Goodyear reports healthy UK, European growth for FleetFirst
During the course of 2014, Goodyear’s FleetFirst fleet tyre management programme has enjoyed considerable growth throughout Europe. Goodyear Dunlop reports that 75 fleets from nine countries have joined the programme since the start of the year, bringing a total of more than 30,000 additional vehicles into FleetFirst. The new additions to FleetFirst include pan-European fleets based in France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom. Arguably the best-known of these fleets is Eddie Stobart, which operates more than 5,000 vehicles, while another large UK-based fleet to sign up during the year is Turners Soham Ltd, which operates more than 2,500 vehicles.
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Kerr’s invests in 14 new jobs, Newtownards tyre centre
Kerr’s Tyres has announced it is investing in 14 new jobs across the chain’s Antrim, Belfast, Coleraine and forthcoming Newtownards tyre centres following an investment of more than £1,000,000 in the business. The jobs will range from tyre fitters, breakdown fitters, mechanics, mobile mechanics, apprentices, IT personnel and assistant managers.
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Maxxis up, despite down market
Despite other whole market figures saying the UK annual passenger car tyre replacement demand fell back during 2014 (Gfk) or was stable (Continental), Maxxis reports that the last 12 months actually represented examples of “good growth”. While not exclusively for this reason, this is likely to be a result of the company’s successful growth of its fitting network – not to mention increases in OE sales and product development and strategic sponsorship.
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1 in 5 women ‘uncomfortable’ with getting car repairs
Many women drivers are not able to care for their cars properly because they dont know how to choose a garage or technician they can trust, research released today reveals. In response, IMI, the professional body for the UK motor industry, is launching a campaign, featuring presenter Suzi Perry, to give them the tools they need. A quarter of women drivers admit to never having their car serviced by a professional mechanic. They only deal with problems when they show up on the MOT. IMI fears that this approach makes them vulnerable as consumers and compromises their safety.
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Chance to experience electric off-road motorbike
When you read the term EV it generally conjures up the image of a four-wheeled electric vehicle. But it needn’t be so. The UKs first dedicated electric motorcycle riding facility is now open and is available for riders to experience the all-new KTM Freeride-E. An official partner of KTM UK, E-SCAPE, in Cheshire, is a bespoke facility for electric bikes and offers tuition and test ride opportunities for riders of all abilities on KTMs recently launched electrically driven off-road motorcycle.
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Continental: UK car tyre market stable, getting larger and AFV fitments growing
Continental executives opened their annual market trends briefing in London with the positive assertion that the 2014 UK car tyre market demand is stable at roughly 35 million tyres for the year. Contis definition of the market includes imported tyres, 4x4 tyres and part worns, so this figure is broadly in line with other estimates.
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Vacu-Lug to introduce MTP budget OTR tyre range
It looks like it will be a Happy New Year for Grantham-based firm Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres, as the company has announced it will begin distributing a new budget line of off-the-road tyres as soon as the end-of-year festivities are behind us. The range, named MTP, is produced by Magna Tyres Group and will act as Vacu-Lug’s official budget brand. Vacu-Lug says the brand’s inclusion in its product portfolio affirms the message that it is possible to offer a quality product to customers on a lower budget.
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Michelin Dundee plans on display
Those wishing to see Michelin Tyre PLC’s plans for extending and modernising its Dundee facility can do so today and tomorrow at the Michelin Training Centre in Baldovie Road, Dundee. The tyre maker intends to extend existing factory buildings on the southern part of the Dundee site, reportedly to provide space for additional tyre production and storage, and undertake earthworks to create a flood storage area on the western part of the site. It is understood that the extensions would enlarge the existing building by 2,000 square metres, and a further 300 square metres of office space would also be added.
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