Kwik Fit: Cost of living crisis affecting most drivers
Results of a survey conducted on behalf of Kwik Fit suggest 69 per cent of motorists have changed their driving behaviour since the beginning of the year. Altered habits include cutting down on ‘non-essential’ car journeys, something 35 per cent of the 2,000 respondents admitted to doing. Drivers of petrol or diesel cars are almost twice as likely to cut down on such trips, with 40 per cent doing so as opposed to 22 per cent of electric vehicle (EV) drivers.
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The UK’s leading retailers 2022 (#15 to #25) – New entries and stable growth
This year the top 25 table has been characterised by growth virtually across the board. However, something that stands out in positions 15 to 25 is that there have been a couple of new entries onto the ranking in addition to this. Exemplifying stability in the market, In ‘n’ Out Autocentres appears to have remained in 15th position with 27 branches.
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Martins acquires Checkpoint
Towards the end of April, tyre servicing equipment supplier Martins acquired UK company Checkpoint, which is known for its wheel security products. Checkpoint has 30 years of experience in the market that began with founder, CEO and inventor Mike Marczynski.
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MAHA UK starts exhibition run with ITT Hub appearance
A Tevva electric truck perched on one of Maha UK’s flagship lifts will be sure to stop ITT Hub visitors in their tracks, as the workshop equipment manufacturer continues its preparations for the event at Farnborough International.
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City 1st Tyres gains TruckForce Service Award
UK-based truck tyre specialists City 1st Tyres is one of five TruckForce partners that Goodyear has honoured with a TruckForce Service Award for the first quarter of 2022. Announcing the latest recipients, Goodyear states that City 1st Tyres and the other awardees across its pan-European network have “demonstrated exceptional service.”
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Kwik Fit extends Goodwood Festival of Speed partnership
Kwik Fit will be an Official Partner at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard (23-26 June 2022). The UK’s largest automotive servicing and repair network debuted in this role in 2021, and has promised “an even greater presence at the world’s biggest celebration of motorsport and car culture.” Kwik Fit will showcase its British Touring Car Championship activities and its expertise in car repair and electric vehicle technology from a bespoke Kwik Fit Centre.
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MOT interval madness as the business faces 1 million more tests in 2022
OTR tyres, seasonal tyres (such as winter and all-season products) and the tyre retail business are our key features this month. As important as the development of the OTR and seasonal tyre segments undoubtedly is, the combination of tectonic shifts in the UK tyre retail landscape and transport secretary Grant Shapps’ decision to once again suggest changing MOT frequency have stolen my column’s attention this month. On the latter point, NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay was understandably riled to learn that Shapps is retreading the meddling-with-the-MOT path (something readers can read more about in the UK section of Mays magazine). Either way, renewed focus on MOT protocol is firmly connected with the ongoing development of the tyre retail business.
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Biennial MOT testing in Northern Ireland a ‘significant threat to road safety’
An Independent garage has voiced concerns over proposals to move to biennial MOT testing following a Call for Evidence by the Northern Ireland Executive.
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1 million additional MOTs expected in 2022
In 2019 30.2 million MOTs were completed. That figure increased to 31.3 million in 2021 and it is expected to grow again in 2022. Specifically, over a million more MOTs are expected to be conducted this year compared to 2019, according to SecretService.
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Lumileds supplies Coventry College with Philips lighting equipment
In what is set to be the first steps of a wider national initiative, Lumileds is delighted to have partnered with Coventry College’s Motor Vehicle Department for the supply of Philips vehicle lighting and workshop equipment. Coventry has long been one of the UK’s main centres for vehicle manufacturing and general automotive business, so it is fitting that Lumileds has been able to forge a link to the next generation of automotive technicians and engineers through Coventry College.
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WheelySafe does the business for A-Star Transport
A-Star Transport has already saved itself a potentially costly breakdown since protecting its fleet of coaches and buses with Wheely-Safe’s latest generation technology. The Telford-based operator has fitted Wheely-Safe’s wheel loss and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to its vehicles, having been impressed with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the product.
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Hilllhead 2022 ready for blast-off
The organisers of Hillhead 2022, a frequent meeting point for OTR tyre suppliers, have signalled the start of the countdown to the 21-23 June event with a bang. Carried out by EPC-UK, two sections of the quarry face in the Demonstration area at the north end of the site were recently drilled and blasted to produce around 30,000 tonnes of run-of-quarry stone for equipment demonstration purposes at this year’s show.
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Klarius claims ‘best UK car parc coverage’ for exhausts
Staffordshire based aftermarket exhausts supplier Klarius claims it is “pulling away” from competition in its market-leading position. The company says it offers “the widest range of aftermarket exhausts in the UK and the largest stockholding in Europe” and can “support the needs of almost any vehicle.” It supports this stockholding with next morning UK delivery to distributors and stockists. “Klarius has the best UK car parc coverage of any aftermarket exhaust manufacturer,” says James Ellison, sales director at Klarius.
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Point S welcomes Nigel Hampson
Following the news that the Point S Tyre & Autocare Network has appointed Nigel Hampson as business development/project manager, the growing tyre retail group has officially welcome their latest personnel addition and given further details of what he will be doing in his recent appointment.
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Longer MOT test intervals mean increased not reduced cost – IAAF
Following the NTDA’s swift rebuttal of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ suggestions that longer MOT test intervals may help with the cost of living crisis, Mark Field, IAAF chief executive, has argued that the opposite is actually true:
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