chairman and honorary treasurer respectively.
MAM Software has unveiled its new branding, as the company marks one year since being acquired by Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS). The rebrand is the first for the automotive software provider since April 2013 and sees the launch of an updated logo, as well as a new website. The branding marks an exciting new chapter for MAM Software and brings it in line with the distinctive style of the wider KCS group.
The Commercial Vehicle Show has always been the leading event on the road transport calendar each year and the 2021 event is set to be no different. Set to take place from 13-15 April at the NEC in Birmingham, will be the first opportunity in two years for businesses in the road transport sector to catch up on all the latest developments in the industry – and the confidence from exhibitors has been strong.
Drive My Career is the employment initiative launched by the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) in 2018. Drive My Career polls its target audience regularly to investigate their perception of the automotive sector and, more recently, the impact that Covid-19 has had on employment.
UK car production fell in September, with output down -5.0 per cent, to register the worst performance for the month in 25 years, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Factories turned out 114,732 cars, a decline of some 6,000 units on the same month in 2019, as companies continued to wrestle with the uncertain economic and political environment and Covid-related challenging global market conditions.
The Philips brand launched into the workshop lighting sector a decade ago, having extensively researched what workshop professionals needed by way of lighting. The range of Philips lights for the workshop has long included a headlamp – in addition to the Philips penlights, handhelds, multi-unit systems, under-bonnet and stand lights. Lumileds, who are responsible for developing, manufacturing and marketing all of Philips Automotive products, are constantly researching the market and developing new products – the latest of which is the new Philips HL22M motion-sensing, rechargeable headlamp.
The Petrol Retailers and Car Wash Associations represent the 5,350 independent forecourt operators and specialist car wash companies across the UK. This covers 65 per cent of the total fuel outlets (PFS). Many of these sites have Automated Car Washes (ACW). The PRA does not represent the standalone Hand Car Washes (HCW), which on occasion may breach Covid-19 regulations as well as ones covering tax, employment and the environment.
Torsus has revealed the Praetorian School Bus, an extreme and special-made version the durable, heavy-duty and versatile Praetorian intended for the toughest school run routes in the world.The Praetorian is based on an upgraded heavy-duty MAN chassis and is powered by MAN engines and drivetrain. The School Bus edition of the vehicle features uprated off-road Michelin tyres and coating on body parts meaning that Praetorian is engineered to take on any terrain, anywhere in the world.
Following the news that the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported a year-on-year decline of 38.76 per cent in vehicle production over the past nine months, Bakar Sadik Agwan, Senior Automotive Consulting Analyst at data and analytics company GlobalData, says: “Thailand, a key automotive production hub in Asia, is struggling hard to recover from the slumped vehicle production output. Vehicle production, both for domestic sales and exports, has been witnessing a downward trend since 2019.
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