UK News
Specialist recruiter Glen Callum Associates joins IAAF
Automotive aftermarket recruitment specialist, Glen Callum Associates, has joined Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF).
Speaker programme announced for VRA’s “2020 Vision” seminar as event reaches capacity
The speaker programme for the Vehicle Remarketing Association’s “2020 Vision” seminar has been announced as the event reaches capacity with the final delegate spaces booked. More than 150 industry professionals are expected to attend The Slate at Warwick University on Wednesday 27th November to hear a programme designed to help equip them to meet the challenges facing the sector in the coming year.
Klarius marketing replacement exhausts systems
Klarius has added new exhausts, diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and mountings to its 10,000+ product range this month for crossover models such as the Vauxhall Mokka and Ford Kuga.
Edinburgh to host the first hotel Electric Vehicle taxi rank in the UK?
Edinburgh Marina Holdings, the developer of the landmark Edinburgh Marina Scheme, has recently unveiled its innovative proposition for a state-of-the-art Electric Vehicle (EV) taxi rank at the Hyatt Spa & Conference Hotel.
Kirkby Tyres celebrate second straight Truck & Agricultural Tyre Supplier of the Year Award
When Kirkby Tyres received the prestigious Truck & Agricultural Tyre Supplier of the Year Award (2019) on 3 October, it marked the second consecutive year that the Liverpool-based wholesaler had won the award.
Global CCD wheel alignment business to grow 4.2% CAGR 2017-2026
New research suggests that the volume of sales of Charged Coupled Device (CCD) wheel aligners will “remain robust” in the decade between 2017 and 2026. Specifically, the Fact MR report states that the Global CCD Wheel alignment business will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.2 per cent in the period between 2017 and 2026. To put this into context, another report published by Verified, suggests that the global automotive wheel alignment system market was valued at $388.6 Million in 2018 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.47 per cent to reach $481.4 Million by 2026.
Absolute Alignment promotes new tyre profiler
Absolute Alignment, which describes itself as the UK’s leading supplier of wheel alignment equipment, has introduced a new drive-over tyre profiler which instantly assesses tyre wear as vehicles enter the workshop.
Millennial car purchase intent on the rise in Europe
The global automotive industry is currently facing serious economic headwinds and declining sales, leaving industry players wondering if millennials—who currently make up one-third of the world’s population—will drive the industry forward or break from past generations on vehicle ownership. The Millennials and Auto Trends Report released by Duff & Phelps, the global advisor that protects, restores and maximises value for clients, shows that concerns that millennials are less interested in car ownership are greatly overstated and rooted in misconceptions about millennial car-buying patterns.
State funding will help UK become lead in driverless vehicle testing, not technology
The UK government’s £300 million-odd funding for connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) projects is unlikely to establish the country as a leader in CAV technology. However, it is well positioned to become a global hub for CAV testing and regulatory development, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
NMA award for Prince Charles Pirelli visit photo
A photo snapped of Prince Charles visiting the Pirelli tyre plant in Carlisle has been named Regional/Local Newspaper Rota Photo of the Year in News Media Association’s Royal Rota Photography Competition 2019. Stuart Walker took the photo for the News & Star during the Prince of Wales’ visit to the Carlisle factory in April.
Murfitts Industries buys Sapphire Energy Recovery
Murfitts Industries has acquired the tyre collection business of Sapphire Energy Recovery, part of Tarmac, the UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions company. Murfitts Industries reports that the company will “continue to invest and grow its end-of-life tyre recycling capabilities in the UK”.
RMI calls for government clarity on future EU trade for automotive retailers
“It is vital that the government agrees a Brexit deal with the EU. If it cannot, then prices will rise as a result of the import tariffs that will be paid on vehicles and parts. It is in everyone’s interests that a future trade deal between the UK and EU removes these tariffs,” said RMI Chairman Peter Johnson, speaking at this year’s 106th Retail Motor Industry Federation annual dinner in London on 10 October.
First Stop names Mark Widdows as retail manager
First Stop has recruited Mark Widdows to the senior position of UK retail network manager after working with Goodyear Dunlop for 20 years, where he latterly served as national franchise manager for the HiQ network. The recruitment is seen as a statement of intent, as First Stop aims to grow its network and position itself as a major player in the fast-fit sector.
Bridgestone appoints Brett Emerson and Greg Ward to senior director positions
Bridgestone reports that it has strengthened its senior management team with appointments to both its consumer and commercial sales sectors. After 24 years with Bridgestone, John Folliss is retiring as North Region Commercial Business Unit Director to be replaced by Greg Ward, who has served as the company’s Commercial Sales Director, UK and Ireland, for the past 17 years.
No-deal Brexit & European e-commerce
In addition to impacting upon the UK’s automotive industry, a no-deal Brexit presents complications for online tyre and car parts businesses. To gain an insight into changes in customer purchasing habits as Brexit approaches, courier express parcel company DPDgroup tasked market research institute GfK with assessing trends in e-commerce. GfK surveyed 24,258 e-shoppers in 21 European countries on behalf of DPDgroup. What it found was that the payment of additional taxes and duties, as well as longer delivery times, could prove a stumbling block to the future development of cross-border e-commerce in Europe.