Chancellor “is planning tax hike for diesel” says PRA
Drivers of diesel engine cars are likely to face a hike in fuel price, according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). Chairman Brian Madderson states that the association “has been informed by a well-placed parliamentary source, that the Chancellor is likely to announce a 1ppl increase to fuel duty for all diesel drivers in this week’s Autumn Budget. This would be a thinly disguised tax grab using air quality issues as justification.”
Unite, the UK’s largest trade union, has won a long–running campaign for the right of delivery drivers to use an employers’ toilets while conducting deliveries. From this week employers in control of non-domestic premises are obliged to allow people who are not their employees but use their premises to access toilets and washing facilities.
New Bill mandates chargepoint installation and insurance for driverless cars
Motorway services and large petrol retailers will be required to install chargepoints for electric cars, under plans announced in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 18 October by transport minister John Hayes.
Yesterday, the High Level Group (HLG) GEAR 2030 issued its report on the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the automotive industry in the EU and offered recommendations on how the automotive industry can anticipate and adapt to current trends, specifically identifying two fields – zero emission and zero emission-capable vehicles (ZEVs and ZECs), as well as connected and automated driving (CAD). The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) welcomes the adoption of the HLG report; in a statement, the association shares that it views the reports as constituting “a stepping stone for all stakeholders.”
The European Commission (EC) has fined Scania more than €880 million (£770m) for its participation in a truck cartel. Scania was the sixth and final manufacturer implicated in the price-fixing scandal, but decided against settling with the EC last year. The five other truck manufacturers – MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), Iveco and DAF – were collectively fined €2.93bn (£2.57bn) after admitting wrongdoing.
Lack of charge points could hamper electric vehicle growth – RAC Foundation
Potential purchasers of electric cars tempted by the benefits of quickly-improving battery capacity might still hesitate if the public charge point network doesn’t keep pace with changing technology.
India’s Ministry of Finance has imposed an anti-dumping duty on truck and bus radial (TBR) tyres imported from China. The duty ranges from $245.35 - $452.33 per ton, according to a notification from the Central Board Excise and Customs (CBEC), and has been applied to “new pneumatic radial tyres with or without tubes and/or flap of rubber (including tubeless tyres) having nominal rim diameter code above 16 (inch)”.
NFDA ‘disappointed’ by mileage fraud consultation response
Altering a vehicle’s odometer to show a lower mileage than that actually travelled is not itself illegal. However, the practice of selling a ‘clocked’ vehicle to someone, without notifying them that the vehicle’s mileage has been altered is illegal. Historically, this has been to increase the value of a vehicle, but many consumers are now adjusting their cars’ mileages to avoid excess mileage penalty fees that are part of a car’s finance agreement.
The NFDA has produced a leaflet which analyses the different types of pollutants including NOx, CO2 and particulates, and from what sources these derive. The leaflet examines the role of diesel with a clear differentiation between old diesel and modern Euro 6 and the different impact they have on air pollution.
UK government is pro-retreading, but what about anti-dumping measures?
Perhaps the most high profile dignitary at Michelin’s “Stoke 2018” event was Clare Perry MP, Minister of State for Climate change and Industrial Strategy. Bearing in mind that retreading and casing inspection/logistics make up such a significant part of what goes on at Michelin’s Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent site, and given that over-supply of low-cost truck tyres from China has had a marked effect on this part of the business, Tyres & Accessories was keen to ask Clare Perry what the government can do to help.
The deadline for all organisations to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come on 25 May 2018. Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), says “it is imperative that organisations have a compliance strategy in place, as failure to comply will result in extremely harsh fines.”
Roadside checks on CVs to include emissions checks
From August 2017, roadside checks of lorries carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will include an emissions check. DVSA will be targeting lorry drivers and operators who try to cheat vehicle emissions. The new checks will target those who break the law and will help to improve air quality.
Tyred of waiting: anti tyre aging campaign gets renewed impetus
The tyre industry has been involved in numerous awareness-raising campaigns over the years. The quality and creativity of these has increased significantly, especially in the decade since TyreSafe came into existence. However, when Frances Molloy re-launched the “Tyred” campaign on 30 June 2017, you couldn’t help but feel that you were witnessing something quite unique. As most of us in the industry already know, Frances’ son Michael Molloy died in a coach crash in the summer of 2012 that was caused by poor condition, 19 and a half year-old tyres. In fact no tyres on the coach were less than 10 years old. So when she says that Tyred is all about taking old tyres off the road, people listen.
An anti part worn tyre bill that was passed in May has been vetoed by state governor Greg Abbot. Texas House Bill 2774 was based on the draft legislation advocated by the US Tire Manufacturers Association. It would have levied fines of $100 to $500 for each tyre deemed unsafe.
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