Growing membership, developing relationships and training – NTDA National chairman’s Simon Wright inaugural speech
In addition to our live social media reporting and reporting the highlights of the 2022 Tyre Industry Conference in last month’s magazine, the December edition of Tyres & Accessories brings you curated coverage of the NTDA chairman and chief executive speeches as part of our “Looking back, Looking forward” review-of-the-year feature. With so much having taken place within the tyre market, the nation and the world as a whole, the two speeches offer a distinctly tyre distribution perspective on key issues relating to the associations growing membership, how it is developing relationships with other trade and charitable bodies and how it is investing in the future of the business via training initiatives.
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BM Catalysts: SCRs popular as aftermarket supports NOx exhaust emission reduction
BM Catalysts’ Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) references have continued to grow in popularity in line with market forecasts, with considerably strong launch sales reported across the UK and Europe. The global SCR market size is estimated to reach US$24 billion by 2030, with more than a 13.2 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR)1.
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TMD Friction launches aftermarket research and development facility
Leading braking product manufacturer TMD Friction has launched a new research and development facility in Seaton Ross, East Yorkshire as part of its investment into serving the independent aftermarket. The launch of TMD Friction’s new premises at Seaton Ross follows a move from its previous proving ground at Elvington. The new facility carries out an important part of TMD Friction’s quality focus with safety-critical tests carried out all day on the test track.
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PRA urges Chancellor to maintain fuel duty cut
On 8 November, the Petrol Retailers Association wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, regarding the 5p per litre fuel duty cut introduced in March. Gordon Balmer, executive director of the PRA, said: “Skyrocketing energy prices have had a devastating impact on household finances. When every penny counts, it is crucial that the 5ppl fuel duty cut introduced in March of is maintained.
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Pro-Align: cost of living vs cost of life
Pro-Align’s Quick Tread Edge has joined the Quick Check Drive in offering garages the opportunity to identify servicing opportunities with great speed and efficiency, while also offering a customer-friendly interface designed to support businesses’ relationship with their customers. The exclusive distributor of Hunter garage equipment also explains how electric vehicles are increasing the need for accurate and efficient wheel balancers.
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Davanti Tyres, Everton FC help grassroots football club after devastating arson attack
Davanti Tyres has presented MSB Woolton FC, one of Europe’s largest grassroots football clubs, with a donation of £3,000 after its storage units packed with sporting and fitness equipment were burned down in an arson attack. The tyre brand acted in partnership with Everton FC to assist; Davanti is the Premier League club’s global official tyre partner. Davanti is a long-term supporter of grassroots sport in the North-West of England where it is headquartered.
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UK service sector must ramp up EV technician training – Autotech
The freedom to service new vehicles was joined by another example of the sector’s current need to evolve quickly at the NTDA Tyre Industry Conference 2022. Dave Walker, business development director, Autotech discussed the topic of training technicians to carry out services on electric and hybrid vehicles. Noting the speed of the new car market’s move away from diesel (only around 5.5 per cent of new cars sold this year are diesel), and the growth of various flavours of electric car, Walker said that “only 15 per cent of UK technicians (around 32,900) are now qualified to work safely” on these vehicles. It is estimated that 90,000 technicians will be required by 2030 to work on EV/hybrid cars.
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UK van market falls by nearly a fifth in October
The UK’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market fell by -18.4 per cent in October, with 22,386 of the latest vans joining Britain’s roads. Despite robust demand, registrations were at the lowest level for October since 2012, and some -16.5 per cent below the pre-pandemic five-year average, as supply shortages continue to restrict global production and availability.
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EVs energise new car market but chargepoint rollout must accelerate, says SMMT
The UK new car market recorded a third month of growth in October, with registrations rising by more than a quarter (26.4 per cent) to 134,344 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Fulfilment of strong order books helped deliver the bounce-back, although the increase follows a particularly disappointing October 2021 when deliveries fell by -24.6 per cent. In the year to date, the market is down -5.6 per cent on the same period in 2021, but still a third below pre-Covid levels.
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The power and responsibility of tyre distribution – key sessions in the 2022 Tyre Industry Conference
The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) Tyre Industry Conference has developed a reputation for assembling top-flight speakers to address the key issues of the day. The 2022 event was no different. Topics included tyre distributors’ role in highway safety as positive influencers, part worns and market surveillance as well as tyre recovery.
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‘12% of fleet vehicles running on under-inflated tyres’ – ATS
Fleets are racking up additional running costs though drivers running vehicles with tyres that are underinflated. According to ATS Euromaster, 12 per cent of the vans and cars it sees under its fleet Mastercare programme feature tyres that are below pressure. The results, says the national tyre and maintenance provider, will be to inflate running costs by between 3-10 per cent depending on the degree of under-inflation.
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IAAF urges the UK government “not to mess” with current MOT
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is urging Mark Harper, the new Secretary of State for Transport not to mess with the current MOT test frequency and instead look to strengthen the current 3-1-1 testing regime through the addition of testing the vehicle’s electronically-controlled safety systems (ADAS). The IAAF, along with UK AFCAR, is actively highlighting to ministers and their departments the dangers involved if the first MOT is conducted when the vehicle becomes 4 years old and the risks this creates that then threaten road safety.
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Hankook Tyre UK award demonstrates ‘growing marketplace leadership’
Hankook’s Tyre Manufacturer of the Year winning entry at the NTDA Tyre Industry Awards “demonstrated, in great detail, its growing marketplace leadership in product, performance, innovation, productivity and sustainability,” according to NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay. The award was presented to Hankook Tyre UK’s sales director Paul Emery and marketing & communications manager Zoë Baldwin. Emery said: “We are a relatively small team at Hankook and are extremely proud that the UK tyre industry has recognised the strength of the Hankook business. This is truly a team effort and a team award.”
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Michelin’s ‘visionary’ long-term sustainability approach recognised
Michelin Tyre plc was presented with the Environmental and Sustainable Solution of the Year Award for the second year running at the Tyre Industry Awards 2022. Announcing the winner, event host Louise Minchin said: “Michelin’s entry was considered visionary and a template for an approach to long-term sustainability in manufacturing within the context of the circular economy.” The Tyre Industry Award was judged by an independent panel of Liverymen on the Wheelwrights’ Craft Committee.
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Skidz award ‘demonstrates just what can be achieved when someone gives you a little bit of support’
Falkirk tyre retailer Skidz was named Tyre Retailer of the Year at the Tyre Industry Awards. The family-owned business, a member of the Michelin Quality Centre network, won the Small Tyre Retailer category for the best single location site, before going on to be crowned the NTDA’s overall winner ahead of the Medium Retailer (up to 25 centres) and Large Retailer (national chain) champions.
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