Quick Lane Reading invests £40,000 in MOT equipment
Quick Lane Reading, the tyre and autocentre chain’s first franchise branch, has made a £40,000 investment into new MOT test equipment.
Continue ReadingHalfords Autocentres offers “brakes for life”
Halfords Autocentres Brakes4Life lifetime guarantee gives motorists free replacement brake pads or shoes for as long as they drive – even when they replace their car.
Continue ReadingUK automotive production drops again as investment dries up
Another blow on the automotive industry’s chin as we inch closer towards a no-deal Brexit. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released its latest UK manufacturing figures, and they make a depressing read. British car manufacturing output fell by more than a fifth in the first half of 2019, while commercial vehicle production was down more than 16 per cent and engine production almost 11 per cent. KPMG considers these numbers “worrying.”
Continue ReadingIAAF joins forces with IPO for Counterfeit Awareness 2019
Wendy Williamson, chief executive of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF), has lent further support in the fight against fake goods, when she attended Counterfeit Awareness 2019 in Bristol on July 4, in conjunction with IPO.
Continue ReadingTrico and Mafco Autobar reveal ‘perfect summer’ promotion
Trico has joined forces with Mafco Autobar to launch a sizzling summer giveaway, offering customers the opportunity to win fantastic prizes – perfect for the hot weather – and everyone’s a guaranteed winner when they purchase Trico wiper blades via Mafco Autobar.
Continue ReadingBBIF urges aftermarket to help promote battery industry
The British Battery Industry Federation (BBIF) is calling upon the automotive industry to join its ranks and lend support to its campaign after meeting with Government to discuss misrepresentation of batteries.
Continue ReadingMichelin fits first sets of new multi-purpose CrossGrip tyre
Buckinghamshire-based Energy Generator Hire has become the first customer in the UK to specify Michelin’s CrossGrip tyre, fitting nine JCB telehandlers with the new multi-purpose fitment that is designed for operation on roads, grass and in the snow. The company provides specialist generator equipment for outdoor events, with past clients including BBC Hyde Park and the Wilderness Festival. It saw the potential for Michelin’s new 400/80 R24 CrossGrip tyres to help ensure grass remains in pristine condition on sites where its telehandlers are working, having Exelagri dealer Farol Tyres convert its fleet from their existing competitor fitments.
Continue ReadingHella receives innovation award for dual voltage battery management system
Lighting and electronics expert, Hella, received the AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award 2019 in the Powertrain category; a joint award given by the Centre of Automotive Management (CAM) and the auditing and consulting firm PwC.
Continue ReadingTop racing talent attends TerraClean karting event
TerraClean ambassador and triple BTCC champion Colin Turkington, together with Renault UK Clio Cup driver Ben Colburn, impressed the TerraClean network recently by attending – and taking part in – the TerraClean Karting Event 2019.
Continue ReadingBen releases 12 September Charity Cricket Match details
This year’s Ben Charity Cricket Match, sponsored by FPS Distribution, is taking place at Dorridge Cricket Club on Thursday 12 September 2019. The organisers states that it has been pleased with the initial response, but would welcome more participants.
Continue ReadingNext IAAF Industry Briefing to take place at Haynes Motor Museum
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has revealed details of its next Industry Briefing Session, which will be held at Haynes International Motor Museum in Sparkford, near Yeovil on 31 October. Guest speakers will include Quentin Le Hetet from GiPA UK and Train 4 Auto Consultancy’s Director Steve Carter, who will be sharing the latest developments in technology which are set to dramatically re-shape the future of the industry.
Continue ReadingFormer World Rally Championship tyre supplier in administration
Carlisle-based tyre sales operation Technology Sinon UK Limited, the name of D Mack Global Limited since 19 December 2018, has entered administration with debts totalling more than £14 million pounds, according to its administrator Leonard Curtis. The company, which operated within the DMACK group of companies, was a supplier of tyres to the World Rally Championship from 2011, running its own team in the championship in association with M-Sport, until 2017. Shares in Technology Sinon UK are split between director Dick Cormack (70 per cent), a former Pirelli manager who set up the business in 2011, MEMW Management Limited (25 per cent), and Glenn Paterson (5 per cent), who has left the company after holding a variety of roles within the firm. The administrator reports that, as of 14 May, Technology Sinon UK owed just over £13 million to its list of creditors. Dmack brand rally tyres continue to be manufactured by DMack Srl, formed by Dick Cormack in 2018 when a deal was struck with Marangoni for operations to begin at the Italian tyre manufacturer’s plant in Rovereto.
Continue ReadingNew chapter in politics parallels new chapter in UK automotive manufacturing
As we all now know, Boris Johnson became the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister on 24 July. The first thing he did was replace almost the entire cabinet, with a reshuffle of unprecedented proportions. Next, he gave his maiden speech on the steps of 10 Downing Street, with an address that sought to build a platform for economic and political optimism against the recent backdrop of Brexit stagnation. Not only will we leave the EU by 31 October, we are going to do it in style, he effectively said. In doing so, Boris – as he is affectionately known – revealed as much about the changing nature of the automotive manufacturing industry and its suppliers as he did about British politics.
Continue ReadingScotlands Ash increases donation to Teenage Cancer Trust
Didcot-based Scotlands Ash Garage has now raised a staggering £10,000 to date as it continues to deliver on its pledge to donate £1 to Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) for every MOT it undertakes.
Continue ReadingService & repair comparison site AutoAdvisor.co.uk sets out vision
Founders of new car repair comparison site AutoAdvisor.co.uk have outlined their vision for a modern automotive aftermarket and called on other sites to be more transparent about their practices. AutoAdvisor.co.uk has been set up by motor factor personnel, supplying garages on a daily basis for more than 30 years.
Continue Reading