July new van market ‘steady’ says SMMT
The new van market achieved a steady performance in July – down just -0.2 per cent – with nearly 25,000 new LCV registrations last month, according to figures released today by SMMT.
Andrew is an editor for WhatTyre, Tyrepress, and Tyres & Accessories magazine. He has more than a decade of experience in editing, writing, and journalism.
The new van market achieved a steady performance in July – down just -0.2 per cent – with nearly 25,000 new LCV registrations last month, according to figures released today by SMMT.
Figures released by the SMMT show that UK new car registrations experienced a very slight increase in July, up 0.1 per cent for the month, at 178,523 units. 1,599,159 new cars have been registered so far this year, putting demand in the year-to-date 2.8 per cent higher than for the same period in 2015, following a strong first quarter. Fuelled by a possible inflection point in the market – two years of strong car registrations figures have built up a wave of two-three year old used cars that could detract from new car purchases – and the as-yet unseen effects of the Brexit decision, some are advising a note of caution.
The Dunlop TrailSmart, the manufacturer’s tyre for the fast-growing trail sector of the motorcycle market, has impressed tyre testers at two magazines. It was the only tyre to receive five stars in both wet and dry handling in a recent MotoMag test, while Motorrad described the tyre as “near unbeatable in the wet emergency braking test from 100km/h.”
Michelin Corporate Foundation has been announced as a corporate founding partner in the development of the V&A Museum of Design Dundee. The V&A Museum will be the first in the UK outside of London, and is part of a wider £1 billion regeneration scheme for the city. Due for completion in 2018, the foundation will support both its initial and ongoing development with a significant investment. A gallery within V&A Dundee will take on the Michelin name for a term of 25 years. Michelin has strong ties to Dundee; its tyre plant on Baldovie Road is the city’s largest employer. The French manufacturer committed to an investment of £52 million to modernise the plant in 2015, and was recently visited by the Queen.
Chelsea FC has unveiled its new third kit for the 2016/17 season, following the recent introduction of this season’s home and away shirts. All three shirts feature Yokohama Tyres branding, after the Japanese tyre-maker signed what is thought to be the second most valuable shirt sponsorship deal in English football. As official shirt partner to Chelsea, Yokohama will appear across the chest of all of the club’s shirts until at least 2020, giving the brand significant exposure and awareness around the world.
Michelin will introduce a new iteration of its FIA World Rally Championship full wet tyre, developed for use on asphalt rounds, at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland on 18-21 August. The new Pilot Sport FW2 (FW stands for “full wet”) features a higher water clearance capacity and a contact patch double the size of its predecessor. The German event is the first of four consecutive sealed-surface events, which also include October’s RallyRACC Catalunya-Rally de España.
LKQ Euro Ltd, best known in the UK as Euro Car Parts Ltd, the trade based and retail car parts specialist, has announced the acquisition of leisure specialist Arleigh Group – which operates under the trading names of Arleigh International, Nova Leisure and Midland Chandlers.
Exol Lubricants has recently added a new barge, “Exol Pride,” to the North East Waterways, which will transport raw materials from Hull to its bulk blending plant in Rotherham. Exol has been a long term user of the waterways, leading the oil and lubricants market by using an environmentally friendly option while transporting large loads. The company has been commended for its reduction in carbon footprint and has even featured in ITV’s Barging about Britain, hosted by John Sergeant.
Falken Tyre’s Team Falken air race team will seek further success in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship when it heads to Ascot, Berkshire on 13-14 August 2016. The Japanese tyre brand was the Official Partner of the Red Bull Air Race Chiba earlier this year, and also sponsors Japanese competitor Yoshihide Muroya. The 43-year-old Team Falken pilot claimed his maiden victory last month at the Chiba event in the second year of Falken’s successful partnership.
National motor factor GSF Car Parts held an open evening on 14 July at its Tottenham branch, attended by more than 200 people from a thriving local trade customer base. Having opened three years ago, the branch is one of the network’s top performing outlets.
Pirelli said that a number of different strategies were in play at the German Grand Prix, with mostly three stops seen and many teams splitting their race strategies. Mercedes was one of these teams, with race winner Lewis Hamilton alternating the supersoft and soft tyre. Polesitter Nico Rosberg started with two sets of supersoft and then ended the race on two sets of soft.
Pirelli’s testing programme for its new wider P Zero Formula One tyres for 2017 has begun at Fiorano in Italy. Sebastian Vettel piloted a Ferrari SF15-T specifically modified to simulate the new aero rules and to accommodate tyres in 2017 size. The four-time world champion is testing on 1 August before handing the car over to Haas F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez on Tuesday 2 August.
TRA members will lobby their constituency members of parliament in their effort to fight off Environment Agency plans to bring in new storage limits which they say could put many responsible recyclers out of business. The association believes that the proposed new norms which it is claimed will lead to a reduction in waste fires will hit the tyre industry disproportionately.
Kumho’s Smasher and Sealant tyres have been honoured with 2016 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). The company said that the US awards, which complete a trio of the world’s top three design accolades, alongside Germany’s Red Dot and iF International Forum Design, mean that its design and technological capabilities have now been recognised by the industry as a whole.
Vacu-Lug’s commitment to the retreading sector and the personal development of its team has been illustrated by successes in City & Guilds examination successes. The retread specialist has been entering candidates for the City & Guilds examinations for Part 1 Retread Workshop Practice for many years, and the latest successful entrants for the qualification included ten of its team members. Jason Humphries not only achieved a Distinction pass, but was awarded the highest mark nationwide. Two Credit passes awarded to Dave Alsop and Elaine Dable.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.