Autopart Tyres helps tyre dealer to improve profits and customer service
MAM Software reports that tyre dealer Paul Jarrold Tyres Ltd has experienced significant growth since using MAM Autopart Tyres, MAM Software’s flagship business management solution for the tyre industry. Paul Jarrold has now extended its operations by purchasing the premises next door as a result of opening new revenue streams and enhancing the customer experience.
Continue ReadingUnipart Automotive branches’ fate – full list
33 Unipart Automotive sites were transferred to Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance in a deal that saved 361 jobs. The full list of sites taken on by Andrew Page and the Parts Alliance is published below, while the remaining 147 sites that are currently inactive follow.
Continue ReadingUnipart Group ‘saddened’, restates distance from Unipart Automotive
The Unipart Group has released a statement on Unipart Automotive’s descent into administration and the partial rescue by a joint deal between Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance. While expressing sympathy for the company’s plight, the Unipart Group sought to delineate the boundary between the Unipart business units of which it remains in control and the stricken parts distributor.
Continue ReadingAndrew Page, The Parts Alliance buy 33 Unipart Automotive branches
Automotive parts business Andrew Page has rescued around 350 jobs, spearheading a deal with The Parts Alliance to takeover 33 branches of Unipart Automotive, which entered administration today. Andrew Page has taken 21 branches and The Parts Alliance a total of 12, with the terms of the deal as yet undisclosed. Andrew Page rejoined major UK and Ireland buying and distribution group The Parts Alliance following a six year absence on 8 July, coinciding with Unipart Automotive’s announcement that it had put the administrators on standby, a clear signal that some kind of move was on the cards. Tyrepress estimated Andrew Page possessed a growing share of the automotive parts market of around seven per cent at the time; the company will expect today’s news will help to grow that share quickly, having increased its existing network of 93 branches by 23 per cent.
Continue ReadingUnipart Automotive enters administration, Andrew Page/Parts Alliance JV saves 33 branches
After two weeks of intensive rescue talks, Unipart Automotive has failed to find a buyer and called in administrators KPMG. Immediately afterwards administrators sold part of the business in a joint deal to car parts/workshop equipment distributors Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance. The deal will see Andrew Page acquire 21 branches and The Parts Alliance a total of 12. A total of 361 staff employed across these sites have transferred to Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance with immediate effect. Andrew Page announced it had rejoined The Parts Alliance on 8 July, the same day the news broke that Unipart Automotive had put the administrators on alert and was seeking out a rescue plan.
Continue ReadingUK car production up 3.5% in first half of 2014
Car production in the UK has been described as “robust” by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, who report that manufacturing volumes rose 3.5 per cent year-on-year between January and June 2014 to 791,314 units. Output in the month of June was 136,419 vehicles, 3.7 per cent higher than a year earlier and a result driven by a 16.5 per cent growth in production for the UK market.
Continue ReadingVacu-Lug enters 30th year of recycling company tyre supply
Vacu-Lug is marking its 30th year supplying tyres to Viridor, one of the UK’s leading recycling, renewable energy and waste management companies. The tyre and retread supplier will continue to support Viridor’s long term waste and recycling contract with the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority. The company has more than 200 vehicles in the fleet, including 110 lorries, 55 front end loaders, 14 fork lift container handlers and 22 wheeled excavators, managing more than 30 locations, including household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) across the Greater Manchester area.
Continue ReadingDespite EC assurances, unease about eCall system exists
The European Commission says reports that UK motorists will be monitored by ‘black box’ technology are “not true”, however although draft legislation for the eCall system has been approved, the commission may find convincing motorists of its purpose harder than it thinks.
Continue ReadingFord Fiesta becomes the UK’s best-ever selling car
As total sales topped 4,115,000 units this month, the Ford Fiesta became the best-selling vehicle nameplate of all time in the UK. It took over from its ancestor the Ford Escort, which sold 4,105,961 units in the UK between 1968 and 2000. The Fiesta was first launched in 1976 and is now in its sixth generation. For 27 of its years the Fiesta has led the UK small car segment and has been the country’s annual best seller since 2009, when it surpassed the Ford Focus.
Continue ReadingGroupauto ‘committed to raising standards’
While one aftermarket supplier had everyone talking about who would own it and what this would mean for the market, and while at least two others were said to have been considering their merger/acquisition options, Groupauto was putting its emphasis on “raising standards within the aftermarket generally”. However, Grouptauto also says it is “able to make a practical difference to the lives of the members of its two independent garage networks: AutoCare and Approved Garages”.
Continue ReadingBad excuses for stopping on the hard shoulder
Breakdowns and crashes are amongst the best reasons for using motorway hard shoulders. However, not everyone pulls over for the best reasons. According to the Highways Agency, wheeler-dealers trading cars, people picking flowers, and a driver who thought the “fire” notification on their dashboard display meant their car was ablaze - instead of the name of the Adele track they were listening to are all examples of less than ideal uses of our beloved tarmac.
Continue ReadingUnipart Automotive has another week to negotiate rescue deal
At the end of last week Unipart Automotive renewed its intention to appoint administrators, which several sources have named as being KPMG. This is significant because, as was the case when news of the rescue talks broke on 8 July, such an announcement not only raises the possibility of the company entering administration but it can also provide a moratorium which acts as protection for a limited time.
Continue ReadingTarox launches Ford Fiesta St 180 front brake conversion kit
Italian brake firm Tarox has released details of its new front brake conversion for the highly acclaimed 2013 Ford Fiesta ST. The first Fiesta ever to feature rear disc brakes, and with a factory-approved upgrade that raises its power output from 180bhp to 217bhp this car would appreciate some front disc brakes too.
Continue ReadingNew bidders enter into Unipart Automotive rescue talks
While there hasnt yet been a clear outcome of the Unipart Automotive rescue talks, new bidders have entered into takeover discussions. Sources close to the talks have confirmed to Tyres & Accessories that buyout firm R Capital, which is known for an earlier rescue of the Little Chef chain in 2007 (the café business was sold to Kuwaiti investors last year) has now entered the Unipart Automotive rescue talks.
Continue ReadingWilliam Blair in favour of a Euro Car Parts rescue of Unipart Automotive
Investment bank William Blair said it views a potential rescue deal between Euro Car Parts and Unipart Automotive, if it were to happen, as “a good fit”. However, these words were written in an investor’s note dated 10 July and so far there hasn’t been any more information on how the talks with Euro Car Parts, Better Capital and at least one other party are progressing as yet.
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