Positive reactions – UK automotive industry upbeat about 2020 budget
As we have seen, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, presented his first Budget to Parliament it contained a number of potential automotive demand drivers. But how has the industry responded to the proposals? Here are some of the reactions of the various sectors of the automotive industry.
North West councils license taxis fitted with illegal tyres
The founder of the Independent Tyre Fitters Alliance has exposed four councils in the North West of England for issuing licenses for taxis fitted with illegal unmarked and unsafe part worn tyres. John Stone, owner of National Tyre Distributors Association member Stone Tyres showed how vehicles with aged part worn tyres could pass the taxi compliance and licensing procedure at each council, raising questions about passenger safety in the North West and UK.
NFDA on CTSI consumer law guide for used car industry
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has published a free guide on consumer law for the UK used car industry, titled Car Traders and Consumer Law.
The PRA has sent the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and the Right Honourable the Lord Tyrie, chairman of the CMA, the case for government intervention in the reform of unfair changes to ATM usage fees. Many other organisations have also raised their concerns, including the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Association of Convenience Stores, and consumer group Which?
Changes to driving theory test increase accessibility
The DVSA has announced changes to the driving theory test, which will come into effect in April 2020 for new learner drivers in England, Wales, and Scotland. Instead of reading case studies and answering three questions about them, learners will soon have to watch a short, silent, video clips, which will be followed up with three multiple-choice questions. Test sitters can watch the video clip as many as times as they wish. This change does not apply to theory tests for motorcycles, lorries, bus or coaches and Approved Driving Instructors, part 1.
New European tyre label confirmed, extended to include retreads
Following the news that there will be a new EU tyre label in 2021, the Council of the European Union has announced that it will officially adopt its position relating to the new label on 25 February 2020. In short the new tyre label has been confirmed and will in time be extended to include retreads. At the same time, the rescaling of fuel efficiency and wet grip measures has been halted.
CWA welcomes proposals for hand car wash licensing scheme
Tomorrow, Matthew Taylor, the interim director of the Office for Labour Market Enforcement (OLME) will call for tighter regulations on the UK’s hand car washes, by introducing a national licensing scheme in order to combat the prevalence of human trafficking, poor working conditions and environmental concerns, amongst other issues.
Confirmed UK-EU trade barriers ‘worrying for UK auto industry’, says GlobalData
Government cabinet minister Michael Gove has confirmed that trade barriers will be imposed between the UK and the EU post-Brexit, warning businesses to prepare for “significant change.”
The PRA has written to Sajid Javid MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a case for cutting road fuel duty by 2 pence per litre in the first Budget of the new Government.
In addition to the news that the Maha Duo+1 scissor lift if the model behind the Northern Ireland MOT crisis, GEA chief executive Julian Woods has pointed out that these Irish lifts are different to UK equivalents: “Vehicle lifts used for performing MOT tests in Ireland are of a different design/specification to those required in the UK MOT market and as such we cannot compare the situations.”
Access to technical information more important than ever – IGA
Statistics published in Catapult’s Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles report show that 71 per cent of new vehicles registered in the UK in 2019 had connectivity features. With the ending of Block Exemption on the horizon for 2023, vehicle manufacturers could restrict access to vehicle data for the independent garage sector, limiting consumer choice for their service and repairs.
MAHA Ireland supplied lifts at centre of Irish MOT crisis
MAHA Ireland Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the German company MAHA Maschinenbau Haldenwang GmbH & Co. KG, supplied the lifts at the centre of the crisis that brought all Northern Irish MOTs to a standstill on 27 January 2020 and subsequently spread to the Republic of Ireland.
Having initially committed to banning cars based on petrol, diesel or hybrid engines from 2040, UK prime minister Boris Johnson is now planning to implement the ban from 2035.
As the February 2020 issue of Tyres & Accessories goes to press, the United Kingdom is officially leaving the European Union after three years of intense dispute and debate. At the same time, 2019 wasn’t a great year for the automotive and tyre industries (see page 36 onwards for further details of what has transpired during the last 12 months). And with a no-deal scenario presenting the possibility of import tariffs on and parts, 2020 doesn’t look like it is going to be a whole bunch better. However, while the disappointing performance of the car and tyre markets is linked to Brexit, the issues are not one and the same.
NI MOT Crisis: Minister confirms installation of two new lifts
Two new MOT lifts are being installed in DVA test centres in a bid to increase MOT capacity in Northern Ireland. The MOT process ground to a halt on 27 January 2020 when more 85 per cent of DVA lifts were deemed unsafe. Nevertheless, replacing MOT lifts is still likely to take months.
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