Skoda Launches Tyre Awareness Programme
Skoda retailers are offering free tyre checks at participating dealerships across the country. John Bower, head of aftersales at Skoda UK, commented: Whilst anti-lock brakes, air bags, seatbelt pre-tensioning and ESP are common on most modern vehicles, the tyre is still perhaps the most important safety feature of all and we want our customers to be completely informed of this safety aspect.
Continue ReadingDepressing Start to 2009 UK Car Market
Figures for January UK car sales, released by the SMMT, make gloomy reading; new registrations were 30.9 per cent down to 112,087 units. And the outlook is equally bleak, with the SMMT predicting a decline in 2009 of over 19 per cent to 1.72 million units. This is 410,000 fewer than 2008 and 685,000 units less than 2007. SMMT chief executive called on the Government to take steps to stimulate demand, saying: A number of EU member states have launched scrappage incentive schemes, which have the benefit of boosting consumer confidence and delivering significant environmental improvements. The UK motor industry is urging UK Government to introduce a similar scheme and help sustain jobs and businesses throughout the sector.
Continue ReadingMicheldever Releases New General Grabber AT2 Fitment
The General Grabber AT2 is now available in 255/65R17, a standard size fitment for the hugely popular Nissan Navara pick-ups. This upgrade from standard road patterns reportedly delivers “strong off road performance whilst retaining perfect road manners for a very important 4x4 vehicle,” according to the wholesaler. The H-rated tyre has a load index of 110.
Continue ReadingRema Tip Top Gets New Official Name
On 1 January 2009, Rema Tip Top UK Limited (the company’s automotive and industry service/distribution based operations) officially began trading as a newly reorganised group of companies. The traditional Rema Tip Top Automotive division responsible for the sale of all automotive goods and services officially became ‘Rema Tip Top Automotive UK Limited’. While the Rema Tip Top Industry division responsible for the sale of all industrial goods and services became ‘Rema Tip Top Industry UK Limited.’ Rema Tip Top Automotive UK Limited continues to operate from its headquarters in Leeds, West Yorkshire, whilst Rema Tip Top Industry UK Limited has moved its headquarters to Harworth in Doncaster.
Continue ReadingSmall Businesses Encouraged to Supply Government
Government is encouraging small firms to sign up to the governments Supply2.gov.uk website in order to take advantage of the thousands of government contracts available. So far, more than 123,000 companies have already signed up to the website, which provides an up to the minute database of government contracts for small businesses wishing to supply to the public sector. Secretary of State Lord Mandelson commented: Every year the government spends many billions of pounds on public sector contracts. It is vital that we actively help small and medium sized companies take advantage of these business opportunities. In the current economic climate this is more important than ever. The supply.2gov.uk website is a crucial tool for this. SMEs often have smaller overheads, local knowledge and great flexibility. Often they can offer the public sector better value for money than big business.”
Continue ReadingFalken’s UK Tyre Sales Soar 30% in 2008
Falken representatives are reporting that the Japanese brand saw UK sales shoot up 30 per cent in 2008, “making Falken in the UK the largest growth area for Falken in Europe if not the world.” The aim is to make Falken a leading brand in the mid-range segment, a part of the market that industry observers expect to swell further as the economic climate appears to be prompting premium customers to look for more competitively priced alternatives. Jon Limmer, Falken brand manager, commented: “Our dealer network have embraced the simple structure we have implemented which reflects the Micheldever policy of ‘right product, right price, right time.’ Consistency is crucial to the development of any program and we have enjoyed this for some time with Falken. We work together as a partnership and the results are there for all to see.
Continue ReadingNew Face Sonny Presenting a Full Range
Sonny Tyres, based in Zhaoqing, China, develops and manufactures passenger car (summer, winter and performance), 4x4 and light truck radials for both the domestic and export markets. Although a relative newcomer on the scene – the company was only established in 2007 – Sonny Tyre plans to achieve a production capacity of three million units by 2009. When work is finished on its 800,000 square metre RMB 2 billion (£205 million) facility in 2013, the company anticipates a capacity of eight million. At present work is underway on the development of a number of new tyre sizes and product lines, and the company’s domestic and overseas sales networks are being expanded.
Continue ReadingArvinMeritor Commemorates a Century of Automotive Supply
Happy birthday ArvinMeritor. The vehicle systems and components supplier marked its centenary at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Michigan, US on January 30. The company says it will continue to commemorate this historic milestone throughout 2009 at events and product exhibitions, which will be punctuated with the launch of several “next generation” products from axles to brakes to hybrid drivetrain applications featuring advanced design and state-of-the-art manufacturing technology. “ArvinMeritor’s longevity is based on a rich heritage of product performance, customer service and engineering expertise,” said Chip McClure, chairman, CEO and president of ArvinMeritor. “These characteristics, combined with our commitment to develop industry-leading products and provide customised services to meet the needs of our customers around the world, describe our long history of ‘forward thinking.’”
