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Point SGlobal aftermarket set to grow 13% in 2022, UK and EU also up
Artem Podrez; PexelsHalfords Autocentres’ recent expansion into the top-table of tyre retail is indicative of a wider move towards mechanical work in tyre-orientated garages. Now, many fast fits generate somewhere around 50 per cent of their income from non-tyre business.
According to the latest SMMT data, the UK aftermarket turns over an annual £21.1 billion – making it the ninth largest in the world. And what’s more there are said to be north of 40,000 points of sale in the UK, which means the wider tyre business’s recent shift towards more mechanical work means that aftermarket space is as competitive as ever. Still, the ongoing outlook is good and the aforementioned growth figures are increasing at the same rate as the UK’s growing car parc. As a result, SMMT projections suggest the UK aftermarket sector’s value is set to rise to £28 billion by 2022.
Garages embrace online parts supply to support growth
PartsInMotion.co.ukIndependent garages are embracing online parts supply in greater numbers as they look to access a wider range of available products from leading brands, according to one online automotive parts distributor. PartsInMotion.co.uk says that garages are “switching on” in greater numbers and accessing high quality parts online from distributors instead of, for example, going to the dealership. Demand for quality braking, clutch, steering and suspension as well as exhaust systems are said to be particularly high.
ContinentalLinglong, Hubtrac and what makes a European tyre
Chris Anthony; Tyre Industry Publications LtdIf you design your products in Germany and manufacture them in Serbia, in what sense are they Chinese tyres? A question anyone interested in Linglong’s Hubtrac tyre brand must address. During the recent Tire Cologne exhibition, Tyres & Accessories spoke with Hubtrac UK general manager Dr Edward Xu in order to engage with that particular question and find out more about Linglong’s progress in Europe and beyond.
Magna Tyres: growth despite Covid
Magna TyresNetherlands based, family-owned OTR tyre manufacturer Magna Tyres returned to the Tire Cologne show last month with a determined agenda to meet once more with their growing worldwide customer base.
Stephan van Leeuwen, Magna’s sales director (Original Equipment), with additional responsibility for the Italian, UK and Eire markets commented: “We have always considered international tyre shows as a strong priority to meet new companies and obtain new sales leads so being at a ‘live’ show’ once more is a very positive move forward again.”
Point S adds electric vehicle focus to UK network growth
Point SFounded in France in 1971, Point S Group is now present in 48 countries across four continents. Point S officially launched in the UK in 2011 and therefore celebrated a decade on these shores last year. Just as Tyres & Accessories was on-hand when pre-launch discussions were taking place on the fringes of the Reifen Essen show back in 2010, while the market prepared for Tire Cologne 2022, we caught up with network manager Wayne Daniel in order to find out more.
Wastefront partners with Gateway Resources to supply used tyres for Sunderland recycling plant
WastefrontBacked by energy giant Vitol, Wastefront secured planning permission in January 2022 to build the £100 million tyre recycling plant in Sunderland, which is set to be commercially operational by 2024. Once at full capacity, the plant is designed to be able to manage 20 per cent of the UK’s total ELTs through processing 80,000 tonnes annually. Gateway Resources will supply Wastefront with nearly 10 million tyres every year.
Modular wheel-arch technology specialist aims for OE EV REE-volution
REEWith the latest SMMT data naming the Tesla Model 3 as the most popular new-car in December as well as the second most popular in 2021 – no-one can deny that the era of electric vehicles is well and truly upon. However, while internal combustion engines (ICE) have generally separated engine, wheel and tyre, electric vehicles are bringing these vital mobility components closer together than ever.
Nexen Tire Europe raises prices
Nexen Tire is raising prices across its entire product range, effective 1 February 2022. According to the company, “rising raw material prices as well as freight and logistics costs” are behind the price hike. No details of the percentage increase have yet been released.
John Howe named Michelin UK & Ireland MD
Michelin Tyre plc has appointed John Howe as Managing Director for the UK & Ireland, with effect from 1 January 2022. He will also hold the role of B2C Sales Director, with responsibility for the company’s car, motorcycle and bicycle markets.
Project TREE: A blockchain-driven, more sustainable rubber supply chain
Japan’s Itochu Corporation announced today the commercial launch of Project TREE, an initiative that uses a blockchain-based traceability system to ensure the sustainability and traceability of natural rubber. Partners participating in the Project include Itochu subsidiaries and tyre manufacturers, and the UK will be the first market to benefit.
Falken Tire Europe raises tyre prices, UK market unaffected
Falken Tire Europe GmbH has now announced in a letter to its business partners that it is implementing new price lists effective 1 January 2022 for both the Falken brand and for Sumitomo tyres. The price increases are considerable and extend well into the double-digit range. At the same time, the manufacturer is revising down certain price adjustments announced in September for the new year. However, both sets of price increases are limited to the German-speaking markets with Falken/Sumitomo Rubber representatives confirming to Tyres & Accessories that the price increases do not apply in the UK.
150 years of Continental: UK joins celebrations
ContinentalWith Continental AG celebrating its 150th birthday in 2021, the company has been presenting milestones in its dynamic development over the last 15 decades in the form of events and interactive games. Following Continental’s actual birthday on 8 October, retail and fleet customers were invited to go on a journey through time to experience how Continental, present in the UK for close to a century, has become a pacesetter for modern automotive solutions and is helping to shape the future of holistic mobility.
DPD trialling Enso EV tyres
EnsoFollowing its rise to prominence and a couple of months after Royal Mail began trialling the same brand, leading parcel delivery firm DPD is conducting “full road trials” of Enso tyres for commercial electric vehicles (EVs). The DPD/Enso trial is a part of Transport for London’s FreightLab Innovation Challenge, which is encouraging innovations that will tackle London’s air pollution and road congestion due to increased freight movement in the Greater London area. The London FreightLab Innovation Challenge is backed by the Mayor of London and Enso is based in London.
