US anti-dumping review preliminary results favour Thailand factories
Recently, the United States Department of Commerce’s anti-dumping review investigation on PCR tyres produced in Thailand has a preliminary result. Tyrepress China notes that the new developments are positive for Thailand’s tyre factories.
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Tata gigafactory ‘not enough’ to save industry but ‘a good start’ – Institute of Mechanical Engineers
Tata’s decision to build a new electric car battery plant in Somerset has been welcomed by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. The institute said the gigafactory represents a “good start” in the drive to revive an ailing UK automotive sector, but emphasised the need for additional investment in order to support growth and EVs as part of the country’s decarbonisation strategy.
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Tata UK gigafactory: aftermarket needs government support for EV upskilling to ‘filter down’ – IMI
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has welcomed Tata’s decision to locate a multi-billion-pound electric car battery plant in Somerset, while emphasising the need for additional government support to “filter down” to the aftermarket. Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI, said: “There is no question that this is great news for the UK economy, with the prospect of thousands of jobs. For the UK to become a centre of excellence in the electric battery field is crucial for future decarbonisation ambitions. Such a sign of intent from the UK government to support the Tata decision is encouraging for the whole automotive sector. What we now need is for that intent to filter down to the aftermarket too.”
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Independent garages welcome SERMI scheme
UK independent garages have responded enthusiastically to last week’s announcement that they will be able to access Security-related Repair and Maintenance Information (SERMI) using the same framework as their EU counterparts, thanks to agreements reached by the Independent Garage Association (IGA). The IGA reports that garages are getting in touch in large numbers to register their interest in the scheme, which will transform the way garages and workshops access manufacturer technical information on security systems such as keys and ECU coding, by creating one central audit and certification process.
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Delay on MOT decision “unacceptable” – IAAF
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is calling on the government to make its decision on the MOT test frequency, with the Federation calling the lack of clarity on the matter “completely unacceptable”, and harmful for the entire supply chain.
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ETRMA calls for ‘sectoral regulation’ following Data Act agreement
The European Parliament and Member States have come to an agreement relating to the Data Act. The Data Act is legislation designed to make a competitive data market, opening opportunities for data-driven innovation. The European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) welcomed the agreement.
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Trade Remedies Authority extend NTDA’s consultation deadline
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has extended the NTDAs deadline for submission of pre-sampling questionnaires following a request from the tyre industry body. At the start of May, TRA initiated two transition reviews into anti-dumping (T0035) and anti-subsidy (T0036) measures on lorry and bus tyres imported from China. However, the initial deadline for that was 18 May 2023 – too short a time period for many.
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MOT technician receives prison sentence for faking brake test results
An Abertillery MOT tester has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £2128, according to DVSA Enforcement. The MOT tester in question, whose sentence has been suspended for 12 months, was convicted after they issued four pass certificates over a number of years to a camper van that wouldn’t fit on testing equipment. In other words, the required MOT tests couldn’t have been carried out according to regulations.
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TRA to review anti-Chinese-produced truck tyre tariffs
Following the news that the EU introduced new definitive duties against Chinese-produced truck tyres, and the suggestion that a UK investigation is imminent, the UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has initiated “two transition reviews into anti-dumping and countervailing measures on lorry and bus tyres imported from China”.
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UK Trade Remedies Authority investigation to start in weeks – ITMA
Following the news that the European Commission has introduced new definitive import tariffs against Chinese-produced truck tyres, we now know that a decision relating to any UK implementation of those rules is scheduled to be made by October. The latest detail is that the body responsible for the investigation relating to the UK implementation of any tariffs is set to start in weeks, according to the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA).
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MOT to feature self-driving vehicle standards by 2030
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has put limiting road casualties, emissions and particulate matter within its Strategic Plan to 2025 and Vision to 2030, which were published 4 April 2023. DVSAs Strategic Plan and Vision also seek to demonstrate how the agency will harness data in order to improve MOT quality control. Both are likely to impact the way garages and fast-fits that offer MOT testing operation in future.
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87% of IMI members want first MOT interval to remain at 3 years
As part of its response to the Department for Transport’s MOT Consultation, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has researched the views of the motor industry and motorists. Alongside its own in-depth analysis of MOT data, the new research further underlines the IMI’s view that any change to the current date for the first MOT or the frequency of MOTs would significantly increase road user risk. “We received a resounding confirmation – 87 per cent – from our members that the first MOT should not be extended due to increased road safety risk”, explained Hayley Pells, policy manager at the IMI. “And whilst only 51 per cent of motorists we surveyed felt the same, we believe there is sufficient weight of evidence to give the Department for Transport a very clear indication that any change to the start date would be detrimental for all road users.”
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Minister calls for “swift end” to T8 Exemptions
After lobbying regulators to do more to prevent rogue operators using T8 exemptions as a cover for the illegitimate handling of Britain’s end-of-life tyres, the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has welcomed DEFRA’s February announcement suggesting the government department would act to end the current exemptions regime.
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First MOT date extension to increase tyre-related road safety risk
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which represents more than 90,000 automotive professionals, has conducted in-depth analysis of MOT data to formulate what it calls a “considered and balanced response” to the Department for Transport’s MOT Consultation. Working with Garage Industry Trends to examine root causes in current patterns of MOT failure, the IMI analysis provides clear evidence that extending the date for the first MOT will significantly increase road user risk.
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Northern Ireland bans tyres aged 10 years plus on HGVs, buses and minibuses
Northern Ireland’s Vehicle Policy Unit at the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is banning tyres aged 10 years and older on the front axles of HGV’s, buses and coaches, and to the tyres on all axles of minibuses when fitted in single configuration. The changes being implemented in Northern Ireland will align with the changes introduced in Great Britain (GB) on 1 February 2021.
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