Andrew Page hails best ever quarter
Andrew Page Group has reported a record quarter in 1Q 2015. Following a record-breaking year in 2014, Andrew Page says the firm is continuing to grow its business, with March being the company’s best ever trading month in its 98-year history. Jim Sumner, chairman commented: The group’s sales continue to grow at a phenomenal rate, exceeding all expectations. The team should be very proud about what has been achieved and excited about the rest of the year and beyond.
Continue Reading![Kwik Fit benefiting from increased mechanical work](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/24094.jpg)
Kwik Fit benefiting from increased mechanical work
Kwik Fit reports that it is seeing fleet demand for its range of mechanical services increasing and is forecasting further growth in 2015. According to the company, the catalyst for growth was the opening of 20 Kwik Fit Plus centres. Indeed, Kwik Fit Plus centres are said to form a key part of parent company Itochu Corporations ongoing network-wide multi-million pound refurbishment and modernisation programme.
Continue ReadingIAAF successfully challenges BMW under Block Exemption
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has successfully challenged BMW after the car-making giant refused to honour the warranty on a vehicle that was serviced and repaired outside of the BMW main dealer network. The BMW 318i, which was less than three years old, was presented to a BMW dealership in Hampshire after it broke down due to a problem caused by the oil filter overheating the engine. After inspecting the damage, BMW said it would not repair the vehicle because the oil filter was a non-manufacturer part and it didn’t have any record of the vehicle ever being serviced within the manufacturer network.
Continue Reading“86 per cent of fleets have had an accident in past year” – IAM report
The Institute of Advanced Motorists Drive & Survive division has been investigating the true extent of company car accidents – and found a shocking 86 per cent of fleets have experienced an accident in the past 12 months, while 100 per cent of fleets have had an accident at some time where one of their drivers was at fault. The findings come in IAM Drive & Survives first report of the year, titled An analysis of bent metal amongst company fleets.
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Trax wins 1 million euro Renault aftersales contract in France
British wheel balancing weight manufacturer Trax has won a contract to supply balance weights to Motrio in France. According to Trax, the Motrio business is worth some 1 million euros over the next three years and will further strengthen the supply of Trax weights into France and the European market.
Continue Reading![UK car registrations hit ‘21st century high’ in March](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/SMMT-new-car-registrations-March-2015.jpg)
UK car registrations hit ‘21st century high’ in March
March 2015 was the best month for car registrations in Britain since twice-yearly number plate changes were introduced in 1999, reports the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. A total of 492,774 cars were registered last month, 6.0 per cent more than a year earlier. The SMMT says “new products and attractive finance packages, underpinned by low interest rates” helped deliver this record result. Growth was led by the fleet sector, which experienced year-on-year growth of 11.6 per cent. A total of 734,588 new cars were registered in the UK during the first three months of 2015, 6.8 per cent more than in the first quarter of last year.
Continue ReadingSentencing a ‘clear message to tyre retailers’, says TyreSafe
The suspended sentence and hefty bill handed to a Lincolnshire tyre dealer should serve as a warning to the rest of the industry, opines TyreSafe. Commenting on the sentencing passed on Luke McKenzie two days ago, organisation chairman Stuart Jackson said the sentence “represents a clear message to tyre retailers across the UK.” Jackson added that TyreSafe is “pleased to see that motorists are being protected from illegal and sub-standard products that will endanger lives.”
Continue ReadingSuspended sentence, fine for unsafe tyre seller
A Lincolnshire-based part-worn tyre retailer convicted of supplying unsafe tyres has been given a nine-month suspended sentence and has been ordered to pay prosecution costs totalling more than £26,000. Luke McKenzie, who sold part-worn tyres from Moss Tyres in Grantham, was found guilty in February of 16 charges related to the possession of unsafe products for sale. In addition to the suspended sentence, McKenzie is also required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Continue Reading![McConechy’s Tyres acquires new van fleet](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/McConechys-Tyres.jpg)
McConechy’s Tyres acquires new van fleet
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles has supplied a new fleet of 34 Sprinter vans to Scotland’s largest independent garage chain, Ayr-based McConechy’s Tyre Service Ltd. The vans are now working across McConechy’s network of 50 branches throughout Scotland and the North of England.
Continue Reading![Firestone to be present at UK, European music festivals](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/firestone-music.jpg)
Firestone to be present at UK, European music festivals
The marketing department at Bridgestone Europe is putting in overtime to assert the Firestone brand’s cool credentials. The company says Firestone plans to reassert its presence on the European market as a “dynamic, energetic and above all cool brand for the young and young at heart,” and these efforts include the brand’s sponsorship of music festivals in Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Italy and the UK The ‘Firestone Music Tour’ will be present at major festivals in these six countries during the summer.
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Will Clarkson, Hammond and May Live satisfy sponsors?
Top Gear Live is dead; long live Clarkson, Hammond and May Live! The deal struck this week following Jeremy Clarkson’s ignominious departure from Top Gear to salvage the extensive 2015 Top Gear Live schedule has underlined the ending of Clarkson’s association with the brand and the BBC. While a decision on the fate of the programme – and presenters Richard Hammond and James May – remains in discussions, the deal guarantees ticket holders to see most of the show for which they bought tickets. But are the show’s principle corporate supporters happy with the new arrangement?
Continue Reading![Cooper Tire Europe extends Arsenal association with #MatchReady competition](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CooperArsenalMatchReady.jpg)
Cooper Tire Europe extends Arsenal association with #MatchReady competition
Cooper, the first ‘Official Tyre of Arsenal Football Club’ has launched a new competition asking fans of the club to share their pre-match rituals. The tyre brand is using the hashtag #MatchReady to engage fans on social media, with three Arsenal stars taking part in the campaign-launching fan film (see below). Cooper is asking players and fans across Europe to share their #MatchReady rituals on Twitter, with the chance to win two tickets to see Arsenal v Swansea in the Premier League, hosted by former midfielder and ‘Romford Pelé’, Ray Parlour.
Continue Reading![Pirelli sponsors Carlisle rally for 24th consecutive year](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Jimmy-McRae-Carlisle-rally-2014.jpg)
Pirelli sponsors Carlisle rally for 24th consecutive year
Pirelli will once again sponsor the Carlisle Rally which takes place on Saturday, 25 April. This year, the Pirelli Carlisle Rally forms Round Three of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship and of the West Wales Rally Spares RAC Rally Championship. Pirelli has backed the rally for some 24 years now, which takes place in the home of one of its two factories in Great Britain, along with Burton on Trent.
Continue Reading‘Government has failed to keep promises to motorists’ – ABD survey
Alliance of British Drivers members have given the thumbs down to the coalition governments record on drivers. When asked whether the government had kept its promise “to end the War on Motorists,” 75 per cent said it had failed and 24 per cent said it had only partially succeeded.
Continue Reading![£1 billion boost for British car industry](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/car-industry.jpg)
£1 billion boost for British car industry
Britains booming car manufacturing industry has received a huge boost with three major manufacturers announcing UK investments worth more than £1 billion in the past six days.
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