![So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye EU](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/close-up-of-human-hand-327540.jpg)
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye EU
As the February 2020 issue of Tyres & Accessories goes to press, the United Kingdom is officially leaving the European Union after three years of intense dispute and debate. At the same time, 2019 wasn’t a great year for the automotive and tyre industries (see page 36 onwards for further details of what has transpired during the last 12 months). And with a no-deal scenario presenting the possibility of import tariffs on and parts, 2020 doesn’t look like it is going to be a whole bunch better. However, while the disappointing performance of the car and tyre markets is linked to Brexit, the issues are not one and the same.
Continue Reading![Horiba MIRA: Radical rethink of R&D investment required in 2020](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Radical-rethink-Geoff-Davis-Resized.jpg)
Horiba MIRA: Radical rethink of R&D investment required in 2020
Continued disruption, restructuring and re-shaping of the automotive industry will be required to make increasing levels of R&D affordable whilst simultaneously representing a major growth opportunity in the year ahead, according to engineering consultancy Horiba MIRA.
Continue ReadingCAM’s new online payment gateway described as Brexit ready
CAM is introducing a new online payment gateway in April 2020 that will align with future trading conditions to be negotiated between the UK and its EU trading country partners in the months ahead. It will also meet the SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) Regulation, part of the EU Revised Directive on Payment Services, which came into force on 14 September 2019, aimed at reducing fraudulent crime associated with online debit and credit card payments.
Continue Reading![Bridgestone’s Turanza T005 “reinventing the wheel”](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1EM2122.jpg)
Bridgestone’s Turanza T005 “reinventing the wheel”
Bridgestone claims its Turanza T005 is reinventing the wheel after the tyre received critical acclaim in the year or so since it’s launch. In 2018, the world’s number largest tyre and rubber company introduced its Turanza T005 touring tyre to the market, delivering wet performance and fuel economy, combined with high mileage, to give drivers full control in challenging daily situations.
Continue ReadingNFDA’S Drive My Career initiative reaches 2.5m 16-24 year-olds in 2019
Drive My Career is an industry-first employment initiative which was launched to address franchised retailers’ concerns that not many young people generally consider the automotive retail sector as an option for their professional careers.
Continue Reading![UK car production falls 14.2 per cent in 2019](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SMMT-UK-car-manufacturing-1972-2019.png)
UK car production falls 14.2 per cent in 2019
UK car production fell -14.2 per cent in 2019, to 1,303,135 units, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), with a -6.4 per cent drop in December rounding off a third year of decline. Output was affected by multiple factors, including weakened consumer and business confidence at home, slower demand in key overseas markets, a number of significant model production changes and a shift from diesel across Europe. Factory shutdowns in the spring and autumn, timed to mitigate expected disruption arising from the anticipated departure of the UK from the EU on 29 March and 31 October, also had a marked effect.
Continue Reading![Birmingham the UK’s most expensive city for car owners](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mclaren-autosport-sml.jpg)
Birmingham the UK’s most expensive city for car owners
Research carried out for Kwik Fit suggests that Birmingham is the UK’s most expensive city for car ownership. According to the results, Brummies pay almost twice as much for the privilege as residents of Exeter do.
Continue ReadingNI infrastructure minister announces reviews
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon announced reviews into the MOT fiasco during a visit to DVA’s Boucher Road test centre on 28 January. Speaking from the test centre, Minister Mallon said: “I have just been in speaking with staff here at the Boucher Road DVA centre. Staff are working tirelessly on the frontline to process priority customers and to communicate with the public. However, I have acted decisively to minimise disruption.”
Continue ReadingNI MOT Crisis: Minister confirms installation of two new lifts
Two new MOT lifts are being installed in DVA test centres in a bid to increase MOT capacity in Northern Ireland. The MOT process ground to a halt on 27 January 2020 when more 85 per cent of DVA lifts were deemed unsafe. Nevertheless, replacing MOT lifts is still likely to take months.
Continue Reading![UK car drivers increasingly interested in all-season tyres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Rezulteo.png)
UK car drivers increasingly interested in all-season tyres
Evidence from a number of market research sources concurs – increasing numbers of motorists are choosing all-season tyres for their cars. The first indication came from GfK data, which compared the percentage growth of all-season tyre sales reported by its UK panelmarket (in terms of volume and value) in 2018 with seasonal tyre sales during 2019. Winter tyre sales volumes were down 1 per cent last year. During the same period, winter tyre values fell three times faster (down 3 per cent).
Continue Reading![Q-Park partners with Sigmavision and MotaGoGo](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Mailbox-4.jpg)
Q-Park partners with Sigmavision and MotaGoGo
Premium city parking firm Q-Park has partnered with MotaGoGo, a consumer-facing tread scanning service, who have installed a tread scanner giving customers a free tyre check when they visit the Mailbox car park in Birmingham city centre.
Continue Reading![First Stop partners with world’s fastest Shed](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/FS-Shed.jpg)
First Stop partners with world’s fastest Shed
Kevin Nicks, Guinness world record holder and creator of the world’s fastest Shed, has partnered with First Stop. Amongst other things the partnership involves the placing a First Stop hoarding on the front of the Shed.
Continue Reading![New Year, new exhausts for Klarius](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Klarius274_NTRD19_Pic1_PR5939_56281.jpg)
New Year, new exhausts for Klarius
Klarius Products is starting 2020 as it means to go on: with several new emissions control components to fit popular vehicle applications. The new components are primarily aimed at hatchbacks.
Continue Reading![Falken’s new A-rated Sincera SN110 tyre targets mass market cars](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/sincera.jpg)
Falken’s new A-rated Sincera SN110 tyre targets mass market cars
Falken will launch its new Sincera SN110 car tyre in the UK from mid-March 2020 in 49 sizes for 14-16” wheels. The manufacturer said that it aims to “bring the wear and wet grip benefits normally found in top-of-the-range tyres to cost-conscious customers driving mass market cars.” The tyre has achieved A rated wet grip performance on the EU tyre label. Falken says this shows the tyre has not compromised on safety to achieve the tyre’s increased longevity.
Continue Reading![NI MOT crisis: Lift replacement could take months](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DVA-Lifts.jpg)
NI MOT crisis: Lift replacement could take months
24 hours after all passenger car and light vehicle MOTs were halted in Northern Ireland (NI), it has emerged that replacement of the fault lifts at the centre of the crisis could take months and cost millions of pounds. Indeed, if all 55 vehicle lifts across Northern Ireland need to be replaced, with new lifts costing between £30,000 and £40,000 each (according DVA chief executive Paul Duffy quoted in multiple sources), the total cost will be between £1.65 million to £2.2 million.
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