NTDA celebrates old tyre ban victory
The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) welcomed the news that 10-year-old truck and bus tyres will be banned. Speaking personally and on behalf of the association, chief executive Stefan Hay said:
Continue ReadingTyred welcomes 10-year old tyre ban, but warns of twin configuration loophole
Following the announcement that tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned from lorries, buses and coaches on roads in England, Scotland and Wales, campaign group Tyred – which led efforts to achieve a ban – has welcomed the news as “a positive step forward”. However, the group also warned of twin tyre fitment configuration loophole.
Continue ReadingGovernment bans fitment of 10 years and older truck and bus tyres
Tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned from lorries, buses and coaches on roads in England, Scotland and Wales in a boost to road safety, Roads Minister Baroness Vere announced today (Wednesday 15 July). The news follows extensive campaigning from the Tyred group as well as industry associations, which resulted in a government consultation last year.
Continue ReadingGovernment urged to advance petrol and diesel ban
The Committee on Climate Change has advised the government to bring forward its ban on petrol and diesel vehicles to 2032. The government is working to a provisional date of 2035 to ban the sale of all vehicles that aren’t zero-emission, but the committee’s progress report is now suggesting that target is too late. However, the BVRLA is not sure if that is a realistic target.
Continue ReadingEnd of MOT extension ‘will make the roads safer’ – IAAF
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) welcomed the end of the MOT extension period on 1 August. The federation argues that the move will not only significantly increase road safety but will give a much-needed boost to the automotive sector overall.
Continue ReadingIMI welcomes reintroduction of mandatory MOT testing from 1 August
Steve Nash, CEO of The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has welcomed the return of mandatory MOT testing from 1 August. “The exemption from mandatory MOT testing announced at the end of March made sense at that time. But our sector moved very quickly to ensure it could work safely and support motorists during the lockdown,” he said.
Continue ReadingIGA, NFDA welcome decision to end MOT extension
The government’s decision to end the six-month MOT extension on 1 August has been welcomed by the Independent Garage Association and the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA). Stuart James, IGA chief executive comments: We thank the Government for listening to our views. The news will give clarity to garages and allow them to plan for the busy period ahead.
Continue ReadingMOT mandatory again from 1 August 2020
Mandatory MOT tests for car, motorcycle and van owners in England, Scotland and Wales are being reintroduced from 1 August 2020. Vehicle owners with an MOT due date before 1 August will still receive a 6-month exemption Roads Minister Baroness Vere has announced today (Monday 29th June). Crucially, people are able to voluntarily get their MOT sooner should they wish, even if they are exempt from the legal requirement. The news follows reports last week that the government has been consulting trade and industry about ending the MOT extension.
Continue ReadingTRA ‘alarmed’ at proposed Europe-wide ban on rubber infill
Tyre Recovery Association members have called a new proposal to ban the use of tyre-derived rubber infill in sports surfaces as “incomprehensible and counter-intuitive”. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) wants to ban the reuse of materials containing ‘intentionally added’ microplastics such as tyres from 2028. The TRA estimates that in the course of their service lives, car tyres alone shed some half a million tonnes of micronized rubber annually across the continent of Europe.
Continue ReadingTyre labelling legislation: New and old labels will co-exist
Following reports at the end of June that the UK government is consulting on current and forthcoming tyre legislation, it is worth taking a closer look and clarifying exactly what rules are passing through the labyrinths of legislative bureaucracy. In short, there are three strands of UK tyre legislation on the table at the moment: minimum standards legislation; current tyre labelling legislation; and forthcoming tyre labelling legislation. Taken together they will likely bring with them the largely unannounced consequence of having both old and new tyre labels in the market at the same time, for a while at least.
Continue ReadingNFDA highlights impact of delayed car dealer reopening in Scotland
On Friday 19 June, the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) wrote to Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP to highlight the potential impact of the delay in allowing dealerships to reopen in Scotland. While dealerships could reopen on 1 June in England, 8 June in Northern Ireland and 22 June in Wales, dealers in Scotland have been given the green light from 29 June. Acting on behalf of its Scottish members, NFDA states that it has repeatedly urged the Scottish Government to consider reopening as soon as possible in view of the specific circumstances of the sector. The NFDA previously said there had been positive trading at dealerships in the other parts of the UK since reopening.
Continue ReadingUK government consulting on tyre legislation
Following the news that new European tyre labels come into force on 1 May 2021, the UK government embarked on an “Improving new vehicle safety and environmental compliance plus passenger vehicle digital radio requirement” consultation on 1 June 2020.
Continue ReadingDriver attitudes towards 6-month MOT exemption revealed in new survey
Around 40 per cent of drivers won’t be making use of the current six-month MOT exemption, a survey of 2,200 UK drivers has suggested. Just one-in-seven drivers (14 per cent) who responded to the RAC survey said they will make full use of the extra six months added to MOT due dates, with three times that proportion (44 per cent) planning on getting their car checked as normal, despite the impact of the coronavirus.
Continue ReadingCar scrappage scheme would quickly benefit UK economy – GlobalData
A car scrappage scheme to boost UK vehicle sales was reported to be unlikely this week, quelling hopes of a subsidised shift towards electric cars. However, according to Calum MacRae, automotive analyst at data and analytics company GlobalData, such a move would benefit the country’s economy. “Just a few days ago, it seemed that a £6,000 new car purchase incentive scheme was close to being signed-off, but it looks like the Treasury is now considering a wider-ranging fiscal stimulus package that will forego specific incentives for the automotive sector.
Continue ReadingEU tyre label regulation update published
The European Union has published the new tyre labelling regulation, after it was confirmed by a vote in May. Appearing in the Official Journal of the European Union last Friday, the act will now come into effect as planned on 1 May, 2021.
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