WMG leading £14 million UK automotive battery research project
A new automotive battery pack manufacturing research centre is to be set up in Coventry and will work on developing the next generation of traction batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. The University of Warwick’s WMG will lead a 14 million consortium known as AMPLiFII (Automated Module-to-pack Pilot Line for Industrial Innovation). Government agency Innovate UK is funding the project to the tune of £10 million.
Continue ReadingNow available – Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2016
The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2016 is now out, and 15 new One Star establishments and two new Two Star locations lurk within its pages. In addition, no less than 25 new Bib Gourmand awards can be found in this latest edition.
Continue ReadingBlue light support for CrossClimate tyre, Michelin adding SUV version & new sizes
Michelin states that the CrossClimate, its new winter-certified summer tyre, is the company’s “most important innovation for a decade.” Earlier today we reported that several fleet operators have chosen the CrossClimate for their vehicles. Michelin now shares that ‘blue light’ fleet managers across the UK have participated in a CrossClimate demonstration at the MIRA proving ground in Warwickshire, and it says the emergency service operators’ reactions were positive.
Continue Readinge-jobsheet.com available as a standalone free trial
e-jobsheet.com, the multi-language, digital tablet-driven work exchange for truck, bus and van tyres went ‘live’ on 16 September as a ‘standalone’ system. This entry level offering provides a cloud-based job launch and work management platform within the e-jobsheet subscription, which aims to appeal to all service providers, even those with a single fitter.
Continue ReadingNokian wins Auto Express all-season tyre test; dry performance remains ‘concern’ for segment
Auto Express has named the Nokian Weatherproof as its number one all-season car tyre in its survey of the segment. Testing a modest six tyres at Nokians test centre in Ivalo, Finland for winter conditions and at Contidrom, Germany for summer conditions, the test was a first for the magazine, highlighting the growth trend Tyrepress.com has noted in the UK market for such products. The Nokian Weatherproof was declared the test winner, and an Auto Express ‘Best Buy’, perhaps unsurprisingly sweeping away the competition in the winter tests (the winter rubber specialist uses Test World to test its tyres). The test’s most notable omission is Michelin’s self-professed “game-changer”, the 2015 launched CrossClimate. The French manufacturer has responded hawkishly to references to the new product as an all-season tyre despite its year-round applicability, though tyre test coordinator Kim Adams noted that its March 2015 launch was “just too late” for the tyre to be included.
Continue ReadingAutosessive.com introduces Reserve and Collect service
Car enthusiasts ordering parts and accessories through the one-stop-shop Autosessive website can now ‘Reserve and Collect’ their purchases within the hour from more than 65 stores nationwide.
Continue ReadingIAAF appoints new membership development manager
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has appointed Mike Smallbone as membership development manager.
Continue ReadingSelecta Tyre Rugby to hold charity car wash
Pirelli Performance Centre (PPC) of the Year, Selecta Tyre Ltd in Rugby will hold a car wash on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September to raise funds for local charity, Myton Hospice.
Continue Reading“Government should outlaw clocking” – NFDA
The National Franchised Dealers Association in conjunction with the Retail Motor Industry Federation – the UK’s leading automotive trade body – is calling for the government to do more to tackle the issue of odometer fraud in the UK, with the launch of a new campaign to raise awareness and encourage the outlawing of mileage adjustment companies in the UK.
Continue ReadingDays Contract Hire extends Michelin tyre supply contract
UK vehicle leasing, funding and fleet management company Days Contract Hire has renewed its ten-year relationship with Michelin by a further four years. Its tyre supply contract for 9,500 vehicles was first signed in 2005 and, according to Aled Williams, the contract complements Days’ company philosophy of offering quality, bespoke client services.
Continue ReadingTyre survey presents ‘golden opportunity to inform future safety policy’ – TyreSafe
The first phase of its tyre survey produced “startling results”, says TyreSafe, and therefore the organisation is asking all replacement tyre points of sale to support an even larger and more comprehensive second round. Once again, TyreSafe will carry out the survey in partnership with Highways England, and the aim of this second round is to build on the already sizable first round sample in order to offer greater insight into the condition of the nation’s tyres. Data collation will begin on 1 October and the results will provide intelligence-led information to inform future tyre safety policy.
Continue ReadingSolid Auto to supply CAAR buying group
Solid Auto has become an approved supplier to the CAAR buying group. The specialist Japanese and Korean parts supplier has been approved across all products and brands and is equipped to supply CAAR’s 450 members nationwide.
Continue ReadingMotorcycle sales rise, despite imminent plate change
Commenting on the release of figures from the Motor Cycle Industry Association for new motorcycle registrations in August, Stephen Latham, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK, said: “In what is traditionally a slow volume month for motorcycle registrations, it was encouraging to see a healthy 13.9 per cent growth in sales, ahead of the 65-plate change next month.”
Continue ReadingSouthampton City Council saves 10% Michelin tyres
Officials at Southampton City Council have reportedly shaved more than 10 per cent off the annual tyre bill for their 460-strong fleet after a move to fitting premium Michelin tyres has extended replacement intervals. The decision to fit Michelin began in April 2013 and saw an immediate tyre spend reduction of 11 per cent for the year 2013-2014, versus the previous policy, which had seen a mixture of different brands fitted. In the following year, 2014-2015, Southampton City Council’s tyre spend dropped by nearly three per cent more, as greater numbers of Michelin tyres were rolled out.
Continue ReadingCenex celebrates 10 years of work in the low carbon vehicle industry
Cenex – the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for low carbon technologies – is pleased to be celebrating ‘10 years of excellence’ in the low carbon vehicle sector. Established in 2005 as the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell technologies, Cenex operates as an independent not-for-profit consultancy and specialises in the delivery of projects which support innovation and market development to accelerate the shift to a low carbon economy.
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