Parts Alliance acquires 3 more Unipart Automotive sites, appoints ex-Car Care head
The Parts Alliance has acquired three more former Unipart Automotive (UA) branches. Located in the south west of England, the Chard, Frome and Plymouth sites are expected to re-open around the end of September, according to The Parts Alliance. They bring the number of former Unipart Automotive branches acquired by the HgCapital-owned business group to 15 including the 12 acquired in July after UA went into administration. 24 more jobs have been saved as a result, while Paul Dineen, formerly regional director with UA and head of the Unipart Car Care Centres (UCCC) programme, has been recruited to oversee the eight ex-UA sites in Barnstaple, Penryn, Taunton, Tiverton and Exeter.
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European Commission says Hungary to host Apollo’s new tyre plant, endorses proposed investment
Apollo Tyres hasn’t officially announced where its planned European factory will be built, but it looks as if the honour has gone to Hungary. Today the European Commission confirmed that a proposal to give Apollo Tyres (Hungary) Kft. €95.7 million (approximately HUF 29 billion) in regional investment aid for the construction of a tyre plant in Gyöngyöshalász is in line with European Union state aid rules. The Commission found that the aid granted by Hungary favours regional development, while any distortions of competition will remain limited.
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Is Hankook the current UK truck tyre market leader?
It seems we have a new UK commercial vehicle tyre market leader - Hankook. As well as featuring “Industrial and Speciality tyres” from pages 58 to 69 of this September’s edition, this month we have also taken a detailed look at the development of UK truck tyre market. This meant speaking to high level contacts at various manufacturers, wholesalers and third-party analysts in order to produce an original analysis of the status quo. Our analysis was compared to a similar exercise Tyres & Accessories undertook in 2009 in order to give the overview some longer-term perspective. The results are published on pages 24 to 43 for your reading pleasure and engagement.
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Is the UK truck tyre market a five horse race?
Earlier this week, with reference to this month’s focus on the UK commercial vehicle tyre market we discussed how on average year-to-date, UK annual demand is reportedly around 80,000 tyres a month, which equates to 960,000 tyres a year (based on ETRMA figures). In the pre-recessionary years it went much further than this, but there was some doubt that market will quickly (if ever) return to levels of 110,000 a month? And has it shifted so much that it is now a five horse race?
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Brityrex goes up a gear
Just over a year after Singapore exhibition firm Singex bought ECI, the new combined entity (SingEx-ECI) has shared details of what promises to be a fully pumped-up show. Perhaps the biggest headline is that Brityrex now has the involvement of two premium tyre manufacturers in Pirelli (new this year) and Michelin’s training centre (which returns to the show). 2014’s show will be the first time in decades that two world-leading manufacturers have exhibited at a dedicated UK tyre show. In addition there are dozens of other fascinating exhibitors and a superb line-up speakers at the Tyre Talk seminar series that runs throughout the show.
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30th consecutive month of growth in UK car registrations – SMMT
Traditionally a fallow month ahead of the introduction of new plates, August has continued the trend of new car registration growth in the UK. Announcing the figures, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that 72,163 new cars were registered in August, a 9.4 per cent rise on August 2013 and the 30th consecutive month of growth. Anticipation is now growing for September, usually a far busier month on the back of the plate change.
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Goodyear aggressively pursuing leading position in UK truck tyre market
Following the completion of a period of transition, and with market volumes on the up, Goodyear Dunlop is aggressively pursuing sales growth, including winning some of the biggest fleets in the UK. Tyrepress spoke about the companys expansion strategy with Goodyear UK and Ireland commercial director, Marc Preedy at the end of August.
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Goodyear wins Eddie Stobart fleet tyre supply deal
Goodyear Dunlop has won the contract to supply tyres to Eddie Stobart, the UK’s largest haulage fleet. The five-year contract, which took effect at the start of August, sees Goodyear Dunlop supply new tyres largely based around the company’s latest generation Kmax product offering to Stobarts and will be service by the Truck Force network.
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Bridgestone staying strong in a growing truck tyre market
The good news is that with demand up and with the company selling as big a proportion of retreads as ever, Bridgestone’s UK truck tyre business remains a key player in the UK truck tyre market. In the Republic of Ireland things are even better. However, premium manufacturers like Bridgestone have also seen the rise in the prominence of lower cost alternatives in recent years. While companies like Bridgestone continue to occupy leading positions when it comes to blue-chip and other national fleets, the wider context brings new challenges with it, especially when it comes to countering volume versus value strategies. Tyres & Accessories spoke with Bridgestone UK commercial director Greg Ward in order to find out more.
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Wheels of change?
The recession had a disproportionately large impact on the haulage industry. With many firms going to the wall and others trimming their fleets right back and running their tyres to death, this all had a similarly big impact on the truck tyre business too. Back in 2009 Tyres & Accessories observed that the combination of shrunken demand and aggressive competition from up-and-coming manufacturers (namely Hankook at that time) really shook the market up. Five years later, comparing the market then and now reveals that this “shake-up” trajectory continues well into the new decade, with both Hankook and Giti occupying significant market share positions that simply were not feasibly early in the new millennium.
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Cooper: Chengshan worth US$440 million, say valuers
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has reported the results of its long-awaited independent valuation of Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company Ltd (CCT). The valuation, which is also the option price, was determined to be RMB 2.722 billion roughly US$440 million at the current exchange rate.
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Apollo Tyres extends Manchester United partnership to 69 countries
A year after announcing its initial partnership with Manchester United, Apollo Tyres has announced how the advertising and marketing cooperation has grown from covering just the UK and India initially to a total of 69 countries. The additional 67 countries cover virtually all of what can be called Europe - and even as far as Turkey, but does not include Russia. In addition the number includes the Middle Eastern markets Apollo has invested in developing its retail and distribution presence in recently. Further afield in the Far East - Thailand is also included. These markets are said to have been chosen based on their positions as influential and fasting growing markets. No details relating to the scale of investment associated with the partnership have been revealed. However it is said to have been “satisfactory for both parties.”
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Nexen Tire advertising at Everton, Spurs, Southampton and West Ham
Nexen Tire advertising at Everton, Spurs, Southampton and West Ham Nexen Tire has announced that it is advertising at the grounds of four English premier league football clubs this season. According to the company, the brand can be seen at the stadiums of Everton FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Southampton FC and West Ham United during the 2014/2015 season.
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Apollo to promote expanded industrial tyre range in grand European tour
Apollo will introduce its full range of industrial tyres to end users and tyre specialists in Europe with a six-month tour of the continent. Apollo Vredestein specialists will visit eight countries to introduce Apollo branded industrial tyres to as many users and dealers as possible. The company will use a specially designed Volkswagen Crafter, with dual Manchester United branding, to display almost all types, sizes and profiles of tyre during the promotional tour.
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Kings Road Tyres to launch Aeolus Valued Partner incentive at Brityrex
Kings Road Tyres was appointed as the exclusive distributor of Aeolus passenger car tyres at the beginning of 2014, and the company has announced the launch of this venture as a focal point of its Brityrex International 2014 activity, presented on its own stand. Primarily known as a distributor of commercial and agricultural tyres, KRT plans to get behind its new PCR product range with a package for retailers, called the Aeolus Valued Partner scheme. KRT says it will offer exclusive and innovative benefits, including an Aeolus-themed merchandising package, to fit out a reception area.
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