Continue ReadingFitch Ratings Downgrades Continental AG
On 4 February Fitch Ratings downgraded Continental AG’s Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) and senior unsecured credit ratings to BB from BB+. The Short-term IDR was affirmed at B. At the same time the Long-term IDR and senior unsecured ratings have been removed from Rating Watch Negative (RWN). According to a release issued by the agency, “the Outlook on the long-term IDR is negative” and the downgrade reflects “rapidly weakening auto markets amid the severe global recession which could further negatively impact Continentals…plan for swift de-leveraging.” The rating action also reportedly takes into account Fitchs “increasing concerns” about the deteriorating credit quality of the groups major shareholder, Schaeffler Group KG. Fitch also noted Continentals plan to separate its rubber business, including the relatively stable and cash-generative tyre business, into a separate entity.
Continue ReadingDakar Podium for Toyo-shod Independent Gordon
Robby Gordon achieved the impressive feat of taking his independent Team Dakar USA to the top of the Open category and third place overall in the 2009 Dakar Rally, beating off challenges from several manufacturer teams. In gaining third place, his was also the fastest two wheel drive vehicle on show. Gordon uses 37x13.5R17 open Country M/T tires on his Monster Energy H3 Hummer. Despite an increased restrictor plate, his H3 Hummer was able to keep up with the factory cars in all but the very fastest sections, something that the grip qualities of the Toyo rubber contributed towards, says the manufacturer. Gordon and Toyo have vowed to return in 2010 to attempt to reach the top step of the podium, which – considering the millions spent by the works teams – would be some achievement.
Continue ReadingConti Urges European Adoption of 10% Deviation TPMS
The European Commission has ruled that tyre pressure monitoring systems are to be a mandatory on all new vehicles as of 2012. With this deadline only three years away, Continental is urging the adoption of systems that give precise measurements and alert drivers as soon as even slight levels of underinflation are detected. About 90 per cent of all tyre defects are attributable to a slow leak in tyre pressure, comments Conti spokesman Alexander Lührs. He adds that one third of cars on the road in Continental’s home market of Germany have at least one underinflated tyre, and this problem is mirrored throughout Europe. If the tyres on each of these vehicles were correctly inflated, vehicle running costs in Europe alone could be reduced by £3.1 billion a year. Vehicle braking distances would also decrease.
Continue ReadingTurkey’s Brisa to Start Production Suspension
Brisa has announced to the stock exchange that it will suspend production in Turkey for a week starting tomorrow (5 February, 2009) following a slowdown in domestic and foreign demand. The company is a joint venture between Sabanci Holding and Bridgestone.
Continue ReadingSchwing Recommends Michelin X One
Thanks to Michelin X One tyres, concrete mixer trucks operated by Schwing-Stetter in the US can now hold an additional 560 pounds (254 kilogrammes) of concrete with each load. A single X One tyre can replace dual tyres on a commercial vehicle, thus reducing the vehicle’s overall weight. With Michelin X One tyres, our customers can realise a savings of more than 500 pounds of vehicle weight, said Bill Bigot, director of Schwing America’s Mixer Division. This will allow them to deliver more concrete on the truck, making them more productive and more profitable. Customers are thrilled with the fact they can carry that last half yard of concrete essentially for free with the use of the X One tyres and our light-weight drum.
Continue ReadingPirelli Carlisle Employees Working 20% Less Until April
It appears that workers at Pirelli’s factory in Carlisle are facing a further reduction to their workload. According to the local News & Star newspaper, a new arrangement begins on February 9, under which employees that normally work 40 hours in the week will be asked to work only 32 per week until April 1. An official statement on the issue is still being approved by the company’s head office in Milan, Italy, the paper added.
Continue ReadingDowntime Costs “Disappear” With Michelin Policy: Fleet Operator
Michelin UK says specialist chilled food distributor FreshLinc is expecting to see a dramatic increase in tyre life and fewer tyre-related breakdowns following a company-wide switch to its tyres and the commencement of a pence per kilometre (PPK) contract. The new agreement sees the Lincolnshire based operator fit a range of Michelin ‘E’ segment regional tyres, with XZE2+ being fitted to the 140 DAF and Scania maximum weight tractor units and new XTE2 and XTE3 tyres across the 160-strong trailer parc as wear dictates. The nature of the PPK structure, comments Michelin, also allows FreshLinc to own the tyres, without the up-front cost of outright purchase.
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