UK new car market falls again in May
The UK new car market declined by -4.6 per cent in May with 183,724 units registered, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The fall reflects continued uncertainty over diesel and clean air zones as well as the removal of incentives for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Meanwhile, the underlying economic and political instability continues to affect consumer and business confidence.
Continue ReadingBrexit planning nearly halves UK car production
UK car manufacturing output plummeted in April, with figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing it was down -44.5 per cent year-on-year. 70,971 cars rolled off production lines in the month, as factory shutdowns, rescheduled to mitigate against the expected uncertainty of a 29 March Brexit, took effect in many plants across the UK.
Continue ReadingApril motorcycle sales up 7.3%
Sales of motorcycles continued to rise in April, according to figures released by the Motor Cycle Industry Association. April sales were up 7.3 per cent against April 2018, and 9.4 per cent up in the year-to-date. In total, 36,951 bikes have been put on UK roads so far 2019, up by 3,188 registrations compared to 2018.
Continue ReadingGrowth and stability amongst leading UK tyre retailers
6 - 10 stability, but battle for ninth position Outside of the top five, there is a certain degree of stability amongst the remaining five companies. Those in sixth, seventh and eighth position (McConechy’s, The Tyre Group and Lodge) appear to have remained stable in terms of branch count, with 61, 58 and 40 branches respectively. However, it is worth considering all this in the context of ULM Services Ltd the fleet-orientated cooperation Universal, Lodge and McConechy’s set up during 2017. Put those three partners together and we have 119 branches and another strong contender for fifth position on the table.
Continue ReadingETEL continues to lead top 20 UK tyre retailers 2019
After years of expansion amongst the top 20 UK tyre retailers, the latest data shows that this trend peaked in 2017/2018 when the top 20 accounted for 2014 branches. The same 20 tyre retailers had 1980 branches between them in 2018/2019. And what’s more, the reorganisation of one retailer alone accounted for a 40-centre decline in branch count, with the overall figure remaining positive due to growth at other chains. Here Tyres & Accessories analyses the branch count data in the context of 10 years of comparable research.
Continue ReadingMichelin maintains position as world’s most valuable tyre brand: Brand Finance
Michelin has defended its title as the world’s most valuable tyre brand despite a 9 per cent decrease in brand value to US$7.2 billion, according to the latest report by leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy, Brand Finance.
Continue ReadingFebruary LCV sales rise 1.8 per cent
This year to date, 36,620 new LCVs have been registered, representing a rise of 5.8 per cent on the first two months of 2018.
Continue ReadingSMMT figures ‘extremely worrying’ says KPMG
Justin Benson, head of automotive at KPMG UK, comments on the latest SMMT car manufacturing figures, which saw a 9.1 per cent fall in 2018.
Continue ReadingUK CV manufacturing 8.5% up in 2018
British commercial vehicle manufacturing grew 8.5 per cent in 2018, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed. The increase in output, with 84,888 units leaving production lines, follows weaker performances in 2016 and 2017. The SMMT added that strong market incentives ahead of model changes also played a part in boosting output.
Continue ReadingDemand for tyre silencing technology doubles in one year – Pirelli
Homologations of Pirelli tyres equipped with the manufacturer’s Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS) technology numbered 78 by the end of 2017. One year later, the figure increased by 100 per cent, now making a total of more than 150.
Continue ReadingMycarcheck.com January 2019 market guide tackles Brexit ‘uncertainty’
Mycarcheck.com’s valuation experts have revealed significant trends in the UK used vehicle market, choosing a car and bike of the month.
Continue ReadingFerrari in pole position as world’s strongest brand
Italian supercar manufacturer, Ferrari, has claimed the title of the world’s strongest brand, according to the latest Brand Finance Global 500 2019 report launching today at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Ferrari’s Brand Strength Index (BSI) score increased three points from 91.5 to 94.8 out of 100 over the past year, overtaking the likes of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Lego, and Disney. The iconic auto brand last held the title of the world’s strongest in 2014. Michelin and Bridgestone represented the tyre sector in the latest edition of the top 500 ranking.
Continue ReadingMichelin, Bridgestone in top 300 world’s most valuable brands, but fall in rankings
The Brand Finance Global 500 2019 report has listed two tyre brands, Michelin and Bridgestone, in its ranking of the world’s 500 most valuable brands. The top two biggest tyre manufacturers in the world both saw their brand value fall in value this year according to the brand analyst, but hung on to placings in the top 300. Michelin took over from Bridgestone as the worlds most valuable tyre brand in 2018, according to the organisations sector-based rankings.
Continue ReadingUK new van market holds steady after mixed 2018
The new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market dropped -8.8 per cent in December, capping off a mixed year for the sector, which saw a moderate decline of -1.3 per cent in 2018, according to the latest figures from the SMMT.
Continue ReadingFall in new car market a ‘wake up call’ to policy makers
The UK new car market declined by -6.8 per cent in 2018, with annual registrations falling for a second year to 2,367,147 units, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A -5.5 per cent decline in December capped a turbulent year of model changes, regulatory upheaval and continued anti-diesel policies, adding to the ongoing decline in consumer and business confidence.
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