![Textar grows brake range](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Brake-pad-set.jpg)
Textar grows brake range
TMD Friction, through its Textar brand, has extended its wide range of brake pads for the European commercial vehicle (CV) market, introducing Brake Pad Set 2921101, which fits a Kögel Trax Trailer application.
Continue Reading![Lucas Batteries back on the motorsport scene](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Lucas.jpg)
Lucas Batteries back on the motorsport scene
As part of its ongoing awareness campaign, Ecobat Battery Technologies (Ecobat), the pan-European business behind Lucas Batteries, has catapulted the globally recognised brand back into the limelight as it takes its place on the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) grid for the 2020 season.
Continue ReadingIncrease in van sales a cause for optimism, says NFDA
For the first time in many months, there was an increase in registrations of light commercial vehicles, up to 3.5 tonnes, says the National Franchised Dealers Association. Sales of light commercials rose by 7.1 per cent in July with 27,701 units, according to the latest SMMT figures. Much of this is considered to be pent up demand for vehicles that would have been acquired earlier this year. Year to date, the market is down by -39.0 per cent.
Continue Reading![All-season tyre growth, especially for premium brands – GfK](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Alternative-All-Season-Image-with-Logo-Oct-2018-scaled.jpg)
All-season tyre growth, especially for premium brands – GfK
The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has made 2020 an annus horribilis for the UK car tyre market, with a near quarter-long lockdown slashing miles driven, original equipment sales due to prolonged factory closures, and reducing sales opportunities further with the government’s MOT exemption. However, tyre businesses have begun ramping up again in response to the reopening of business sectors, people returning to work, and the possibility that private car usage could become increasingly popular as commuters avoid public transport – though the trend for working from home could create more than a headwind for any growth in miles driven. Perhaps the greatest driver of UK car tyre sales growth in 2020 could be the projected spike in MOTs in the autumn, as the period of exemption expires for many pandemic affected motorists. Halfords Autocentres estimates that there could be an 85 per cent jump in demand for MOTs in October - click here for Tyrepresss own analysis of the MOT situation. Why is this important in a feature about all-season and winter tyres? As we are about to see, the all-season tyre segment continued its impressive growth over April 2019 - March 2020.
Continue Reading![First LCV market growth since January](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/July-LCV-reg-inforgraphic.png)
First LCV market growth since January
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has announced the first growth month for the UK’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market since January. There was a 7.1 per cent increase in registrations in July, with 27,701 new LCVs joined Britain’s roads.
Continue Reading![UK drivers increasingly buying cars online](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/carwow.png)
UK drivers increasingly buying cars online
UK motorists are some of the fastest adopters of online car buying, something that is rapidly becoming the new normal in Britain, Germany and Spain, according to research conducted by online car retailer carwow. A survey of over 1000 consumers who bought a car through carwow since dealerships were allowed to reopen found 54 per cent of recent the company’s customers in the UK said they would continue to do the bulk of their car buying online from now on. In Spain it was 45 per cent and it was 38 per cent in Germany.
Continue Reading![‘Return to form’ for car retailers](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NFDA-Logo.jpg)
‘Return to form’ for car retailers
July was the first month since the lockdown all dealerships across the UK were able to stay open through the whole month, a fact that is reflected by the uptick in car sales, Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said.
Continue Reading![Pirelli expanding all-season tyre range by 22 sizes](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pirelli-all-season-range.jpg)
Pirelli expanding all-season tyre range by 22 sizes
Pirelli is set to capitalise on the rising consumer interest in all-season tyres across Europe with an expansion to its range to cover more than 90 per cent of the market. Pirelli will introduce 22 new sizes between 16 and 19 inches in the Cinturato All Season Plus and Scorpion Verde All Season SF product ranges. All of these products are also available with Pirelli’s Seal Inside technology – a puncture protection layer added to the inside of the tyre to help extend mobility in case of damage. Pirelli adds that the new generation of premium all-season tyres has supported growth in the all-season tyre market, which in turn has seen more tyre manufacturers bring out a wider range of products. Tyres & Accessories asked Pirelli UK chairman and CEO Dominic Sandivasci about the latest European market trends, starting with the relationship between winter and all-seaosn tyres.
