![Britishvolt chooses Mira for new global headquarters](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/britishvolt.on_.png)
Britishvolt chooses Mira for new global headquarters
Advanced battery technology investor Britishvolt has announced its plans to make the Mira Technology Park Campus near Coventry the home of its 5000sqm global headquarters. The company wants its new HQ to be fully operational by 2022. The news follows the UK government’s decision to bring forward its ban on the production of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Britishvolt said the facility, in the traditional heartland of the country’s automotive industry, will spearhead the development of battery technologies for future electrified vehicles. Britishvolt adds that it wants to expand the site further to “bring highly skilled and specialist jobs to the West Midlands.” The company wants to build the UK’s first battery gigaplant, supporting the vehicle parc’s transition to electric engines. It is targeting the fourth quarter of 2023 to begin production, having signed an MoU with the Welsh government in 2020.
Continue Reading![Four out of five consumers changing tyre shopping behaviour](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pexels-craig-adderley-1563355-scaled.jpg)
Four out of five consumers changing tyre shopping behaviour
Following what was generally regarded as an insightful presentation on the impact of coronavirus on global, European and UK tyre markets, the panel for our “New Tyres in Corona-World” Virtual Tyre Industry Conference 2020 session (James Ward, senior insight manager, GfK; Andrea Manenti, VP north region, Bridgestone; and Pravesh Amtha, Sales General Manager Consumer UK&I, Goodyear) moved into a discussion relating to how manufacturers are working on creatively supporting the tyre trade in the face of the second lockdown and ongoing pandemic- and economy-related complications.
Continue Reading![UK car manufacturing down 18% in October](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SMMT-car-exporting-sml.jpg)
UK car manufacturing down 18% in October
According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car manufacturing output fell 18.2 per cent in October. 110,179 units left UK factories during the month, 24,490 fewer cars than were made in October 2019, with the impact of coronavirus and fresh lockdowns at home and overseas subduing demand in many key markets.
Continue Reading![Polarised brand tier growth in UK van tyre market](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/FORD_2020_Go-Electric_Transit_073-scaled.jpg)
Polarised brand tier growth in UK van tyre market
While van manufacturers have been both developing their electric portfolios and sustaining a double-digit sales contraction in a pandemic affected market, the picture for van tyre suppliers is certainly not as hostile. As we will see in this feature, the requirements of e-commerce and electric vehicles are providing new impetus to van tyre suppliers in the medium term. But 2020 UK figures generated by market data analyst GfK’s Point of Sales Tracking show that the segment is faring better than many with the travails of this year. At the same time, several trends are coalescing to improve the fortunes of van tyre suppliers.
Continue Reading![Record response rate to motorcycle dealer survey](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ducati-superleggera-v4-scaled.jpg)
Record response rate to motorcycle dealer survey
The National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) has published details of its Autumn 2020 Dealer Attitude Survey (DAS). Paddy O’Connell, Head of the NMDA, revealed that the response rate was the highest ever, at 31 per cent; something that he describes as “very positive” and indicative that a growing number of dealers see the survey as an important and useful channel to provide feedback on the business relationship with their manufacturers.
Continue Reading![Fall in UK motor industry R&D spending](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/820_earth_globe-scaled-e1602237485165.jpg)
Fall in UK motor industry R&D spending
Analysis of the latest data from the Office of National Statistics by R&D tax relief specialists Catax shows that R&D spending in the UK motor industry has slumped 9 per cent annually. Total motor sector spending on R&D fell to £3.42bn last year, a decrease of £338m from a record high of £3.75bn registered a year earlier. The industry now employs 22,000 people directly involved in R&D, however, the latest spending figure is a dramatic turnaround from the 4.2 per cent increase seen in 2018.
Continue Reading![Tyre sales down, but not as much as feared – GfK](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Panel.png)
Tyre sales down, but not as much as feared – GfK
5 November saw the inaugural virtual Tyre Industry Conference, with Tyres & Accessories bringing the traditional annual conference into the virtual arena due to Covid-19 restrictions. Produced in association with the NTDA and supported by Cam Systems, our expert panel was comprised of James Ward, senior insight manager, GfK; Andrea Manenti, VP north region, Bridgestone; and Pravesh Amtha, sales general manager Consumer UK&I, Goodyear. The wide-ranging 45-minute conversation covered a lot of bases, but the first session, which was designed to focus on the new tyre market’s recent trends and statistics began with a presentation from James Ward.
Continue Reading![Northern Ireland car dealers facing steep price increase](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tlo_biz83a-scaled-e1602237521703.jpg)
Northern Ireland car dealers facing steep price increase
Over the past weeks, the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has written to HMRC and a number of MPs to highlight that under post-Brexit EU VAT rules, the sale price of a significant proportion of used vehicles in Northern Ireland (NI) will be subject to a 20 per cent increase for stock purchased in Great Britain (GB). NFDA has urged HMRC to resolve the issue before the end of the year to avoid a major impact on NI and GB vehicle dealers as well as consumers.
