‘Northern Powerhouse’ means opportunities for safer roads, says road safety group
As their Economies grow cities in the Northern Powerhouse should seize the opportunity to make their roads safer, according to road safety group SteerSafe. Manchester and Leeds should look to London to see what has been done to protect vulnerable road users in the capital – then do better, it advises.
Continue Reading170-strong United Aftermarket Network joins IAAF
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has welcomed UAN and its growing membership of 170 motor factors into the trade association.
Continue ReadingPirelli celebrates quarter-century of Carlisle Rally title sponsorship
One of the UK’s most prestigious rally events celebrates two important landmarks this weekend, with its title sponsor and tyre supplier at centre stage. The Pirelli Carlisle Rally – part of the British Rally Championship 2016 following the series’ relaunch – runs its 40th edition, and 25th under the Italian manufacturer’s name. Pirelli said its British Rally Championship stars would fight to deliver a victory on the home ground of high-speed gravel roads in the Kielder Forest. The rally consists of seven stages over Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, totalling 75 competitive miles.
Continue ReadingThe right direction: Bridgestone North Region MD, Robin Shaw one year on
Roughly a year after Tyres & Accessories met Bridgestone North Europe region managing director Robin Shaw, just a few weeks after he took on the role, progress at the Warwick, UK-based part of the global company is said to have been “really good”. More than 12 months after our last interview, Shaw’s perspective on the tyre industry – previously he led Bosch’s UK operations UK – has deepened significantly as has his influence in the industry. “The direction is good, but we always want to be further on than we are,” Shaw told Tyres & Accessories. Of course when you ask how business is at multi-segmented, multinational like Bridgestone, there is no simple answer to that question. Rather there are multiple variables, the importance of which differs from segment to segment. However, the general synopsis is that all segments are doing well, with some doing particularly well.
Continue ReadingUK debut for PressurePro Pulse TPMS
RF Tracking Limited has teamed up with US tyre pressure monitoring firm Advantage PressurePro to bring the PressurePro Pulse tyre performance management solution to the UK. The company is currently showing the system at the CV Show in Birmingham.
Continue ReadingUK used car market ‘approaching tipping point’ – Glass’s
The used car market is starting to reach the long-predicted tipping point into oversupply - with values coming under pressure as a result, reports Glasss. Rupert Pontin, head of valuations, said that the volume of vehicles at auction had already increased by 3.7 per cent in 2016 and that a wide range of models were starting to fall in value as a result.
Continue ReadingTerraclean in motorsport sponsorship deal
Consumables and components distributor Randstad – sole distributor of the TerraClean engine decarbonising brand – is sponsoring both PP Motorsport in the UK Clio Cup and double British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) champion, Colin Turkington during the current series. With the brand growing at a rapid pace, TerraClean is eager to promote its service within the motorsport community to gain even greater media coverage.
Continue ReadingRMI Bodyshops holds ‘know-how’ event for members
RMI Bodyshops (NAB/VBRA) has teamed up with Hella Gutmann Solutions and several of their training provider members to help spread the word on complex systems such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) through a series of national evening events.
Continue ReadingDon’t forget your MOT – RMI, SMTA
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) and Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) are seeking to survey their members and the motor industry to assess the impact of the Government’s latest changes to road tax on the annual MOT test. Both organisations have concerns that following the removal of the paper tax disk and the introduction of monthly direct debits to pay road tax, motorists are unintentionally breaking the law by forgetting to MOT their cars.
Continue ReadingDemand for fuel rises
March diesel sales were up by 7.9 per cent, petrol sales up by a surprising 5.6 per cent and overall sales including commercial up by 7.0 per cent versus same month last year. “Latest Government data suggests that increased economic activity and cheaper prices had a significant impact on the demand for fuel in the month to 14 March”, said Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association.
Continue ReadingApprenticeship levy raises concerns, says NFDA
In April 2017 a new apprenticeship levy will be introduced with the purpose of increasing the quality and number of apprenticeships across UK. Employers with a wage-bill of less than £3 million will not pay the levy, whereas those with a wage-bill of £3 million or more will have to contribute at a rate of 0.5 per cent of their pay bill. However, the first £3 million of the payroll will be excluded by a discount that will give some relief, in line with smaller businesses.
Continue ReadingATS Euromaster keeps tyre costs down for Heron Foods
East Yorkshire-based grocery retailer Heron Foods states that its tyre running costs and related downtime have dropped after appointing ATS Euromaster to supply and manage its tyres on a fixed-price contract. The company selected ATS Euromaster to manage its Michelin fitment policy across a busy fleet of 45 trucks, which is comprised of predominantly 40-tonne tractor units and trailers and 26-tonne rigids. Mobile technicians keep a close eye on Heron Foods’ tyres, with near daily inspections and reporting at the retailer’s depot in Melton, all aimed at ensuring the longest tyre life and greatest performance.
Continue ReadingContiPressureCheck adds economy and safety for Evans Transport
Evans Transport is to introduce Continental Tyres’ ContiPressureCheck system into its fleet. The 150-truck, 220-trailer fleet said that early trials have shown safety and economy gains from installing the system.
Continue ReadingSuspended sentence for £100k Pirelli theft man
Although he claimed no intentional involvement in the theft of Pirelli tyres worth more than £102,000, Graham Wait was found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft in February. At his sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court last Friday, Wait received an 18 month suspended sentence for the role he played in the theft of 358 Pirelli tyres, and was ordered to pay £1,500 in court costs and to perform 200 hours of unpaid work.
Continue ReadingContinued growth in European, UK commercial vehicle markets
Demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU increased for the 15th month in a row in March, reports the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Across the entire EU, new commercial vehicle registrations of all types rose 8.0 per cent to 242,049 units. Generally speaking, the highest rates of growth were recorded in the EU12 countries, where registrations were up an average of 15.9 per cent during the month.
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