The latest round of speculation associated with the sale of shares in Alliance Tire Group puts Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), Blackstone, TPG Capital and Advent International at the front of the pack. According to a Times of India report published on 20 February the firms are “set to fire bids valued at more than US$300 million to acquire majority shares in Alliance Tire Group.” Standard Chartered Private Equity is also said to be bidding.
On 17 January battery specialist Johnson Controls unveiled a revitalisation of the Varta battery brand with a new logo, a new slogan, new product design and a completely revised online presence. The new look is being rolled out as part of the Europe-wide campaign with the aid of the “It all starts with Varta” strapline.
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Cooper Tire and Industrias Negromex S.A. de C.V. (INSA), a subsidiary of Grupo KUO, report that the US patent office has granted a patent to the two organizations for their silica masterbatch process. According to the two companies, the process to produce silane, hydrophobated silica, silica masterbatch and rubber products results in a broader processing window offering “manufacturing efficiencies” for the end user.
Demand for new heavy trucks (over 16 tonnes, excluding buses and coaches) declined the most sharply across segments in January (-18.4 per cent), totalling 15,510 vehicles. All major markets contracted, from -9.3 per cent in Italy to -11.1 per cent in Spain, -15.4 per cent in France and -22.0 per cent in Germany and the UK.
The HGV Road User Levy Act became law today (28 February) paving the way for a fairer deal for UK hauliers. Most EU states already charge lorries for using their roads which means that British vehicles have to pay to drive in Europe, while foreign lorries can drive in the UK without paying for the wear and tear they cause on the roads.
The NTDA have told us of a tyre scam currently doing the rounds in Northern Ireland. Regional Chairman Roy Nutt says that two retailers in Northern Ireland have been approached by a person looking to buy tyres with a stolen credit card. An enquiry was submitted via the website and, in what seems like an early April Fool's joke, the enquiry was submitted in the name of a Mr. Fraud and the e-mail address given was rip@tyretradeoff.com.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) continues to hammer home the message to the Chancellor that he should reduce road fuel duty by 3 pence per litre to help ease the pressure on domestic freight operators in his 2013 Budget.
"The initiative by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that will see supermarkets stick to helping shoppers with lower grocery pricing instead of subsidising fuel offers is music to the ears of all our small, often family owned and run, petrol filling stations who are facing extinction by the aggressive price discounting from the 'big four' UK supermarkets" said Brian Madderson, Chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association.
Micheldever Tyres Service’s latest quarterly tread depth analysis shows that between March 2012 and March 2013 between 50 and 60 per cent of tyres taken off in depots were already below the 1.6 millimetre legal limit. A further 40 per cent were on or just above it and only around three per cent were above 2 millimetres. Flicking back to when the research began in June 2008 it is clear to see that that the situation has deteriorated markedly over the last four or five years. Back then only around 15 per cent of tyres brought into depots were already illegal. Now it is more than triple that.
Figures released by ACEA show that new commercial vehicle registrations further declined in January (-10.6 per cent), pursuing a downward trend which prevailed throughout 2012.
The Vehicle Operator and Services Agency needs to be given dedicated resources to meet the looming enforcement challenges associated with the HGV Road User Levy and the increased privatisation of the HGV annual testing network.
Starco’s new plant in Sri Lanka has now been manufacturing the company’s Tusker and Unicorn fork lift tyre ranges for a year, and the Danish firm says its entry into regular production completes an endeavour that required several years of investment and commitment.
March is said to be the peak month for MoTs, and with this in mind Halfords Autocentres has produced viral film to promote its MOT offer to consumers via social media. In homage to the film Grease, ten Halfords team members perform their own unique interpretation of the film’s ‘Go Greased Lightning’ garage scene – complete with a classic American car and all-new lyrics.
The association representing India’s tyre makers has expressed its opposition to a government decision to increase import duty on rubber. In a statement, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association Anant Goenka said any such decision “will have far-reaching and adverse consequences on tyre industry and its long-term impact will be felt on the entire value chain of rubber sector.”
Chicane, has boosted its media relations team with the appointment of Chris Wakley as a consultant. Wakley brings with him 35 years of automotive media relations experience and will assist Chicane with further developing its media relations offerings to automotive businesses as well as to the agency’s existing client base.
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