Continue Reading![PRA slams government road pricing proposal](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/820_earth_globe-scaled-e1602237485165.jpg)
PRA slams government road pricing proposal
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has reacted with a mixture of horror and dismay to the suggestion that road pricing could be introduced to cover the loss of revenue from fuel taxation when petrol and diesel cars are phased out. PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: “We are deeply concerned about the government’s potential road pricing proposals. It is unfathomable that the government would introduce a measure that would only succeed in discriminating against the poorest in society.
Continue Reading![IMI launches 2021 MOT training and assessment options](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/MOT-Tester-training-and-assessment-scaled.jpg)
IMI launches 2021 MOT training and assessment options
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has launched its MOT Training and Assessment package for 2021. With a focus on e-Learning, the three-hour training also gives technicians the opportunity to retake the assessment up to three times if they’re not happy with their score on first or second attempt.
Continue Reading![Police arrest two in connection with Bradford fire](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/820_earth_globe-scaled-e1602237485165.jpg)
Police arrest two in connection with Bradford fire
Two people described as a 59-year old man and a 48-year old woman from Harrogate have been arrested in connection with the Bradford tyre fire. The Bradford Telegraph & Argus reports they were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, and that both have been released on bail following police interviews. Detective Superintendent Sarah Jones of Bradford District Police told the paper that the investigation is “in its early stages,” but assured the local community, which continues to be disrupted by the fire, that “any criminal acts will be appropriately dealt with.” She appealed for those with information about the fire to assist the police with their enquiries. If any of our readers have any information, they can contact Bradford District CID on 101 quoting crime reference 13200575916, or pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Continue Reading![Petrol and diesel ban brought forward](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pexels-pixabay-315938-scaled.jpg)
Petrol and diesel ban brought forward
The UK will end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, a decade earlier than planned. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out the plans as part of a wider 10 point plan for a so-called for a “green industrial revolution”. However, the sale of hybrid cars and vans that can drive “a significant distance with no carbon coming out of the tailpipe” will remain until 2035.
Continue Reading![End exemptions to prevent future incidents – TRA reacts to Bradford tyre fire](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Bradford-Tyre-Fire.jpg)
End exemptions to prevent future incidents – TRA reacts to Bradford tyre fire
The tyre fire started in the early hours of Monday morning in Bradford continued to cause disruption in the local area as thirteen schools were forced to remain closed on Tuesday. Trains remained unable to access the city’s Interchange and thick smoke reached as far away as neighbouring city Leeds, as the severe effects of the fire continued into a second day despite its containment by fire crews. A previous occupant of the site, karting charity OnTrack, confirmed to the Telegraph & Argos that it had removed “everything” it owned when it left Spring Mill Street in mid-2019. Considering the Environment Agency (EA) was probing potentially illegal activity at the site in July 2020, evidence is building that the waste tyres fuelling the blaze were stored improperly. Tyres & Accessories asked Peter Taylor, the secretary general of the Tyre Recovery Association, who warned of the dangers of a rise in non-compliant stockpiling earlier in the year, whether the incident shows that changes are needed in the way regulations governing waste tyre storage are enforced.
Continue Reading![Absolute Alignment stocks up](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Absolute-Alignment-stocks-up-to-meet-demand.jpg)
Absolute Alignment stocks up
Absolute Alignment is preparing for the continued impacts of the pandemic and Brexit by increasing stock in order to ensure customers have an uninterrupted service despite the uncertainties ahead. The Farnborough-based outfit has doubled again its amount of storage space for stock, employed further members of staff, and is preparing for Brexit by increasing the number of wheel aligners that will be readily available to customers in early 2021. Despite the pandemic, the demand for its wheel alignment equipment is higher than ever, making 2020 a record year for the company.
Continue Reading![Suspected illegal storage at Bradford tyre fire site reported in July](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Bradford-fire-2-e1605530580433.jpg)
Suspected illegal storage at Bradford tyre fire site reported in July
The site of the Bradford tyre fire which broke out in the early hours of 16 November causing disruption to the local area was investigated earlier in 2020 by the Environment Agency. Local newspaper the Telegraph & Argos reported on 14 July that a local resident had reported the former Ontrak karting circuit to the EA’s Incident Hotline, and that the agency had subsequently started a probe. Go-kart circuits are permitted to use up to 40 tonnes of waste tyres as crash barriers if they obtain the relevant exemption permit. However, pictures taken by the Telegraph & Argos in July also show high stacks of baled tyres that do not resemble karting safety walls. Tyres & Accessories searched the EA’s Public Registers of Waste Exemptions and Environmental Permits but found no evidence of permits or either the S2 or T8 permits required to legally store waste tyres registered to the former circuit’s address. Meanwhile, the site’s owner, Jak Yakoob of used car dealer The Car Empire, which backs onto the tyre fire site, told the Telegraph & Argos in July that the site’s new tenant had agreed to clear the waste tyres from the site. The EA’s spokesman said its officers were investigating the Spring Mill Street site’s operators and were “seeking to determine if an offence has been committed so that appropriate enforcement action may be taken.”
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