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About Andrew

Andrew is an editor for WhatTyre, Tyrepress, and Tyres & Accessories magazine. He has more than a decade of experience in editing, writing, and journalism.

Entries by Andrew

Messe Frankfurt launches UK Garage and Bodyshop Event for 2022

The organiser of Automechanika Birmingham and auto:resource has launched The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event. The event targets training, technology, and tools for the garage and bodyshop sector. Messe Frankfurt said the event will “provide a focused opportunity for suppliers and their garage and bodyshop customers to engage, learn and facilitate progress, as we seek to adapt to the rapidly changing nature of the industry.” It said the event is a response to market demand, following a survey of more than 300 garages and consultation with suppliers.

Related news:

  1. Automechanika coming to Birmingham
  2. Automechanika Birmingham exhibitor space sells out
  3. Automechanika Birmingham ‘a success’ for Valeo
  4. Mahle seminars prove popular at Automechanika Birmingham
7th September 2021 by

August van registration swell shadowed by looming semi-conductor shortage

Typically a quiet month like the car market, August 2021 was the second-best on record, with 20,582 new van registrations, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show. In the year to date the uptake of new vans is up 2.6 per cent on the pre-pandemic five-year average (although down -4.0 per cent on the same period in 2019). Despite a drop in sales in certain sectors of the light commercial vehicle market, vans have largely maintained good figures throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, an effect of booming last-mile delivery and mobile services. Several segments are currently enjoying the market entrance of new zero-emission and specialist models. Despite this buoyancy, the SMMT warned that the semi-conductor shortage is looming over the sector and is already affecting production and throttling new van sales.

Related news:

  1. June LCV sales down nearly six per cent
  2. New van market growth stemmed only by supply issues – SMMT
  3. Supply shortages stunt new van sales but market expected to recover
  4. January UK van registrations rise two per cent
7th September 2021 by

The Motor Ombudsman launches Garage Stars 2021 Awards

The Motor Ombudsman has launched its 2021 Garage Star Awards. The awards follow a successful inaugural 2020 recognition programme, which attracted more than 800 online customer nominations for Motor Ombudsman-accredited garages and dealerships across the UK. Cornwall-based Dukes AutoTech was crowned the first national winner. Two new awards have been added to the scheme for 2021, with 40 vehicle manufacturers accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s New Car Code and 13 businesses that are part of the Vehicle Warranty Products Code eligible for two separate Customer Service Star Awards.

Related news:

  1. Crescent Motoring is Motor Codes’ UK Garage of the Year
  2. Accolade for Inverness garage
  3. AA Garage Guide partners with Motor Ombudsman
  4. Servicesure garage wins prestigious Scotlands Business Award
7th September 2021 by
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Michelin to support Caffeine&Machine’s first ‘Eclectic Electric’ weekend

Michelin has partnered with Stratford-upon-Avon deluxe coffee house and motoring destination Caffeine&Machine on the venues first ever dedicated electric vehicle weekend (25-26 September, 2021). The event will focus on electric vehicles and will welcome visitors who want to view the next wave of automotive innovation, regardless of their current motors.

Related news:

  1. Michelin targets high-performance electric cars with Pilot Sport EV
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport EV durable in Berlin as Formula E stages round 8
  3. Michelin presents sustainability-infused strategy to capital markets
  4. The top ten factors that would persuade a UK driver to buy an electric car
7th September 2021 by
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EV demand continues surge, but supply issues undermining new car market

Demand for electric cars has continued to surge even during a quiet August ahead of the registration plate change. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures show that even as new car registrations fell by -22.0 per cent, demand for battery electric (BEV), hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles rose 32.2, 45.7 and 72.1 per cent respectively. Overall, the UK new car market is up 20.3 per cent versus Covid-hit 2020, though the pandemic remains a blight on the market due in part to chip shortages.

