UK car market continues to grow in July figures
July registrations figures show that 172,907 new cars were registered in July, according to the SMMT, a rise of 6.6 per cent and the 29th consecutive month of growth. Economic confidence and attractive finance are said to have driven the rejuvenated market up 10.1 per cent year-to-date to 1,460,172 units. As a result of the faster-than-expected first half growth, the SMMT has upped its 2014 market forecast to 2.45 million registrations, up 8.1 per cent on 2013.
Continue ReadingShengtai Group joins ITMA
ITMA has announced that China’s Shengtai Group has become the association’s latest member. Established in 2002 and located in Xishui, Shandong, the company produces a wide range of tyre products and brands including the ‘Rapid’ brand. As a member of ITMA, Shengtai will receive regular updates on the legislative and technical issues which affect the sale of tyres within Europe.
Continue ReadingMotor Wheel Service Distribution’s (MWSD) role in EU Roadworthiness Package wording
The news back in May that commercial vehicle wheels have been named as a “safety critical item” in European law is something of a breakthrough for those that have been lobbying for the inclusion of wheels in this legislation, not to mention the wheel industry in general and the many automotive and haulage businesses that depend on wheels. Manchester-based Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD), which played a key role in the wording used in the latest EU Roadworthiness Package and continues to be at the forefront the forefront of raising awareness of wheel safety issues, has a right to be particularly pleased with the latest news. However, if you will excuse the pun, the wheels of European legislation and implementation turn slowly. Therefore with 27 countries all at liberty to interpret and apply the rules over a period of years before compliance will begin to be checked – there is still a mountain to climb. With all this in mind, around the time of the news Tyres & Accessories met with managing director John Ellis at MWSD’s Sharston, Manchester headquarters to find out more about what the rules mean for the company and the industry at large.
Continue Reading230 underage drivers banned by DVLA, including four under 13
Information supplied to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) shows 230 people under 17 and therefore under the legal driving age for the UK were disqualified from driving between July 2013 and June 2014 including four 12 year olds and four 13 year olds. One 12 year old girl is currently banned before her driving career even starts.
Continue ReadingMichelin’s Heywood takes family up Kilimanjaro in charity climb
A Michelin employee and his family are preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise vital funds for international development charity Transaid. Guy Heywood, commercial director of Michelin’s UK truck and bus tyre division, will be joined by his wife Helen and sons Max and Joe on the six day climb. At only 11 years and 11 months old, Joe would be the youngest ever Briton to reach the summit of the mountain, making the trip extra special for the family.
Continue ReadingTyre Safety Month 2014 launches
The ever-swelling ranks of TyreSafe gathered at St Johns Hotel, Solihull to launch the 2014 edition of Tyre Safety Month. Chairman Stuart Jackson, enthusiastically wielding an enlarged coin, demonstrated the well-established 20p test during his introduction of the “driving rain, driving safe” theme; the test is particularly relevant to this year’s tread depth focused theme of aquaplaning. In 2013 tyre pressure took centre stage, but with 2013-14 being the wettest winter on record, and October usually the wettest month of the year anyway, TyreSafe has chosen to present a core message informing drivers of the importance of tread depth in combating what is arguably the most spectacular and frightening road safety phenomenon – in addition to reinforcing other messages, such as pressure, Jackson adds.
Continue ReadingTRA: WISH waste tyre storage proposals ’arrogant’ and ‘counter intuitive’
Proposals by the ESA-led ‘WISH’ group have been branded counter-intuitive and arrogant by Britain’s Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) whose members handle more than three quarters of the country’s end-of-life tyre arisings. Commenting further on the proposals, TRA secretary general Peter Taylor OBE called the impression given by WISH that its consultation document was the result of wide ranging consultation to be wholly disingenuous.
Continue ReadingTyreClick used in 1000 garages across the UK
With suggestions that 20 per cent of all tyres will be purchased on-line by 2020, leading UK tyre distributor Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) reports that its online effort - the TyreClick on-line solution – is already in use in 1000 sites across the UK.
Continue ReadingGovernment proposes driving licence fee reduction
The proposals are contained in a public consultation on driver licensing fees. The consultation sets out a proposed reduction in driving licence fees of 32 per cent for digital transactions and 15 per cent for paper applications.
Continue ReadingResearch reveals brake fluid danger
Independent workshops could be missing out on thousands of pounds worth of profit margin, according to a new report that reveals that the brakes on a quarter of all cars in the UK could fail at any time.
Continue ReadingKraiburg appoints new UK and Ireland sales manager
Marcus Knoth has become the new Kraiburg Austria sales manager for UK and Ireland, effective July. Knoth started working for Kraiburg in March 2011 in the company’s tyre compounds business division. Since September 2012, he commenced working in the retreading sector as sales manager for several South East European and Scandinavian markets.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg team scales highest UK peaks for charity
On 11 July 2014, a team from Trelleborg Wheel Systems undertook a challenge that few have completed – climbing the highest peak in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom in just 48 hours. They travelled with flags representing each of the 28 UK and Ireland Trelleborg Professional Centers (TPCs), a network of dealers that supply Trelleborg’s complete agricultural tyre range. The expedition took the newly-launched TPC partners to each of the highest peaks, all in aid of the Trelleborg charity initiative, the Antonio Bianchi House.
Continue ReadingHenderson Group signs Kerr’s PPK contract
Northern Ireland tyre distributor Kerr’s Tyres has announced a new three year PPK deal with grocer Henderson Group. The deal will see Kerr’s Tyres supply, fit and maintain all Henderson tyres. The Group owns the Spar, Eurospar, Vivo and Vivoxtra franchises in Northern Ireland.
Continue ReadingTown and Country mobile founder Christopher Shankland dies
The man behind Town and Country Tyres, the UK’s first mobile car tyre fitting business, has died. Christopher Shankland was described by his son, Mark Shankland, joint-founder of Event Mobile Tyres, as a well known figure in the tyre trade for 40 years, having worked for Michelin and independently in the retail business, eventually becoming a consultant with Kwik-Fit. Shankland passed away on Sunday, 27 July. The family are welcoming donations to Prostate Cancer UK.
Continue ReadingThe succession plan squeeze
During the July the staggering and subsequent collapse of Unipart Automotive have made uncomfortable reading, especially if you were one of the 1800 staff connected to the company. Of course we now know that a rescue plan couldn’t be enacted, that part of it has been sold off to competitors Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance and that the rest is in administration. At the same time Euro Car Parts, having once been a front runner in the rescue/chasing pack, has announced it is creating 1500 jobs in parallel – presumably to pick up the floating workers shipwrecked when the great ship Unipart Automotive hit it very own iceberg (click here for complete coverage of this news and its implications on the sector).
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