Let’s go round again – what’s next for ATD?
On 22 October 2024, American Tire Distributors, Inc. (ATD) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. It was the second time in around six years that the large – if not the largest – US tyre distributor made such a petition. And ATD did so leaving more than half-a-billion dollars outstanding with some of the world’s largest tyre manufacturers as well as some of some of the fastest-growing tyremakers (see Tyrepress.com and page 27 of the November edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine for further details relating to both the Chapter 11 announcement and how much money is outstanding with which tyremakers). This article is an example of the editorial comment that introduces every edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine. Not a subscriber? No problem, click here to become one.
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Nokian’s new Romania plant to be a milestone for the entire tyre industry
Less than two years after announcing the project, Nokian officially opened its new tyre plant in Oradea on 19 September 2024. The Finnish tyre manufacturer sees the whole thing as a milestone. But not just for itself. First and foremost, it wants to use the new building to increase the production capacity it has lacked since it closed its production site in Russia. Apart from that, however, the plant is also a milestone for the tyre industry as a whole, as it is the industrys ‘first carbon dioxide-free factory’ and demonstrates the potential for sustainable tyre production. The motto of the opening ceremony was therefore ‘Lead to Zero’, which probably means that Nokian sees itself in a pioneering role in this respect.
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SMP Europe expands engine management, fuelling range for evolving market
SMP Europe has added 17 new part numbers to its engine management and fuelling range of parts. The company, home of the Lucas, Lemark and Intermotor brands, said the product portfolio expansion would meet the evolving needs of the market. Its engineering team develops new products at its UK centre of excellence in Nottingham, with all new products undergoing laboratory and on-vehicle testing.
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Pendragon Vehicle Management, Targa Telematics partner on fleet solutions
Targa Telematics and Pendragon Vehicle Management (PVM) have announced a partnership to offer advanced and comprehensive solutions to fleet customers. The partnership links Targa’s global expertise in developing solutions and digital platforms for connected mobility and one of the UK’s top 15 leasing companies and part of one of the UK’s leading motor groups, Lithia UK. Targa Telematics will provide cutting-edge technology to PVM, enabling them to offer advanced and comprehensive solutions to their fleet customers. PVM will be able to deliver a full suite of fleet management services, leveraging the expertise of one of the largest players in the industry.
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Bridgestone to launch Battlax Sport Touring T33 motorcycle tyre with 47% longer mileage
Bridgestone will launch its new sport touring radial motorcycle tyre, the Battlax Sport Touring T33, in January 2025. The Battlax Sport Touring T33 is a next-generation sport touring tyre that maintains the touring performance of its predecessor, the T32, while improving its mileage by 47 per cent. The latest addition to the Battlax tyre family is also designed to improve performance in the dry over its predecessor with more secure handling, while maintaining the high wet performance of the T32.
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Davanti Tyres expands off-road range with the launch of the new Terratoura Mud Terrain 4×4 tyre
Davanti Tyres has added a new tyre to its off-road lineup: the Terratoura Mud Terrain (M/T). The new 4x4 tyre was specifically engineered to conquer the toughest off-road terrains with ease, the tyre brand states. The Terratoura M/T features an aggressive tread pattern and advanced, rugged construction. Overall, the tyre is designed to enable off-road exploration in a variety of challenging conditions. The Terratoura M/T is now available in 15-20-inch sizes.
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Middle-aged drivers commit most driving offences – Uswitch
Uswitch car insurance has carried out research on driving convictions in the UK, determining the worst offending age groups and which area of the UK the most offences occurred. More than 1,140,000 driving convictions are issued in a year. The age groups who committed the most offences were 40-59, with the top overall ages being convicted all falling into the 43-55 age category, including ages: 43 (25,292), 51 (24,890), 52 (25,574), 53 (24,934) and 55 (24,751).
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Liqui Moly USA to exhibit at SEMA, AAPEX shows
Liqui Moly USA will participate at this year’s SEMA (Las Vegas Convention Center; Central Hall, booth 23619; 5-8 November) and AAPEX (Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum Las Vegas; Main Hall, booth #A3438; 5-7 November) in Las Vegas. The renowned lubricant specialist will showcase its automotive products in two themed booths.
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Tyron aims to help reduce serious road accidents this winter
Headquartered in Leicestershire, Tyron Runflat is purportedly the world’s only multi-piece rubber run-flat tyre protector. This Tyre Safety Month this October the company is sharing key advice for road users as the winter months draw in.
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Zeppelin Systems opens new premises in Reggio Emilia, Italy
Full-service provider of turnkey systems, plant manufacturer Zeppelin Systems has opened a new, modern 5,000sqm premises at the competence centre in Reggio Emilia. Together with Nuova Ciba, which was acquired in 2018, Zeppelin Systems has been active in the Italian market for many years. In addition to expanding its production capacities, the company is also pooling its expertise for the tyre and rubber industry, the plastic and polyolefin industry and the food sector with its heterogeneous, modern site.
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Investment key to ending skills crisis – Easy2Recruit
In the 2024 Budget, the UK government earmarked a £2 billion investment to assist the automotive sector’s transition to full electrification. Easy2Recruit, an agency helping garages hire overseas talent, said investment in overall training will need to increase if the skills crisis is to end. It called such an investment the key to sustainable growth. The chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the £2 billion investment as part of the government’s modern industry strategy in her first Budget.
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Stellantis expands Opel, Peugeot, Citroën brands in Mpumalanga
Stellantis has expanded its multifranchise dealer network in South Africa with the introduction of Opel, Peugeot, and Citroën brands at a new McCarthy Kunene in eMalahleni (formerly Witbank), Mpumalanga. Stellantis said the expansion demonstrates its commitment to making these brands more accessible to customers. McCarthy Kunene is already home to the Fiat and Jeep brands. The expansion continues to bolster dealer representation across Mpumalanga in support of Stellantis’ ambitious plans as one of the largest importers in the South African motor industry.
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New FAG Repair Insert Unit with patented seal design for efficient repairs and improved fuel economy
Schaeffler Vehicle Lifetime Solutions (VLS) has introduced an updated version of its popular FAG Repair Insert Unit (RIU) for commercial vehicles. The pre-assembled unit is designed to make OE quality wheel bearing replacements simpler in truck, trailer and bus hubs. The new RIU can also extend maintenance intervals and has a patented sealing cap that helps to lower diesel consumption and CO2 emissions by reducing friction levels. The result: less time off the road means lower operating costs.
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Delphi Academy unveils expanded ‘OEM-level’ training centre
Delphi Academy has officially opened its doors following a major expansion project, setting a new standard in aftermarket training. With a £500,000 investment, the Academy now spans 1,430 square meters, making it one of Europe’s largest automotive training centres. Delphi’s training facility in Warwick has doubled in size by extending into a neighbouring unit, with the new wing dedicated specifically to training in hybrid, electric vehicle (EV), and hydrogen technologies.
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Our Virtual Academy backs campaign to boost EV work at independent garages
Our Virtual Academy, a leader in online and face-to-face automotive technical training, is backing the Garage Services Online ‘EV Edge’ campaign to help independent garages get the best return on their electric vehicle (EV) investment. With over 1.25 million EVs already on UK roads, the EV Edge initiative seeks to position independent garages as the preferred choice for hybrid and EV services by significantly enhancing their visibility to EV owners.
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