AA Sale or Floatation Could Raise £3 billion
The AA, Britains largest motoring organisation, could soon be sold or floated on the stock market. According to one Mail on Sunday report, accountants PriceWaterhouseCoopers have been compiling a financial report that could help sell the AA to investors or buyers. The report says private equity owners CVC and Permira wanted to raise £3 billion for the 15 million-member business. They bought the AA from British Gas owner Centrica in July 2004 for £1.7 billion.
Continue Reading70 Years and 260 Franchisees: Pneuservice Group
Founded 70 years ago, the Pneuservice Group is one of the largest tyre import/export distributors in Italy. Pneuservice deals with everything from scooter to earthmover tyres, trading over 2 million tyres each year. The company currently has 150 employees, eight depots and over 260 franchisees spread out across Italy.
Continue ReadingTyre Manufacturers to Turn Out at Autosport Show
Tyre manufacturers including Dunlop, Kumho, Vredestein, Pirelli, Yokohama, Toyo, Hankook, Maxsport and Hoosier will all exhibit at January’s Autosport/Aftermarket show. Others are expected to follow later. With the help of its exhibitor base, The Aftermarket Show will again focus on a number of tyre related issues, which include wheel balancing alignment and calibration, tyre disposal, tyre fitting and tyre safety.
Continue ReadingVan den Ban Launches e-Commerce Site
Netherlands-based international wholesaler, Van den Ban, prides itself on being able to provide a comprehensive range of competitively priced tyres and, furthermore, describes itself as a leading player within the highly competitive UK market. In November VDB launched a new e-commerce site which is said to provide clients with an even more user friendly system that constantly updates prices.
Continue ReadingProduct Strength – Hercules International
Earlier this year Hercules International launched the Ironman range of tyres. These are available as commercial light vehicle, 4x4 and passenger car radials. The Ironman PCR range is subdivided according to speed rating. As a result the Type-H line consists of twenty-two 60 to 75 series products in 13 to 16-inch diameters; five 13 to 14-inch 70-series sizes in the Type-T line; and two 15-inch 50 series products in the Type-V offering. The new brand also offers a number of 12 to 15-inch van products and five 15 to 16-inch Radial A/T 4x4/SUV sizes.
Continue ReadingNew Website for Avon
Avon has launched a new website, www.avonmotorcycle.com, designed to provide riders with all the information they need to make an informed tyre purchase. The backbone of the site is a comprehensive and easy-to-use fitment guide, which confirms correct tyre sizes and lists approved Avon fitments. Once armed with these options, it’s simply a matter of typing in a postcode to locate Avon’s nearest UK dealer.
Continue ReadingKings Road Tyres to Offer Products Online
Kings Road Tyres began wholesaling over 30 years ago and was one of the few companies that, back then, saw the need for an alternative supply chain into the market. Since that time KRT has developed a nationwide delivery system operating from its own distribution centres throughout the UK and Ireland, using its own fleet of vehicles, and over the years has built a consistent and reliable distribution service. The most recent development at the company sees KRT keep pace with future trends. From the early part of 2007 the wholesaler will offer its products online via the Internet. Full details of this service will be available soon.
Continue ReadingInvestors Keen on Dunlop Nigeria Shares
Stockbrokers and dealers said existing Dunlop Nigeria shareholders and new investors are considering using the company’s forthcoming share offering as a way of taking strategic stock positions.
Continue ReadingAirtec Launches New Core Retracting Inflation Tool
Airtec Corporation Asia announced the release of a new Core Retracting Inflation Tool. The new transparent body allows the user to see the retracted core, supposedly eliminating guesswork. Concurrently released last month at both Automechanika Frankfurt and Tyrexpo Africa, industry response has been overwhelming. According to Airtec’s GM for sales and marketing, MC Loh, the New Tool speeds up the inflation and deflation process of the tyres and the inflation time is cut by half, and as the core can be viewed through the transparent body, it’s easy to use.
Continue ReadingWhite & Company Move to Michelin Tyre Policy
White & Company plc, the largest independent removal company in the UK, has adopted a fully managed Michelin tyre policy which sees each vehicle in its 155-strong commercial vehicle fleet undergo a detailed monthly tyre inspection. Checks are carried out by ATS Euromaster utilising an electronic data capture (EDC) system which allows their technicians to record each tyre’s condition and tread depth onto a small handheld computer, before uploading the results via mobile phone to a central database. Once collected, the results are sent by email to Michelin, which co-ordinates any tyre replacements or regrooves that are required directly with ATS Euromaster.
Continue ReadingXenos Launches TPMS Technologies
Xenos Technologies, part of the Pricol gorup, has launched a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), suitable for passenger cars, sports utility vehicles and light motor vehicles. The Xenos TPMS consists of two units, a display and sensor. The sensors are fitted to car tyres. In case of low pressure, high temperature or rapid deflation these sensors alert the driver. The display unit is stuck below the rear view mirror and is priced at 12,500 rupees (£145).
Continue ReadingGoodyear Strike to Affect Rubber Prices
Goodyear’s position as a leading global buyer of natural rubber means its ongoing strike dispute with the United Steelworkers is likely to affect natural rubber prices, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank. “Since Goodyear buys approximately 10 per cent of the world production of natural rubber, the strike at the company’s North American plants has consequences on raw material prices,” the analysts wrote, adding: “They are currently producing at 40 per cent of their pre-strike capacity (10 per cent at union plants and 100 per cent at non union plants).
Continue ReadingAutodiagnos Reorganises
Autodiagnos Limited, manufacturers of one of the leading automotive diagnostic tools has announced a major re-organisation programme designed, which the company says is designed to enhance customer focus and synergy in domestic and global markets. Dave Rushton, a Chartered Engineer, has been appointed director and general manager of the company. Rushton brings over 15 years experience in the Automotive Diagnostics business, previously working with other leading diagnostics companies and recently as Operations Director at Autodiagnos. Mark Wright has joined the company to head up UK Sales and Marketing. Wright has 10 years of experience in sales and distribution of automotive tools and equipment and will focus on the development and support of customers in the home markets.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Aims to Close the Gap with Michelin in France
Since Goodyear Dunlop Tire France was founded on 1 January 2004, the group has increased its market share 4 percentage points to 23 per cent of the 32 million-unit strong French passenger car tyre replacement market. The company’s next goal is to close the competitive gap between itself and domestic market dominator, Michelin. On a global level the size of the three leading players (Bridgestone, Goodyear Dunlop and Michelin) is relatively comparable. In France it is a completely different story. According to French Automotive information source autoactu.com, Michelin holds a 45 per cent market share of car, 4x4 and van tyre sales in France, while Goodyear Dunlop’s 23 per cent puts it in second place.
Continue ReadingFacing the Facts
In his inaugural speech as chairman of the NTDA Tyre Wholesalers Group (TWG), Ashley Croft did not waste any time in highlighting the issues he wishes to address during his tenure. Referring to certain manufacturers’ use of logistics companies and the place of wholesalers in the UK tyre business, Croft opened a discussion to which there is no quick resolution – calling on manufacturers to resist the urge to increase their direct market control and rather further their relationship with the professional wholesale membership that the TWG represents. In his own words Ashley Croft is “a great believer in not perpetuating things if they have served their purpose.” Croft commented that there is still “unfinished work to be done” and the fact that he accepted immediate past chairman Peter Gaster’s invitation to take over at the TWG would suggest that Ashley Croft remains a firm believer in the usefulness of the group.
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