Kwik Fit to recruit 300 new apprentices
Kwik Fit is marking National Apprenticeship Week with plans to expand its apprenticeship scheme and recruit more than 300 apprentices in 2022. Throughout the week beginning 7 February Kwik Fit will also be featuring current apprentices on its social media channels, enabling them to share their own experiences of the apprenticeship programme and why they opted for an automotive career.
Continue ReadingETEL appoints Tanaka as chairman, Kimbara as CEO
European Tyre Enterprise Ltd (ETEL) has announced that CEO Shinjiro (Sean) Tanaka is taking on a new role as group chairman. Replacing him as CEO is Yutaka Kimbara, who is currently group director of the Europe & CIS General Products & Realty Group of Itochu Europe PLC, which is part of ETEL’s parent company Itochu Corp. of Japan.
Continue ReadingGreg Ward leaves Bridgestone
After 19 years with the company, Greg Ward’s time as Bridgestone as commercial sales director UK & Ireland has come to an end. Ward revealed the news in a social media post dated 28 January 2022 and Tyres & Accessories understands that he has now completed his last day with the premium brand tyre manufacturer. Prior to joining Bridgestone nearly two decades ago, Greg Ward had experience elsewhere in the tyre and automotive business, including at National Tyres. Details of where the highly-experienced commercial vehicle tyre specialist is headed next have not been confirmed.
Continue ReadingMarathon expands delivery fleet
Marathon Warehouse Distribution have made another significant investment in further enhancing their frequent same day logistics capability to motor factors with the delivery of a new fleet of Citroen Dispatch XL vans across their network of Regional Distribution Service Centres.
Continue ReadingGrowth in home deliveries fuels UK CV manufacturing in 2021
UK commercial vehicle (CV) production grew 11.3 per cent in 2021, following the worst year on record (dating back to 1933), with 73,600 of the latest vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches leaving factory lines, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Continue ReadingUK 2021 car production 34% below pre-covid level
A total of 859,575 cars were produced in the UK last year, 6.7 per cent or 61,353 units fewer than a 2020 that itself was badly affected by lockdowns. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that 2021 production was 34.0 per cent below the pre-pandemic 2019 figure.
Continue ReadingProtyre Truck amongst pan-European Goodyear TruckForce award winners
Goodyear has named five new TruckForce Service Award winners for the fourth quarter of 2021. The TruckForce Service Awards started at the beginning of 2021 to highlight partners that provided exceptional service across the pan-European TruckForce network.
Continue ReadingCAM sponsors Gloucestershire pool player
Tyre industry software specialists CAM have backed a Gloucestershire-based tipped as a prospective World Champion through. Cam’s sponsorship agreement for the 2022 season forms part of its ongoing CSR and brand awareness programme.
Continue ReadingLaunch releases X-431 Euro Tab III
The X-431 Euro Tab III, featuring the new Smartlink C VCI, an advanced module allowing for enhanced communication and functions has been officially introduced by Launch UK. Using the Android 9.0 operating system, the Euro Tab III builds on the company’s existing range by offering “worldwide vehicle coverage, powerful diagnostics and numerous special functions.”
Continue ReadingMarangoni joins NTDA
Retreading material and equipment supplier Marangoni joined UK trade body National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) this month.
Continue ReadingLKQ Euro Parts opens Cirencester branch
Automotive parts distributor LKQ Euro Car Parts, has opened its latest branch, in Cirencester. The new store will give drivers and garages in the area convenient, local access to LKQ Euro Car Parts’ 160,000-strong range of car, light commercial vehicle and specialty parts.
Continue ReadingMichelin YieldBib deliver twice the life for Grigg-Aggri
Cornwall-based contractor Grigg-Agri has invested in another set of VF 420/85 R34 Michelin YieldBib tyres for its two Bateman RB35 sprayers after the original equipment rubber lasted twice as long as the tyres it had run in the past. The two sprayers are used to support a wide range of arable crops across the county, clocking up significant mileage on country roads as they travel between farms.
Continue ReadingReplacement tyre demand remains strong – ETRMA
The latest European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) data suggest 2021 was “a positive year of recovery for the industry”, especially in the replacement sector. The biggest drop was in the Original Equipment (OE) consumer tyres segment (down 8 per cent) mainly due to the ongoing new vehicle chip shortage.
Continue ReadingAutogem on the hunt to find the UK’s TPMS Expert
During 2022 Autogem to hunting for the UK’s ‘TPMS Expert’ in an inaugural nationwide competition. Specifically, having trained thousands of technicians for more than a decade, Autogem wants to find the most talented professional when it comes to diagnosing, communicating and resolving TPMS issues. According to Autogem, the competition is open to most of the UK’s largest and most respected tyre retailers and specialist tyre related workshops. Entries will open soon ahead of qualifying sessions on 27 – 29 April. 12 finalists will be chosen from this stage and will be invited to take part in the final at the Garage & Bodyshop Event on 8 June at the NEC, Birmingham.
Continue ReadingMOT consultation supports fee increase
In August 2021, DVSA wrote to stakeholders to consult on its proposals to increase most DVSA statutory fees by 1.5 per cent. The results are now in and the headline news is that more than two-thirds supported the incremental statutory fee increase.
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