Vipal partner Power Retreads opens manufacturing line in New Zealand
Vipal Rubber’s New Zealand partner, Power Retreads, has opened a new manufacturing unit in Hastings on the country’s North Island. During the opening, which took place last month, guests were able tour the premises and learn more about the products and procedure. Vipal has worked in partnership with Power Retreads since 2007. That is why on this occasion Vipal’s representatives gave the firm an acknowledgement plate for the work it has performed in the last 7 years.
Continue ReadingJong Jin Park named head of Hankook Tyre UK
The gap at the top of Hankook Tyre UK’s management following Gaugseung Lee’s appointment as vice-president of marketing and sales for Europe has been filled by Jong Jin Park. Mr. Park is now managing director of Hankook’s second largest entity in Europe, and joins Hankook Tyre UK with more than ten years of experience in various positions within the company.
Continue ReadingAndrew Page rebrands as Autoparts People
Parts and workshop equipment distributor Andrew Page has rebranded its entire national network, including many former Unipart Automotive centres. Covering the original Andrew Page and Camberley Auto Factors branches, as well as the 21 Unipart Automotive centres purchased in July, branches have now received new signage and team uniforms to reposition the group as Andrew Page, the Autoparts People.
Continue ReadingHankook confirms Tony Lee as European marketing and sales head
Hankook has confirmed reports of Gangseung ‘Tony’ Lee’s appointment as vice president of marketing and sales for Europe. The manufacturer said his appointment reflects both the continual and long-term growth of the Hankook brand in the European tyre market as well as the increasing importance of the European business unit within the group. The appointment was effective from New Year’s Day 2015.
Continue ReadingMCIA anticipating a repeat of 2014’s motorcycle sales growth
Upon announcing its projected figures for new registrations in the UK this year, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has voiced the expectation that the return to growth seen in 2014 will continue. “We estimate around 109,990 units will be sold during 2015, which is a similar growth rate to the one we enjoyed in 2014 – around ten per cent,” commented MCIA CEO Steve Kenward. “With Motorcycle Live attendance up ten per cent too, and growth every single month during 2014, we feel confident we have turned a corner.
Continue ReadingEuropean car registrations up 5.7% in 2014
Passenger car registrations in the European Union (excluding Malta) rose for the 16th consecutive month in December 2014, with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) reporting sales of 951,329 units, which pushed the monthly tally up 4.7 per cent year-on-year. Looking at the largest markets, the demand increase was mainly led by the significant growth recorded in Spain (+21.4%), followed by the UK (+8.7%), Germany (+6.7%), and Italy (+2.4%), while the French market (-6.7%) displayed less activity than in December 2013. Substantial growth also posted by the new EU member states (+9.6%) and by the EFTA countries (+9.8%) contribute to explain last month’s positive outcome.
Continue ReadingThe Parts Alliance extends support to Bucks young motor mechanics
The Parts Alliance has added its support to a charity that provides training in motor mechanics to young people of all abilities to increase their employment prospects in Buckinghamshire. Allparts Automotive, a Buckinghamshire based member of The Parts Alliance’s Eastern Alliance, helped to deliver the equipment. Another Parts Alliance member CES UK also supports a classic car restoration charity in the north of England.
Continue ReadingUAN adds to its sales management structure
Due to the recent announcement of United Aftermarket Networks five-year partnership deal with Unipart Autoparts (which allows the buying group the opportunity to supply Unipart Car Care Centres), and together with the continuing growth of the companys membership base, UAN has decided to strengthen its sales team.
Continue ReadingATS Euromaster appoints Michael Young as group operations director
Michael Young, 41, has joined ATS Euromaster as Group Operations Director. He will have responsibility for 180 comprehensive centres – the company’s national network of dedicated truck locations, or retail sites which can also support heavier and specialist vehicle types. He joins Peter Tye who continues to act as group operations director for all retail centres.
Continue ReadingElite Garages join Pirelli Performance Centre network
Elite Garages Eastbourne and Elite Garages Horsham have become part of the Pirelli Performance Centre (PPC) network. There are just 100 Pirelli Performance Centres in the UK, making it something of a premium club. Network members are audited and must be “high-quality, high-performance tyre dealerships from across the UK” in order to join. According to Pirelli, only the very top tyre dealers are considered to join the network and a strict set of criteria applies.
Continue ReadingTransport Research and Innovation Portal (TRIP) to be run by Ricardo-AEA
Ricardo-AEA has been awarded a major three-year contract to run the European Commission’s Transport Research and Innovation Portal (TRIP) – a public, online platform that shares up-to-date information on transport research projects and activities across Europe. Over the next three years, Ricardo-AEA, together with its partners TRT Trasporti e Territorio, the Czech Transport Research Centre (CDV), Fraunhofer ISI, the University of the Aegean and TEPR, will update and verify TRIP’s existing content, adding in new findings from the latest transport research programmes.
Continue ReadingTyreSafe: significant increase in cracked wheel rims
Retail members of road safety organisation TyreSafe are reporting “significant increases” in the number of cracked wheel rims as a result of driving on potholed roads. Therefore TyreSafe encourages motorists to increase the frequency of their tyre pressure checks in a bid to identify and prevent potentially dangerous tyre failures resulting from pothole-damaged wheel rims.
Continue ReadingFast Rads joins Fast Parts Wales Group
Radiator and air-conditioning specialist Fast Rads has officially become part of the Fast Parts Wales Group of companies.
Continue ReadingPreston is top city for classic cars
Preston is notable for being the birthplace of cricketer Andrew Flintoff and Wallace and Gromit creator, Nick Park, but new research suggests that the city is also the classic car capital of the UK.
Continue ReadingPro-Align appoints Hickey head of new commercial vehicle division
Pro-Align has appointed Brett Hickey to head its recently announced commercial vehicle division. Hickey has more than a dozen years in the commercial vehicle industry, including his most recent role managing the PDI department of one of the largest DAF dealerships in Europe.
Continue Reading