Related news:

  1. August car sales up 23 per cent – electric cars account for one in twelve sales
  2. Cautious recovery in new car registrations during May
  3. Car registrations ‘incredibly encouraging’ comments Carwow
  4. ‘Great relief’ but recovery ‘might be slower’ than expected – analysts on car sales
6th September 2021 by
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Guanajuato governor visits Pirelli in Milan to discuss company’s Mexico plant

Pirelli has hosted the governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, which hosts one of Pirelli’s most technologically advanced industrial hubs, at its Milan headquarters. Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo discussed the latest $36 million plan, which would bring the tyre manufacturer’s annual production capacity to 7.2 million tyres in Silao, Mexico, with Marco Tronchetti Provera, executive vice chairman and CEO of Pirelli, and the company’s top management. The governor also visited the Research & Development center and the Fondazione Pirelli. Luigi De Chiara, the Italian ambassador in Mexico, and Carlos Garcia De Alba, the Mexican ambassador in Italy, also participated in the visit.

Related news:

  1. Mexico: Pirelli to build second tyre factory
  2. Mexico honours Pirelli’s Tronchetti Provera
  3. Russia a growing part of Pirelli’s business?
  4. Groundbreaking held for Pirelli’s second Mexico tyre factory
1st September 2021 by

GitiWinterW2 delivers double-digit improvements over previous winter tyre

Giti Tire has launched its new winter tyre on the European aftermarket. The GitiWinterW2 delivers improved dry dynamics, wet braking and aquaplaning resistance, the manufacturer states, while snow and ice grip and traction are maintained from the first edition. The tyre is available initially in 13 car and SUV sizes, including the 10 most popular in the European market, for rims between 15 and 19-inches. Giti adds that extra sizes will be introduced in 2022. The tyre targets a wide range of vehicles, from small and medium cars such as the VW Polo or VW Golf up to premium limousines such as the Mercedes C Class. CUV and SUV sizes are designed to be fitted on popular models like the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan.

Related news:

  1. 13 new GT Radial 4Seasons sizes improve all-season tyre market coverages
  2. All-season tyre growth, especially for premium brands – GfK
  3. Conserving costs, maximising business: Apollo Tyres’ response to the coronavirus pandemic
  4. Giti launches GitiSportS2 UHP tyre
27th August 2021 by
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Dealers test latest GT Radial tyres in first Mira Ride and Drive for two years

80 guests became the first European customers to test drive the new GT Radial SportActive 2 and FE2 at GT Radial’s first Mira Drive and Ride event for almost two years. Potential new dealers, supported by select GT Radial Performance Centre (GTPC) owners, got back on track under Covid secure conditions over two days, during which GT Radial’s exclusive UK distributor over the last decade, Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), presented the brand’s product portfolio. All attendees were invited to experience high speed circuits in the new BMW 5 Series of Giti Tire’s country manager – UK, Brian McDermott who put his own car on the redline.

Related news:

  1. GT Radial presents 3-year development programme at European dealer event
  2. Giti, Micheldever complete GT Radial Performance Centre roadshow programme
  3. Giti welcomes 15 new GT Radial Performance Centres to network at Mira event
  4. GT Radial takes over Horiba Mira circuits for customer Ride and Drive Day
27th August 2021 by
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Hankook and W Series enter second half of the season with Formula 1

Hankook, the exclusive tyre partner of the all-woman W Series since its inaugural 2019 season, will travel to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium to commence the second half of this year’s series. Featuring on the support programme for Formula 1, with which it shares the bill on eight grand prix weekends, the W Series runs on Hankook high-end Ventus Race tyre.

Related news:

  1. Hankook ready as W Series returns in 2021
  2. Hankook looks forward to Formula Renault Eurocup 2nd half
  3. Hankook throws its hat into the Formula 1 ring
  4. Hankook Ventus Race in action in three European series
26th August 2021 by
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Motofix adds further four-wheel alignment with Pro-Align

One of the UK’s leading independent vehicle repair groups, Motofix has extended its four-wheel alignment capabilities with a new Hunter wheel aligner, supplied and installed by UK distributor Pro-Align. The Towcester firm recently completed the latest installation at one of Motofix’s repair facilities in Northampton, allowing customers to access premium four-wheel alignment.

