August a good month for Western Europe car sales
The Western European passenger car market enjoyed a strong month in August in what is traditionally one of the quietest months of the sales year, posting a reasonably strong uplift in August of 9.7 per cent y/y to 776,861 units, according to the latest IHS Automotive Western European forecast. It should be taken into account that most markets benefited from one extra working day during the month, which is also traditionally one of the quietest sales months in Western Europe as a result of the August holiday period, with a seasonally adjusted figure in the region of 5 per cent.
Continue ReadingGood August demand for motorcycles despite imminent plate change
“In what is traditionally a low volume month for motorcycle registrations, it was encouraging to see a strong 4 per cent growth in sales over the same period last year - ahead of the 66-plate change next month”, said Stephen Latham, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK.
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ZC Rubber’s Anji factory starts making tyres
ZC Rubber’s new bike tyre factory in Anji, Zhejiang province, has commenced production. The Anji factory is associated with an investment of up to US$620 million and covers 860,000 square metres, focusing on the motorcycle tyres, e-bike tyres and inner tubes etc. Shen Jinrong, president of ZC Rubber, says that the factory‘s output value amounts to more than $1 billion.
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Euro Car Parts opens Uxbridge site
Euro Car Parts (ECP), the UK’s number one distributor of car parts, has increased its coverage in West London with the opening of a 17,803 square foot distribution centre in Cowley Mill Road, Uxbridge.
Continue ReadingNeil Gooch joins RH Claydon
RH Claydon Ltd are pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Gooch as business development manager for East Anglia and the South East. Gooch brings with him over 30 years’ experience in the tyre industry. After beginning with Goodyear, he worked with Semperit and Continental, selling their full range of products in the East and South East of the UK.
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Apollo Tyres expands Man Utd sponsorship into global agreement
After three years of regional association with Manchester United Football Club, Apollo Tyres has extended its sponsorship agreement with the club for the next three years and has extended the scope of the deal to become the official ‘Global Tyre Partner’.
Continue Reading74 per cent of motorists want anti-hacking insurance
Seventy-four per cent of drivers think insurers should provide cover for damage caused by hackers accessing control systems in driverless cars, according to a survey by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. Almost 1,200 people responded to the survey which sought opinions on what driverless cars will mean for them as the UK heads towards autonomous vehicles becoming mainstream. The results of this survey have been used to guide IAM RoadSmart’s response to the Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles’ consultation, Pathway to Driverless Cars.
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Liberty Media Corporation to purchase Formula One
Liberty Media Corporation and CVC Capital Partners have announced that Liberty Media has agreed to acquire Formula One, the iconic global motorsports business, from a consortium of sellers led by CVC. Liberty Media owns interests in a broad range of media, communications and entertainment businesses. The consideration comprises cash and newly issued shares in the Liberty Media Group tracking stock (LMCK) and a debt instrument exchangeable into shares of LMCK. The transaction price represents an enterprise value for Formula One of $8.0 billion and an equity value of $4.4 billion.
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Pimp my carriage – an intriguing challenge for AEZ
‘Vienna is different!’ Or so the The Austrian capital’s well-known slogan tells us. This motto has just taken on a new meaning since AEZ Leichtmetallräder, manufacturer of premium alloy rims for the European car aftermarket, has implemented a very special project together with a tradition-steeped Viennese carriage company. Nomen est omen. Johann Trampusch is a third-generation entrepreneur of horse-drawn carriages, and for years has been transporting everything from promotion tours to VIPs.
Continue ReadingTracker recoveries in July worth nearly £900k
In the month of July, 55 stolen vehicles fitted with the Tracker recovery system were recovered. The value of the stolen vehicles totalled £898,700 and three arrests were made. Cumulative totals stand at 23,917 vehicles recovered, worth a total of £508 million and the number of arrests is 2,521.
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All-British podium in GP3 at Monza
Jake Dennis claimed his maiden victory in the Pirelli-backed GP3 Series in the first race at Monza last weekend, with compatriots Jack Aitken and Jake Hughes joining him on an all-British podium. Dennis had been pipped to pole position at the classic Italian circuit by championship leader Charles Leclerc, but was able to pass the Monaco driver for the lead after a few laps. One lap later, Dennis’ team-mate at the Arden squad Jack Aitken – fresh from his first win at Spa-Francorchamps a weekend earlier – moved past Leclerc to take second.
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Mosler and Radical wins at Snetterton on Pirelli tyres
The Dutch-based Supercar Challenge powered by Pirelli raced at Snetterton for the first time last weekend, with a Mosler and a Radical driven to outright victories at the Norfolk circuit. The first race took place entirely in very wet conditions. The Radical RXC led early on in the hands of Tom Ashton, but he was soon passed by the Mosler MT900 of Daniel Campos Hull, who handed over to Kosta Kanaroglou on the car’s route to a dominant victory. With the Radical forced to retire, Tim Grey and Oliver Hewitt finished second in their Praga R1T while the Supersport class-winning SEAT of Dennis Houweling and Aart Jan Ringelberg was third. Jos Jansen (Porsche 997 Cup) and Niels Kool (BMW 135i) won the GTB and Sport divisions respectively.
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Petch wins Woodpecker rally but Payne is BTRDA champion
Stephen Petch took victory in the Woodpecker Stages Rally, but it was fellow Pirelli driver Charlie Payne that wrapped up the BTRDA Rally Series crown. Petch took the lead on the second stage and remained out front until the finish of the Ludlow-based gravel event, triumphing by eight seconds alongside Michael Wilkinson in their Ford Fiesta R5+.
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Conti and Corghi amongst winners of 2016 Automechanika Innovation Awards
The Automechanika Innovation Awards 2016 have been announced – and tyre manufacturer Continental and tyre equipment manufacturer Corghi are amongst the winners. On 23 August 2016, the independent jury of nine experts reached agreement on eight award winners whose innovative solutions and future-oriented products will be presented for the first time in an interactive special show in the ‘Festhalle’ during the coming Automechanika Frankfurt on 13 September 2016.
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Bridgestone developing new tyres for Jaguar XJ220
Bridgestone is working with Don Law XJ220 in the UK to develop a new generation of tyres for the legendary Jaguar XJ220. The original collaboration in the development of the tyres for the XJ220 is well documented. However, tyres of the size required for the car went out of production some years ago.
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