Trade Remedies Authority extend NTDA’s consultation deadline
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has extended the NTDAs deadline for submission of pre-sampling questionnaires following a request from the tyre industry body. At the start of May, TRA initiated two transition reviews into anti-dumping (T0035) and anti-subsidy (T0036) measures on lorry and bus tyres imported from China. However, the initial deadline for that was 18 May 2023 – too short a time period for many.
Continue ReadingMOT technician receives prison sentence for faking brake test results
An Abertillery MOT tester has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £2128, according to DVSA Enforcement. The MOT tester in question, whose sentence has been suspended for 12 months, was convicted after they issued four pass certificates over a number of years to a camper van that wouldn’t fit on testing equipment. In other words, the required MOT tests couldn’t have been carried out according to regulations.
Continue ReadingTRA to review anti-Chinese-produced truck tyre tariffs
Following the news that the EU introduced new definitive duties against Chinese-produced truck tyres, and the suggestion that a UK investigation is imminent, the UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has initiated “two transition reviews into anti-dumping and countervailing measures on lorry and bus tyres imported from China”.
Continue ReadingUK Trade Remedies Authority investigation to start in weeks – ITMA
Following the news that the European Commission has introduced new definitive import tariffs against Chinese-produced truck tyres, we now know that a decision relating to any UK implementation of those rules is scheduled to be made by October. The latest detail is that the body responsible for the investigation relating to the UK implementation of any tariffs is set to start in weeks, according to the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA).
Continue ReadingMOT to feature self-driving vehicle standards by 2030
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has put limiting road casualties, emissions and particulate matter within its Strategic Plan to 2025 and Vision to 2030, which were published 4 April 2023. DVSAs Strategic Plan and Vision also seek to demonstrate how the agency will harness data in order to improve MOT quality control. Both are likely to impact the way garages and fast-fits that offer MOT testing operation in future.
Continue Reading87% of IMI members want first MOT interval to remain at 3 years
As part of its response to the Department for Transport’s MOT Consultation, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has researched the views of the motor industry and motorists. Alongside its own in-depth analysis of MOT data, the new research further underlines the IMI’s view that any change to the current date for the first MOT or the frequency of MOTs would significantly increase road user risk. “We received a resounding confirmation – 87 per cent – from our members that the first MOT should not be extended due to increased road safety risk”, explained Hayley Pells, policy manager at the IMI. “And whilst only 51 per cent of motorists we surveyed felt the same, we believe there is sufficient weight of evidence to give the Department for Transport a very clear indication that any change to the start date would be detrimental for all road users.”
Continue ReadingMinister calls for “swift end” to T8 Exemptions
After lobbying regulators to do more to prevent rogue operators using T8 exemptions as a cover for the illegitimate handling of Britain’s end-of-life tyres, the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has welcomed DEFRA’s February announcement suggesting the government department would act to end the current exemptions regime.
Continue ReadingFirst MOT date extension to increase tyre-related road safety risk
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which represents more than 90,000 automotive professionals, has conducted in-depth analysis of MOT data to formulate what it calls a “considered and balanced response” to the Department for Transport’s MOT Consultation. Working with Garage Industry Trends to examine root causes in current patterns of MOT failure, the IMI analysis provides clear evidence that extending the date for the first MOT will significantly increase road user risk.
Continue ReadingNorthern Ireland bans tyres aged 10 years plus on HGVs, buses and minibuses
Northern Ireland’s Vehicle Policy Unit at the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is banning tyres aged 10 years and older on the front axles of HGV’s, buses and coaches, and to the tyres on all axles of minibuses when fitted in single configuration. The changes being implemented in Northern Ireland will align with the changes introduced in Great Britain (GB) on 1 February 2021.
Continue ReadingDefra ends T8 exemption on mechanically treating end-of-life tyres
On 15 January 2018, The English Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Welsh Government published a consultation on “proposals to tackle crime and poor performance in the waste sector and introduce a new fixed penalty for the waste duty of care”. That 2018 consultation focussed on the standard of operator competence at permitted waste sites and introduced a fixed penalty notice for breaches of the household waste duty of care. Fast-forward to 13 February 2023 and Defra has made changes to “the ten waste exemptions of most concern”, which includes “mechanically treating end-of-life tyres” (ELT) known as T8 exemptions.
Continue ReadingSupport for used EV market should feature in Spring Budget – VRA
The Vehicle Remarketing Association believes there is an imbalance in government incentives between new and used electric vehicles. It says more needs to be done to ensure a healthy market for used models. The association is calling for this support to feature in the Spring Budget. VRA chair Philip Nothard said: “The government should be applauded for doing much in recent years to encourage uptake of new EVs, especially through low personal company car taxation. This has been notably successful and electric power now makes up a significant proportion of new car sales. However, the used car sector has so far been left to look after itself when it comes to EVs and, as shown with dramatic price falls in recent weeks and months, demand is extremely variable even for the relatively low numbers of electric cars now making their way onto the used market.”
Continue ReadingNFDA welcomes MOT consultation extension
Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents car and commercial retailers in the UK, has welcomed the recent extension to the current MOT consultation. She said: “NFDA is pleased that its efforts to extend the consultation period, through discussions with DVSA and writing directly to DfT officials have been successful.
Continue ReadingDfT extends 4-1-1 MOT consultation following trade body campaign
Campaigning by automotive industry trade bodies has led to the Department for Transport (DfT) to extending the current 4-1-1 MOT consultation’s closing date to 22 March 2023.
Continue ReadingUnited automotive trade associations join to question DfT on MOT consultation
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) and Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) have discussed the MOT frequency and enhancements consultation in a meeting with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The associations asked the DfT why a large and complex consultation, covering 27 areas within the MOT test, was published with only a six-week response period. In response, the department explained that Ministers are focusing on saving consumers money and wanted to use the consultation as an opportunity to evaluate if any areas of the MOT could contribute to further savings. UK automotive trade bodies have launched a petition, which aims to prevent the proposed four-year interval before the first MOT test on new vehicles. Tyres are a major cause of MOT test failures. The industry has often made a strong case against increasing MOT test intervals on the basis that it provides a necessary prompt for UK motorists to change tyres.
Continue ReadingPetition opened to stop first MOT extension
A petition has been launched by automotive trade bodies to stop the Government’s plans to extend the period before a vehicle has its first MOT, in order to reduce preventable casualties and deaths caused by vehicle defects. The petition states: The Government has proposed extending the period before a vehicle has to have its first MOT from 3 years to 4. We believe this will be dangerous, expensive, damaging and unnecessary.
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