While it was once known as the bastion of bargain basement tyre prices, the cost of car tyres in the UK online retail space has increased significantly since the start of 2017. According to the latest data compiled by industry analysts Encircle Marketing, the average online tyre price increased 7 per cent in the eight months between January and August 2017. On average every segment was up by at least a couple of per cent, but in August specialist products (such as run-flats) were being sold at prices 8 or even 9 per cent higher than in January 2017.
With one industry insider calling ChemChina’s acquisition of Pirelli “a genius move”, it would have been remiss of us not to take the opportunity to spend time with new Aeolus general manager Giovanni Pomati and find out more about how the changes affect the best-known ChemChina brand (Aeolus) and the company’s views on the latest changes in the Chinese marketplace during Tyres & Accessories recent visit to China.
Taiwan-based tyre manufacturer Kenda has purchased Starco Europe. Announced on 2 October, the move is described by Kenda as “a good cultural, organizational and strategic fit” for which both companies see “significant long-term opportunities”. Kenda has been a Starco supplier since 1982. Over the last 12 months a series of meetings determined a clear willingness from both Kenda and Starco to take the partnership to another level. Starco does not plan any organizational changes or redundancies related to the acquisition.
HaynesPro buys E3 Technical boosting UK tech data business
E3 Technical, software and staff supplier to online automotive reference company Carweb, has been acquired by HaynesPro, the professional data solutions business of Haynes Publishing Group plc. (Haynes). The move will strengthen Haynes’ online technical data presence in the UK, according to the company. HaynesPro is the European market leader for online automotive workshop data for the automotive aftermarket. Serving more than 50,000 workshops through its European partners, it has been collaborating with Carweb since 2009. Darryl Watts, formerly E3 technical sales director, has become the new managing director of HaynesPro UK.
TyreSafe asks: Are you having a Good or Bad Air Day?
TyreSafe has started the 2017 Tyre Safety Month with a question: Are you having a Good or Bad Air Day? The organisation is taking on the rampant underinflation of tyres in the UK; its figures show that more than half the tyres on Britain’s cars and vans are being driven at lower pressure than required.
Following an extensive period of negotiations with Lodge Tyres, Bridgestone has agreed to sell its share capital in Kingsway Tyres. Lodge has completed the acquisition of the Kingsway retail business, which operates from 15 depots, predominantly in the east of England. Indeed the Kingsway website already features Lodge Group branding and refers to 16 depots, suggesting some degree of reorganising and/or re-branding has already taken place.
Superbike World Championship extends Pirelli official tyre supplier contract to 2020
Pirelli’s contract with promoter-organiser Doma and the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) to be the official tyre supplier to the Superbike World Championship for all classes has been extended by two years to cover the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The technical partnership between the Italian tyre manufacturer and the production bike based series, which started in 2004, is the longest running control tyre supply deal in international motorsport history. The previous contract was due to expire at the end of the 2018 season.
Michelin has taken first place in Tyres & Accessories annual online brand prominence table, conducted in association with analysts NetNames. Following the news that Michelin is the strong online brand in terms of social media equity both in the UK and globally, the French tyre maker is no doubt delight to continue its historically strong showing. However, for the second year in a row, Continental overtook Michelin in terms of brand sentiment. And when you consider that Continental is also Michelin’s main contender in terms of social media equity, it now appears that pole position in the online space is a two horse race between Michelin and Continental. That’s said, at the other end of the spectrum mid-range and economy brands have registered some significant increases in online brand prominence during the last 12 months.
In addition topping the global table, Michelin found pole position in Tyres & Accessories’ 2017 UK social media ranking. At the same time Cooper and Bridgestone climbed four and three places respectively, making these two manufacturers the table’s fastest risers.
But before any further details, a little context: Unlike our global ranking, the UK ranking covers the top 15 brands. The reason? A greater number of tyre brands are active in the UK social media space than on the global level, something that could suggest the UK is something of a thought leader when it comes to tyre sector social marketing. But that’s not to say that the UK tyre brand’s social branding performance is in anyway second-rate compared wi
Nokian Tyres marked the beginning of building work on the company’s third factory on 20 September. The new greenfield site is located in Dayton (Rhea County), Tennessee, USA. Annual capacity will be 4 million tyres, with expansion potential in the future. The site will also house a distribution facility with a storage capacity of 600,000 tyres. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2018 and the first tyres are to be produced in 2020.
Vacu-Lug seeks to capitalise on advantages of independence
With Continental’s acquisition and subsequent integration of Bandvulc, the UK retreading market was left with one remaining large independent operation in Lincolnshire-based Vacu-Lug. There were obvious comparisons between the firms – both private, family-owned businesses before Conti’s takeover; both in possession of a large chunk of UK retread market share; both offering the sorts of fleet management service options – but the change of ownership of one gives a new dimension to commercial vehicle tyre manufacturers’ decision of which firm to partner in the production of retreads for the UK.
The inaugural Tire+ exhibition made its debut in Shanghai today. Beginning with an opening parade of the CEOs of the top 12 Chinese tyre manufacturers, which was covered by national broadcaster CCTV, organisers CURC have taken steps to reflect the Chinese tyre industry’s increasing focus on quality. It also means large and professional stands from many of the biggest firms in the business including: ZC Rubber, Linglong, Sailun Jinyu, Doublestar, Triangle, Double Coin, Aeolus, Prinx Chengshan and Guizhou/Advance Tyre – to name just a few. This is all supplemented by an impressive number of forum discussions and four halls of tyre and rubber manufacturing stands in the RubberTech exhibition next door.
MWheels retains exclusive European distribution rights for Xlite, Xbrite+ wheels
MWheels and wheel manufacturing giant Wheels India (WIL) have signed a new five-year exclusive European distribution agreement for Xlite and Xbrite forged aluminium wheels. The contract continues a relationship that started in the 1940s with classic car wire wheels, and which progressed into steel commercial vehicle wheels in the 1980s and forged aluminium CV wheels in 2010.
Apollo becomes Official Tyre Partner of Crystal Palace FC
Apollo Tyres has extended its Premier League football sponsorship, adding Crystal Palace FC to its existing global partnership with Manchester United. As Official Tyre Partner, Apollo will have a significant presence at all the club’s domestic matches.
The Parts Alliance acquires Lancashire parts distributor BBC Superfactors
The Parts Alliance has completed its acquisition of Blackburn Brakes Holding Limited, owner of BBC Superfactors Ltd (BBC), a leading distributor of vehicle parts in the Lancashire market. BBC, an affiliated member of The Parts Alliance, has a network of seven locations across the county. Employing more than 150, it makes more than 1,000 deliveries per day to commercial customers with approximately 97 per cent of orders delivered within one hour. It has been in business for more than 30 years.
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