‘Two tribes’ of trade buyers – Glass’s
A split between two tribes of trade buyers - those who buy almost entirely online and others who remain motor auction-based - is becoming increasingly apparent, says Glasss. The motor industry data market leader reports that there has been a noticeable hardening in the shape and attitude of both groups over the last year or so.
Continue Reading20 per cent of new cars registered are white
White is the number one car colour once again, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). White demand grew 2.2 per cent to 564,393 units in 2015. However, green saw the biggest uplift, with demand up 31.2 per cent to take seventh place in nation’s top 10.
Continue ReadingAlcohol experts ‘astonished and frustrated’ at lack of movement in drink-drive law
Following the Department for Transport’s announcement that they have no immediate plans to lower the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to the same as Scotland’s, alcohol safety experts have responded to the news as “astonishing” and stated that the Department for Transport is ignoring the facts.
Continue ReadingIMI offers apprenticeship targets inquiry assistance
Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is offering to help the Inquiry into the Government’s 2020 apprentices target, announced by the Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy. Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI, which champions the cause of apprentices, has written to the Chair of the Sub-Committee offering its extensive research into the issue. The IMI reports that the industry it represents needs 12,000 apprentices a year to stand still.
Continue ReadingMatt Neal sponsored by Delphi and The Parts Alliance
Three-time British Touring Car Champion Matt Neal, who is also known for being a director of leading British wheel-maker Rimstock Wheels, is being sponsored by Delphi Product and Service Solutions and The Parts Alliance.
Continue ReadingDmack said to be looking at UK production
At present, all Dmack tyres are manufactured in China. However if news published today by the News&Star is correct, Dmack production may begin in the UK within the next two years. The publication writes that “plans have been unveiled for a £200 million factory in Carlisle.” Tyrepress.com has reached out to Dmack for further details about this project and will publish them when they become available.
Continue ReadingGoodyear recertified as a ‘Top Employer’
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has been awarded Top Employers United Kingdom 2016 and Top Employers Europe 2016 certification by Netherlands-based organisation Top Employers Institute. The tyre maker’s UK business gained Top Employer certification along with Goodyear’s European headquarters and 11 other national and regional operations. This is the fourth consecutive year that Goodyear Dunlop has gained certification in the UK and Europe.
Continue ReadingSubmissions open for TyreSafe Awards 2016
UK tyre safety awareness organisation TyreSafe invites all road safety stakeholders to enter submissions for the TyreSafe Awards 2016. The awards are open to non-members of TyreSafe as well as its supporters and seek to recognise the work and achievements of those campaigning to raise awareness of tyre safety in the UK during 2015. Winners will be presented with their awards at an evening ceremony on 14 July.
Continue ReadingBridgestone expands UK golf sponsorship
Bridgestone UK’s tyre division is embarking on a golf sponsorship that it says is “quite unique to the UK tyre industry.” The sponsorship includes a European Tour event partnership, the resurrection of a high-profile English tournament and a nationwide amateur competition that reaches up to 1,900 golf clubs.
Continue ReadingPremium tyres fight back, yet margins remain headache in e-commerce era
An influx of new vehicle registrations has driven demand for premium car tyres upwards in the UK. Yet somewhat paradoxically, the price of these products has continued to fall, further impacting the margin retailers can make versus what they can expect on lower-priced products. Tyres & Accessories sat down with Micheldever wholesale director Alan Baldwin and wholesale marketing manager Rory Carlin to discuss the premium fightback and its symptoms for dealers. “Premium brands are absolutely in the ascendancy,” Baldwin says.
Continue ReadingTyrereviews.co.uk completes video tyre test on Michelin CrossClimate: video
The UK consumer-to-consumer reviews website for tyres, tyrereviews.co.uk published its first video tyre test at the beginning of 2016. Asking the question of whether there is a true all-season tyre, the test takes representative premium summer (Michelin Primacy 3), all-season (Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2), and winter (Continental WinterContact TS850) tyres, and adds the Michelin CrossClimate. […]
Continue ReadingBridgestone partners Aston Martin on DB11 project
With the Aston Martin DB11 set for its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, Bridgestone has announced that it is working with the famous brand on its project to create the replacement for the famed DB9.
Continue ReadingUp to 5000 automotive job vacancies in the UK
There could be as many as 5,000 job vacancies in the UK automotive industry due to a skills shortage affecting the sector, according to a new report published by the Automotive Council. The report, which was developed by automotive industry consultants SMMT Industry Forum on behalf of the Automotive Industrial Partnership, surveys a range of British-based automotive firms, from vehicle manufacturers to component suppliers, to identify the areas of employment most difficult to recruit, and provide an important means for industry and government to tackle the skills issue. Around 19 per cent of the unfilled vacancies cited in the report are identified as ‘critical’ and having a significant impact on company operations.
Continue ReadingUK trailer market up 25 per cent, setting new record
West European trailer market grew 13.4 per cent in 2015, but this strong growth was eclipsed by even stronger demand in the UK where the market’s 25 per cent growth not only outperformed the European average by almost 100 per cent, but also set an all-time record figure.
Continue ReadingMicheldever launches 4site4x4tyres.co.uk
Micheldever Tyre Services has launched 4site4x4tyres.co.uk - a new website designed to help the firm’s customers sell more 4x4 tyres as well as provide expert advice and guidance to 4x4 and SUV owners. The site follows in the footsteps of Micheldever’s successful TyreClick venture, which in many ways is the passenger car orientated equivalent. However, company representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the 4x4/SUV tyre sector demanded a greater emphasis on quality impartial technical advice.
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