News articles on the tyre retail business
An automotive retail centre in Taunton has become the first in the UK to adopt Bridgestone’s ‘e-CENTRE’ concept. At Protyre Autocare, located within the Crown Industrial Estate, the aim is to revolutionise the way that vehicles are catered for with a sustainable approach to car maintenance.
After almost two months of discussions, Nokian Tyres reports concluding “change negotiations” related to staff at its Vianor Oy retail and service business in Finland. The bottom line is that the company will terminate the employment contracts of 16 workers, less than half the maximum 40 job cuts mentioned when negotiations began on 26 November. Furthermore, the parties involved in negotiations have agreed to the temporary laying off, for a maximum of 90 days per person during 2025, of some 450 employees at Vianor service points, retreading factories and its OE assembly line.
Beginning in May, HiQ Tyres & Autocare tasked specialist automotive consultancy CAR Consulting Group with performing a nationwide audit of its network. All 160 centres took part in an audit that evaluated more than 200 parameters, including aesthetics, customer service and technical expertise. CAR Consulting Group has now concluded the audit, and HiQ reports that the results show a 27.6 per cent improvement since the last evaluation.
The HiQ Tyres & Autocare network has recently expanded with the opening of a new location in Tewkesbury. This first HiQ centre in the Gloucestershire town is managed by PJ Nicholls and welcomed its first customers in May. The new centre is located on Ashchurch Road, conveniently situated a few minutes from Junction 9 on the M5 and equipped to provide comprehensive services such as MOTs, tyre changes, and other car maintenance tasks.
HiQ Tyres & Autocare has further extended its UK footprint with the inauguration of a new service centre in Bicester, an outlet it considers a “flagship” site for the brand. The new outlet is a continuation of the expansion occurring within the network, and since opening in May, it has experienced significant growth and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from local customers.
A “significant investment” is supporting HiQ Tyres & Autocare’s efforts to enhance the standards programme across its UK network. This initiative focuses upon delivering consistent, industry-leading standards throughout its centres and will see consultants evaluating over 200 parameters, encompassing store aesthetics, customer service, and range of capabilities.
On 28 April, Linglong Tire and JD.com business JD Auto Care signed an agreement that, according to the tyre maker, officially establishes a “long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two parties.” Under this agreement, Linglong Tire and JD Auto Care will cooperate in regard to product sales, omnichannel service networks and omnichannel marketing.
Kwik Fit has promoted Dan Joyce to the role of retail operations director. The incumbent Kwik Fit fleet director succeeds Paul Boulton, who is retiring after over 43 years with the organisation. In addition to retaining responsibility for Kwik Fit Fleet, as retail operations director, Joyce will be responsible for the running of around 700 centres under both the Kwik Fit and STS Tyre Pros brands.
Last September, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company approved a “rationalisation plan” for its operations in Australia and New Zealand, an overhaul that involves divesting or closing 100 retail and fleet locations and nine warehouses. With Australian media reporting that negotiations for a sale have faltered, the number of retail sites to close may end up being more than this quoted figure.
Leading local portal Aftermarket China has published its annual ‘Top 100 Chains in China’s Automotive Aftermarket’ ranking, and three tyre retail operations appear on the list in 2023. ZR Rubber is one of the trio and appears pleased with the result; commenting on its network’s performance, the tyre maker states an ambition to go global with ZC Auto Space.
The NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey was conducted in September 2023 and asked franchised dealers questions about the on-going business relationship with their respective manufacturers. The survey attracted 2,531 responses from 32 franchised networks, equating to a joint record response rate of 68 per cent. The survey showed a general downward trend across most questions with 47 out of 55 questions showing a decline versus the winter edition. The results were published on Monday 9 October 2023. “NFDA’s Dealer Attitude Survey is a comprehensive analysis that delves into the perspectives, insights, and sentiments of the working relationship between franchised dealerships and their respective manufacturers across the UK. This is a landmark edition as we have welcomed our new data-analyst partners, Metryx, to reshape and redesign how the sector can interact and dissect the data, offering a fresh new look for easy access and analysis,” said Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial retailers across the UK.
Denmead Tyre Services has become the latest member of Elite Garages, one of the south’s leading independent tyre, MOT, car service and forecourt operators. The business, situated north of Portsmouth, is the 17th location within the Elite Garages group.
More than two years after its acquisition of insolvent online retailer Yakarouler, French tyre and automotive parts firm Carter-Cash has merged the Yakarouler business with its own. As of 1 September 2023, visitors to the Yakarouler.com site are encouraged to make their purchases via Carter-cash.com.
When NDI Group recently dropped its plan to acquire Euromaster Danmark after the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority voiced concerns about competition, Euromaster Group commented that its future may include “a possible new agreement with NDI” that covers “some” of its activities in Denmark. And so it is – Super Dæk Service, the tyre and workshop chain owned by NDI, has agreed to acquire nine Euromaster branches.
After arriving in mainland China in mid-2020 and Hong Kong later that year, Point S has now gained a presence in Macau with the establishment of two franchise outlets. The first of these, Point S Kong Nam Tyre and Auto Supplies in Taipa, opened its doors on 27 July.
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NFDA