Related news:

  1. Hunter commercial vehicle alignment system gains Mercedes-Benz OEM approval
  2. Pro-Align to create workshop space to demo products at Automechanika Birmingham
  3. Pro-Align launches two-day aftersales commitment
  4. Hunter touchless alignment system arrives in UK
25th August 2021 by
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First continuous pyrolysis plant for end-of-life tyres ‘supports’ TRA ‘vision’

Carlton Forest Renewables (formerly known as IRR Waste 2 Energy) has become a member of the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA). The company’s Worksop based continuous pyrolysis plant – the first of its kind in the UK – is due to become fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2021. The company said that it pledges its support to the TRA as they work towards a shared goal for the responsible recovery of used tyres.

Related news:

  1. Carlton Forest offers ‘visionary’ new tyre recycling technology
  2. ‘No discussion at Federation level’ of UK EPR scheme for used tyres: TRA
  3. Carlton Forest Group appoints Scott Robson financial director
  4. Why now is the time to support tyre recovery stabilisation
25th August 2021 /1 Comment/by

Landsail ‘thrilled’ with Leicester City official tyre partnership

Landsail Tyres has begun the second year of its partnership with Premier League side Leicester City. The team started strongly with the Foxes lifting the first silverware of the domestic season, the Community Shield as the 2020/21 FA Cup winners beat Premier League champions Manchester City at Wembley. As official tyre partner of the Foxes, this season is the first since Landsail signed to be played in front of capacity crowds.

Related news:

  1. Landsail named official tyre partner of Leicester City
  2. Toyo renews Leicester City Football Club partnership
  3. Leicester FC’s Premier League triumph saluted in latest Toyo video
  4. Toyo Tires produces Leicester City Football supporter video
24th August 2021 by
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Safe-Run pays VMI damages after China appeal court IP judgement

Leading tyre building machinery manufacturer VMI Holland B.V. has issued a firm rebuke to Safe-Run Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd after the latter issued a press release on 31 July claiming victory in the companies’ ongoing legal dispute. Contrary to Safe-Run’s view, VMI said the Jiangsu High People’s Court of China’s ruling represented “a major defeat for Safe-Run and almost total vindication of VMI’s position.” VMI first announced it had won “a significant lawsuit” against Safe-Run relating to its intellectual property in February 2021. Subsequently, the Netherlands-based firm said the appeal court finalised its judgement that Safe-Run were infringing on VMI’s two key patents relating to tyre building machines. Safe-Run was ordered to stop infringements immediately and pay VMI damages totalling RMB 2.46 million (around 320,000 euros). VMI notes that these payments are “very high [compared] to the average damage awards of around RMB 100,000 in similar cases in China.” Safe-Run’s statement is not currently available.

Related news:

  1. IP & patent infringement: VMI wins ‘significant lawsuit’ against Safe-Run
  2. VMI awaits ruling in Chinese infringement case
  3. Major VMI patents upheld in China
  4. Safe-Run equipping Linglong’s Serbia tyre plant
24th August 2021 by

First Line Ltd adds 40 new aftermarket products

Automotive aftermarket supplier First Line Ltd has introduced 40 new-to-range products across its Steering and Suspension, Cooling, Cables, and Braking categories. The company said the new additions represent the company’s commitment to update its key product ranges regularly, increasing the speed with which it brings new parts to the aftermarket.

Related news:

  1. First Line introduces new water pump
  2. Bosch Worldwide Chief Visits Euro Car Parts
  3. Klarius launches 2016 new-to-range parts list
  4. Brake Engineering’s Original Aftermarket initiative, one year on
19th August 2021 by
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Davanti, Sterling Automotive to unveil Vantoura 4-Seasons tyre at CV Show

Davanti Tyres and automotive design house Sterling Automotive Design will mark their Commercial Vehicle Show debut on its return this year (Stand 5D95, Birmingham NEC, 31 August – 2 September) with the unveiling of Davanti’s new all-season van tyre. The Vantoura 4-Seasons will join Davanti’s Protoura Sport, which has sizes suitable for van conversions, the DX440 van tyre, and Terratoura A/T tyre for commercial pickups. It is the first time Davanti will exhibit its entire commercial vehicle tyre range together.

Related news:

  1. Davanti unveils wave of new product, partnership news at first conference
  2. All-season tyre growth, especially for premium brands – GfK
  3. UK’s LCV tyre market retained 2019 value in 2020 – GfK
  4. Nexen unveils all-season van tyre
18th August 2021 by

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