Manbat targets Europe
In line with its plan to continue the strategic growth of its business Manbat, the UK's largest battery distributor, has set its sights on Europe as its makes its debut appearance at Automechanika, Frankfurt this September, promoting its three key battery brands of Numax, Lucas and VARTA to the European aftermarket.
Continue ReadingUK hauliers still face fuel price disadvantage
Aldermore, the new British challenger bank, says UK haulage firms still need fuel price parity with other European countries if they are to successfully fight-off foreign competition. Responding to the announcement that the government is to postpone its proposed 3p price increase in fuel duty until January 2013, Damon Walford, Managing Director of Aldermore Invoice Finance, said: "The UK haulage industry remains at a significant disadvantage against European competitors, who pay as little as 106p per litre for diesel in Spain, 111p in Austria and just 96p in Luxemburg (even in Germany and France, diesel prices are significantly lower at 115p and 118p respectively).
Continue ReadingSix fleets sign Bridgestone Truck Point contract extensions
Six companies have signed again with Bridgestone’s Truck Point network. Three companies from the UK – Downton Transport and C&H Hauliers from England, NR Evans from Wales and Yuill & Dodds from Scotland – have chosen to give Bridgestone their fleet servicing contracts, while Truck Point consolidated its position in the Republic of Ireland with two renewed contracts from National Truck Rentals in Dublin and Tops Oils in Cork.
Continue ReadingPRA welcomes fuel duty news
The RMI Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent forecourt across the UK, positively welcomes the Government's decision to not go ahead with the 3 pence-per-litre (ppl) fuel duty increase in August. Brian Madderson, PRA Chairman commented “PRA has lobbied against the planned August increase since its announcement in Autumn 2011. PRA believe that fuel tax unfairly penalises low income earners, single families and rural communities that often have poor public transport alternatives. There is evidence that driving habits are changing as consumers struggle to balance their household budgets.
Continue ReadingSKF launches new seal for motorcycles and ATVs
SKF has launched an innovative new integrated monotube seal, designed for use with motorcycles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs), including quad bikes and snowmobiles, where it can replace multi-component seal assemblies on rear wheel shock absorbers.
Continue ReadingJuly 1st is B-day in France
Green Flag Breakdown Service wish to remind motorists that as of July 1st France is taking a new approach in battling drink driving by legally requiring every driver, including visitors from the UK and elsewhere, to carry a single-use breathalyser kit.
Continue ReadingRoad deaths rise for the first time in nearly a decade
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has urged greater focus on road safety following the publication of annual casualty figures which show the first increase in UK road deaths since 2003. The figures for 2011 for Great Britain, released by the Department for Transport, show that road deaths rose by three per cent from 1,850 in 2010 to 1,901 in 2011. Child deaths rose by nine per cent from 55 in 2010 to 60 in 2011, which is particularly disappointing given that the two previous years showed substantial reductions in child deaths. The number of seriously injured children fell by four per cent to 2,352 in 2011. At 19,474, the overall number of child casualties (killed, seriously injured and slightly injured) barely changed between 2010 and 2011. There were 453 pedestrian deaths in 2011, a rise of 12 per cent from 2010 and the number of seriously injured pedestrians increased by five per cent to 5,454.
Continue ReadingEuropean CV registrations – the slide continues in May
In May, ACEA figures show that new commercial vehicle registrations continued the downward trend commenced in January, facing the sharpest decrease since 2009 (-17.8 per cent , compared to May 2011). The UK was the only market to post growth in the month (+10.0 per cent ), while Germany (-13.6 per cent ), France (-22.1 per cent), Spain (-27.4 per cent ) and Italy (-42.4 per cent ) all recorded double-digit downturns. From January to May, the EU market shrank by 11.8 per cent, compared to the first five months of 2011.
Continue ReadingLondon to Paris charity cycle challenge
Senior executives from the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and Transport for London have joined forces with Transaid to organise a charity bike ride from London to Paris, with the aim of raising £100,000 to support Transaid's Professional Driver Training projects in Africa.
Continue ReadingApollo opens first driver training centre
Apollo Tyres has opened its first formal training centre for heavy and light commercial vehicle drivers. The centre is located in Ujjain city, a location within India the tyre maker describes as a busy transportation hub, and is being run in partnership with the non-profit organisation B-ABLE. Apollo says the centre will focus on two key areas: educating those wishing to make a career in the segment on all aspects of road and vehicle safety and maintenance, and promoting a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Continue ReadingAl-Dobowi launches Eternity brand
Al Dobowi Group present its new Eternity brand during the recent Reifen 2012 show in Essen. Aimed squarely at the European market Eternity is described as “a new tyre brand for a new generation” and will feature both passenger car and truck and bus lines.
Continue ReadingTyre prices stable, local product demand rising in SE Asia – GfK survey
Market research firm GfK Asia has released a report on the performance of four emerging Southeast Asian tyre markets in the first quarter of 2012; the company found that demand for replacement tyres in the countries investigated – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand – increased 14 per cent between January and March in comparison with the October to December 2011 quarter. According to GfK’s retail tracking of replacement passenger car tyres across a number of cities within the four countries, some 2,557,600 tyres were replaced in the first three months of the year.
Continue ReadingToyo launches flagship eco tyre
Next week Toyo Tire & Rubber will release its Nanoenergy 0, or Zero, for sale in Japan, complete with a very favourable label rating. The new tyre has been given the highest grade possible for rolling resistance and wet grip performance under the voluntary labelling system established by JATMA, the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association. Toyo claims the Nanoenergy Zero is the first tyre in Japan to achieve an “AAA” grade for rolling resistance and an “a” for wet grip.
Continue ReadingCordiant to invest in Omskshina plant
According to OJSC Cordiant director Dmitry Sokov, management at the tyre maker, which formerly operated under the name Sibur-Russian Tyres, has proposed its shareholders invest some US$400 million in the development of tyre production at the company’s Omskshina factory in Russia’s Omsk region. This plan involves several investment projects, including new production facilities for giant tyres and passenger car tyres.
Continue ReadingPirelli fantasy game a ‘nice tie-in’ with National Motorsport Week
Pirelli has confirmed its support for National Motorsport Week 2012, which will take place between 30 June and 8 July. The week-long annual initiative, jointly promoted by the Motorsport Industry Association and the Motor Sports Association, is a celebration of motorsport book-ended by two of the country’s premier motorsport events: the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Santander British Formula One Grand Prix. National Motorsport Week features a wide range of initiatives and activities, ranging from novice taster events run by local motor clubs to factory visits and open days at many of the UK’s premier motorsport organisations.
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