January rise in UK new car sales marks 6th consecutive month of growth
The UK new car market grew 14.7 per cent in January to reach 131,994 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), setting the tone for an anticipated countercyclical year of growth. This was the best start to the year since January 2020’s pre-Covid 149,279 units and is the sixth successive month of expansion.
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‘Huge opportunity’ for mid-range, quality tyres – Davanti sales director
Building on its 2015 foundation, the UK-owned Davanti Tyres brand has developed a comprehensive range of products for the car and light truck segments while increasing its penetration via distribution partners in international markets. With its products produced in East Asia and its sister distribution company Oak Tyres handling UK distribution, the brand can offer an informed perspective on current car tyre market trends. Tyres & Accessories talked to Davanti Tyres sales director for UK and Ireland, Sean Maddocks about tyre imports, car parc evolution, and the latest Davanti products.
Continue ReadingEuropean car tyre imports rise despite apparent risks of offshoring production
The European passenger car and light truck tyre (PCLT) import market recovered substantially from its bout of Long Covid in the second half of 2022 as the benefits of local versus remote production took an unexpected hit. A perfect storm of significantly lower freight costs and high European energy costs nudged the dial on the relative competitiveness of imports and domestic PCLT tyre production in the second half of 2022. Looking at the European PCLT tyre market through the prism of imports, leading sector analyst Astutus Research shares with Tyres & Accessories its data demonstrating the effects of a rapidly changing market context. The latest Astutus Research briefing, ‘Supply Dynamics in the European PCLT Tire Industry to 2028’, priced at £995 is available now on Tyrepress.
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Higher rim size car tyre sales rising in UK’s stratified recovery – GfK
Challenging trading conditions persist in the UK thanks to various interlocking crises, though 2022’s replacement tyre market demonstrates the way some segments resisted the strong headwinds better than others. While overall tyre sales (units) were basically flat versus 2021, any anticipated surging recovery from a pandemic induced nadir was, broadly speaking, put off for another year. Contrastingly, the value of the overall market surged, though this effect was more due to inflation and increasing prices than a switch towards higher-value products. Having said this, the picture painted by analyst GfK’s data, based on the company’s “panelmarket” of tyre retail sell-out sources from January to December, is also one of stratification.
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TMD Friction shines light aftermarket talent in National Apprenticeship Week
TMD Friction UK has been highlighting the importance of embracing future talent and encouraging the next generation of aftermarket professionals into the industry as part of National Apprenticeship week (6–12 February). To mark the occasion, the braking specialist is celebrating its own homegrown talent throughout its UK sites. For its part, TMD Friction UK offers a comprehensive apprenticeship programme.
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Australian firm set to buy Britishvolt
Australian firm Recharge Industries, which is backed by US-based financiers Scale Facilitation Partners, has been named as the preferred bidder for Britishvolt. Britishvolt had planned to build a battery gigafactory near Blyth, Northumberland but ran into cashflow problems that became public in the last quarter of 2022.
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Apprenticeship numbers too low – IMI
Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (6-12 February 2023), the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is calling for businesses to embrace apprenticeships and all the benefits they bring. Funding is available through the UK government’s apprenticeship levy scheme, yet the latest data in the IMI’s Automotive Education Report suggests this is underutilised in the automotive sector, meaning many businesses are missing out. Elsewhere, leading garage chains have been sounding the alarm that their growth and profitability depend on getting more personnel.
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Rowe launches sustainably-manufactured lubricants at Autosport
Rowe introduced its sustainably manufactured range of lubricants to the UK market at the Autosport International Show from 12-15 January. Exclusively distributed in the UK by Deutschesol Ltd, Rowe’s range of oils, lubricants and coolants is manufactured in Germany and the company has “several original equipment manufacturer (OEM) relationships”.
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ATS Euromaster opens new Hull tyre and MOT centre
ATS Euromaster opened a brand-new tyre fitting and service centre in Hull on 1 February 2023. The opening brings ATS Euromaster’s total network size 260 centres. According to the company, the Cleveland Street centre offers “wider scope for commercial vehicle servicing, thanks to its high roof bays”. That enables ATS Euromaster Hull to now provide MOT work for class 4 commercials (motorhomes, ambulances, taxis and vans up to 3000kg) and Class 7 commercials (vans up to 3500kg), particularly high roof versions.
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Britishvolt, UK car manufacturing and OE tyres
In May-2020, we needed a lift. We’d all been through the first and arguably harshest lockdown and Prime Minister Boris Johnson modified the COVID-19 message from stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives to stay alert, control the virus, save lives. In other words, not knowing that further lockdowns would follow, the PM was working towards easing restrictions and reopening the economy. Within the automotive sector many tyre specialists, garages and fast-fits had closed along with OEM factories and car dealerships. One result of the latter was that car production figures fell to post-war lows. What better time to back a British electric vehicle battery manufacturing gigafactory? Several projects came to the fore. There was even talk of Elon Musk considering a Tesla gigafactory in the UK. But it was BritishVolt that Boris Johnson put his name to.
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Trelleborg: No reason Yokohama deal shouldn’t be approved
Following the news that the UK Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into Yokohama’s acquisition of Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS), Trelleborg representatives have clarified that – in their view – “…there are no reasons why this deal should not be approved.”
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Competition and Markets Authority opens Yokohama/Trelleborg Wheel Systems merger investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into the proposed merger of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd of Trelleborg Wheel Systems Holding AB (TWS). Writing in a statement published on 31 January, CMA officials stated that “pursuant to section 96(2A) of the Act that the merger notice provided by Yokohama [and TWS]…” meets “the requirements of section 96(2) of the [relevant] Act.” In other words, the CMA investigation is a formality for a merger of this kind.
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Hankook Tyre UK presents Hyundai Ioniq 5 to Mr. Tyre customer
Hankook Tyre UK has announced the winner of its latest promotional competition. Mr. Tyre customer Vincent Square won the top prize of a top-of-the-range Hyundai Ioniq 5 after purchasing Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 tyres from the retailers Langley Mill depot. The competition was open to purchasers of two or more Hankook car, SUV or 4x4 tyres from Hankook approved dealers, with daily prizes of £100 in Love2Shop gift vouchers also available during the promotional period.
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Yokohama HPT: a new chapter
Recent months have seen the appointment of a completely new leadership team at Yokohama’s UK distribution operation, Yokohama HPT Ltd. Well-known in the market for its high-performance passenger car tyre and wheel sales, the appointments signal the start of a new chapter. With that in mind, Tyres & Accessories visited the company’s Milton Keynes headquarters and distribution centre in order to meet with recently-appointed CEO Peter Fairlie; commercial director, Karl Naylor; and marketing manager, Lucie Dalton, in order to find out more.
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Tevva receives whole vehicle type approval
British electric vehicle manufacturer Tevva has reached another major milestone after securing European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) for its 7.5 tonne battery-electric truck. It means that Tevva can start producing and selling in volume across the UK and Europe and represents the key regulatory step in the development and commercialisation of all vehicles, including electric trucks.
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