Under pressure – VRA survey shows 47% ‘facing work-life balance issues’
Nobody would argue with the statement that the times in which we are currently living are unprecedented, both in our commercial and everyday lives. We are having to face a constant barrage of new challenges to our usual ways of doing business, taking account of changes – some seemingly conflicting – in legislation and recommended working practices. There is much talk about ‘the new normal’ as people and companies try to adapt to different ways of working. Lockdowns and social distancing have added to the pressure felt by many, with staff being furloughed and told to stay at home for many weeks – in effect being paid not to work.
Continue ReadingEcobat Battery Technologies upgrades fleet
Ecobat Battery Technologies (Ecobat) has upgraded its fleet of delivery vehicles. The battery supplier has added 11 new vehicles to its fleet, which will deliver batteries from all 16 of Ecobat’s sites across the UK and Ireland.
Continue ReadingNFDA electric vehicle group debates key EV issues
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) EV group was established in 2019 to support dealers’ efforts in the EV sector and, in turn, provide NFDA with feedback on the key issues facing the industry that the association can use in support of its lobbying efforts with the relevant Government departments. The launch of the EV Group coincided with the significant growth of the NFDA’s Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) scheme launched by NFDA and endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) as well as the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) in 2019.
Continue ReadingTyre Boss becomes official UK Techking agent
Bridgend’s Tyre Boss has become the UK agent for Techking Tires. The Qingdao, China based tyre manufacturer is a specialist in OTR tyre segments, fitted to heavy machinery in a variety of applications. Its new UK agent has pressed on with ambitious growth and expansion plans in 2020. Its latest development follows the acquisition of two warehouses, a large tyre press and a successful ISO audit so far this year.
Continue ReadingFraikin appoints Prometeon as preferred tyre supplier
Fraikin signed a three-year truck and trailer tyre supply deal with Prometeon. Prometeon will supply and manager Pirelli and Formula brand tyres for Fraikin’s fleet of 3,100 rigids, tractors and trailers. Fraikin is no stranger to Pirelli and Formula tyres, having fitted them between 2006 and 2017. Fraikin has also previously worked with Bandvulc and ATS Euromaster.
Continue ReadingHamaton launches new H56 TPMS tool
Following the release of the H36, H46 and H47, Hamaton has teamed up with ATEQ once again to launch the new H56 TPMS tool. According to the company, the H56 boasts the same great features as ATEQs all-in-one VT56 but comes with free software updates for five years (which cease if you upgrade to the all-sensor option). The five-year deal offers four more years than its counterpart.
Continue Reading12.5 million motorists may have skipped car service due to COVID-19
A third of UK motorists (32%) have put off getting their car serviced because COVID-19 financial pressure, according to BookMyGarage.com. BookMyGarage surveyed 10,000 of its subscribers and found that, in addition, a similar number (29%) of drivers delayed servicing procedures simply because their car had covered far fewer miles during lockdown.
Continue ReadingIGA publishing Garage Guide to Online Presence
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is releasing a Garage Guide to Online Presence to help independent garages promote their own image and online presence without relying on third-parties. The 68-page guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to develop company branding, set up a website and social media pages, create Google Business and Maps listings, learn about online marketing methods, collect analytics and respond to reviews.
Continue ReadingTym International ceases trading, RH Claydon takes over Triangle OTR and truck tyre distribution
Tym International will cease trading from 30 October 2020, effectively winding up the tyre import and wholesale business specialising in Far Eastern-produced and OTR tyres. Writing in a letter dated 8 September, managing director Steve Eke explained “the decision to cease has been forced upon the company by others that control the majority of the shares in the business”. Tyres & Accessories understands that the combination of recent business pressures caused by EU anti-dumping truck tyre tariffs and then coronavirus caused major shareholders to withdraw their investment.
Continue ReadingTyreSafe names online briefing speakers
TyreSafe has named the speakers for its first fully online briefing on Thursday 17 September at 14:00.
Continue ReadingInsurance, risk and the tyre industry: Tyrepress talks to Ben Harrison, vice president, Marsh Commercial
The majority of industries across the UK have been impacted by the effect of COVID-19 and – with up to 60 per cent of garages closed during lockdown – the tyre industry is no exception. Prevailing market conditions combined with the complexity of the pandemic’s damage means that insurers have reduced their risk exposure and overall capacity. This, combined with newer pressures on the horizon, has provided tyre companies with a rationale for bolstering their risk management measures in order to avoid costly and time-consuming slip-ups down the line. Tyres & Accessories spoke with Ben Harrison, vice president, Marsh Commercial in order to find out more.
Continue ReadingSUV tyre prices in the corona context: Channel makes more difference than brand
4x4 tyre sales may have fallen due to the effects of coronavirus and lockdown, but prices in certain key sizes are actually higher than they were before those challenges presented themselves at the start of the year. Tyres & Accessories spoke to tyre market and pricing data experts Encircle Marketing in order to find out more. This article will appear in full in the September edition of Tyres & Accessories. Not yet a subscriber? You can change that here.
Continue ReadingTransaid ambassadors to ride 500km route virtually to raise vital funds
Transaid ambassadors Guy Heywood (Hankook) and Marcio Bonifacio (Z Tech Control Systems) are determined to raise vital funds for the charity despite the pandemic-enforced postponement of two major cycling events. The pair will complete the planned 507km route of the 2020 Transaid Malawi Challenge virtually between Wednesday 9 and Sunday 13 September. They will use SMART bike trainers and the Zwift cycling app from their homes in Frankfurt and Cambridge to simulate 10km of climbing and between 15 and 18 hours of riding. Heywood told Tyres & Accessories that the pair are trying to raise enough in sponsorship to buy two cycle ambulances or to fund a health care worker in Africa for one year. Thanks to the technology, Heywood assured T&A that the riders would “suffer suitably to justify any support given!” Click here to support Guy and Marcio in helping Transaid to continue its mobility and new health projects in Sub Saharan Africa, including new initiatives focusing on Covid-19, gender-based violence and malaria.
Continue ReadingLaufenn launch makes Hankook more holistic commercial tyre supplier
The launch of the second-line Laufenn brand onto the European commercial vehicle tyre market has rounded out Hankook’s offer to fleet customers. Offering a second tier brand – alongside a growing retreading programme via its Alphatread range – can both allow the manufacturer a more extensive product range to cater to each customer’s entire fleet, and also allow Hankook to capitalise on the growing interest in more value-oriented products. The new tyres, which give Laufenn itself impressive market coverage, also help to emphasise one of Hankook’s competitive advantages; the proportion of products under three years old in its TBR portfolio. The timing of the launch could also help to address the economic strife felt by the logistics sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Featured in the September issue of Tyres & Accessories, we spoke with Guy Heywood, Hankook’s European marketing and strategy director for its truck and bus business, and UK sales director Paul Emery about how the introduction of Laufenn will help to develop the tyre manufacturer’s commercial business in the UK and Europe. This article will appear in full in the September edition of Tyres & Accessories. Not yet a subscriber? You can change that here.
Continue Reading4×4 tyre sales down 6%
4x4 retail tyre sales have long been a growth area and the UK market constitutes one of the leading lights in Europe. More recent growth has been driven by similarly strong SUV vehicle sales as well as consumer switches towards all-season products. At the same time, more practical and off-road-orientated vehicles have also been supporting 4x4 tyre sales. This article will appear in full in the September edition of Tyres & Accessories. Not yet a subscriber? You can change that here.
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