Continue ReadingDeloitte: growing new car registrations point towards ‘speedy recovery’
Following the news that UK new car registrations were up 11.3 per cent year-on-year in July, Michael Woodward, UK automotive lead, Deloitte, cautiously suggested the figures point towards a speedy recovery:
Continue Reading![Auto industry ‘far from out the woods’ despite car sales growth – KPMG](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/July-Fuel-2020-and-YTD-cars.jpg)
Auto industry ‘far from out the woods’ despite car sales growth – KPMG
Commenting on SMMT’s new car registration figures for the month of July, Andrew Burn, UK head of automotive at KPMG, said: “With social distancing measures easing and dealerships finally in a position to reopen, it’s great to see pent-up demand released and car registrations picking-up again. However, as the year-to-date figures make painfully clear, total lost sales in 2020 are expected to be £20bn, so in many ways it’s a case of damage limitation. We’re still a long way off pre-Covid-19 levels of sales.
Continue Reading![Pent-up demand helps UK new car registrations up 11.3%](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/July-car-reg-summary-infographic.png)
Pent-up demand helps UK new car registrations up 11.3%
New car registrations rose for the first time this year in July. The figure rose 11.3 per cent in the month, year-on-year, according to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures. 174,887 cars were registered in July 2020, supported by the first full month of trading for dealerships since February. July 2019 registrations were affected by declining business and consumer confidence undermined the market. Pent-up demand and special offers led to a reprieve for the sector, but overall registrations are still down by -41.9 per cent or 598,054 units year-to-date. Despite the increase in July, SMMT’s full year outlook is for a -30 per cent decline in registrations, representing more than £20 billion of lost sales.
Continue Reading![Goodyear expanding direct online tyre sales across Europe](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Goodyear-David-Anckaert-scaled-e1595502108588.jpg)
Goodyear expanding direct online tyre sales across Europe
Goodyear has been marketing its passenger car tyres in Germany directly to end users for fitting by a listed partner for roughly six months. And for years before that there has been a noticeable trend towards online selling. Following on from our online preview article, Tyres & Accessories’ German group publication Neue Reifenzeitung interviewed David Anckaert, vice president Commercial Europe at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and began by asking: is it too early to draw initial conclusions? And where’s next?
Continue Reading![TecAlliance’s Peter Hollowood retires](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PeterHollowoodPACT-scaled.jpg)
TecAlliance’s Peter Hollowood retires
TecAlliances Peter Hollowood has retired from an illustrious career in the automotive industry. Hollowood had worked for TecAlliance for more than 20 years, having previously run his own parts distribution business in Cheshire. Before this he held sales roles at CCI Triad (now Epicor). Mark Rudge is set to take up the mantle on an ongoing basis, assuming responsibility for TecAlliance Order Manager in the UK and Ireland, alongside his existing remit as eparts director at Fourth.
Continue Reading![Absolute Alignment partners Halfords Yuasa Racing in BTCC](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Absolute-Alignment-HYR-3.jpg)
Absolute Alignment partners Halfords Yuasa Racing in BTCC
Absolute Alignment has announced a new two-year partnership with the Team Dynamics-run Halfords Yuasa Racing outfit in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).
Continue Reading![Hankook UK appoints Kallaway TBR regional sales manager](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hankook_kallaway_TBR_Regional_Sales_Manager-scaled.jpg)
Hankook UK appoints Kallaway TBR regional sales manager
Hankook Tyre UK has appointed Shane Kallaway as truck and bus tyre regional sales manager for the South West. Kallaway succeeds Richard Ettey who has retired. Ettey leaves a long career in the tyre industry, with more than twelve years’ service at Hankook, and 40 years with Goodyear Dunlop in various roles.
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