The Tyre Industry Council is to endorse tyre safety related products and services. The first such endorsement is an aftermarket product, allowing the motorist to monitor the pressure in his spare tyre and inflate it easily, if required.
Varta has embarked on a programme to enhance its premium Blue Dynamic range of replacement batteries, giving it virtually complete coverage of the UK car parc.
Kayaba has landed another OE shock absorber contract, this time with Subaru for the latest generation Impreza. KYB branded shock absorbers and struts will be fitted on all Impreza models, including the high performance WRX STi.
Mr. Hajime Sato, MD of Kayaba Europe, said: “Supplying such an innovative manufacturer as Subaru is great for the Kayaba brand. Our advanced technological developments in both OE and aftermarket components mean that we can meet the needs of both the vehicle manufacturer and the motorists.”
Kayaba claims to be the world’s largest producer of shock absorbers, with one in four of the world’s cars and light commercial vehicles fitted with Kayaba shock absorbers as original equipment.
MWS Aftermarket Division has developed an easy to use calculator, nicknamed “the Gizmo” to help UK tyre fitters identify commercial vehicle wheels and what they need to order to ensure correct fitting from the thousands of different types of wheel available.
The 16cm diameter disc allows users to dial in the tyre specification and type of mounting or construction, then simply read off the wheel type. The Gizmo identifies the 27 most popular commercial vehicle steel wheel types and tyre sizes, including their fitting and centring systems.
Triple P, accessory supplier, has launched Tenneco Automotive’s DNX performance exhausts range, as part of the continued rollout of the brand in the UK aftermarket.
The range features universal and direct fit mufflers and tips. The exhausts are specifically designed to lower backpressure and increase horsepower and torque, explains the company.
The products utilise ‘P2’ technology something the automotive industry has never seen before claims Triple P. P2 technology is a highly polished stainless steel ensuring maximum durability and, duel-perforated partitions for unique tuner sound and performance says the supplier.
Kayaba UK has continued to strengthen its sales team with three new business managers. Each will be responsible for managing Kayaba’s existing accounts across the country.
Responsible for the Midlands and North West, Paul Tranter, joins Kayaba from motor industry suppliers Febi Bilstein.
Stephen Moore, who previously worked as an area sales manager at FAI Automotive, will cover Scotland and the North East.
Morris Gordon will be in charge of the South East and comes from LDV UK where he held the position of area sales manager.
Matt Robinson, sales manager says: “Our new business managers will each be responsible for their own region enabling Kayaba to develop its relationships with existing customers to ensure that we continue to fully understand their needs and meet their requirements.
“This is a very exciting year for Kayaba, with us also recently having improved our aftermarket operations in the UK by opening an additional warehouse facility, enabling high-speed delivery targets to be met.”
The Aftermarket Show, has appointed Sam Gilbert as sales manager in preparation for next year’s show which will run in January at Birmingham’s NEC.
Gilbert, who has a background in publishing, exhibitions and also in the automotive industry in both the car and commercial vehicle sectors, will be responsible for recruiting new exhibitors.
Commenting on his new role, Gilbert said: “The aftermarket wants and deserves an all-encompassing industry event and we are working with all aspects of the industry to deliver this. We are developing the event every year and, for 2006, are giving The Aftermarket Show a real identity of its own with a dedicated entrance, signage and coloured flooring in hall 6, differentiating it from Autosport International.”
Bosch is to open a new development and technology centre in China as part of its 500 million euro investment planned for the Chinese market over the next three years. The facility will be located at Suzhou approximately 80km west of Shanghai and will cost 50 million euros.
The new technology centre will employ around 220 employees and will extend over of some 200,000 sq metres of space. It will concentrate on automotive electronics and brake systems.
Toora, the Italian alloy wheel manufacturer, has announced that its new UK distributor is to be Exclusive Tuning & Design. Established in 1993, Toora have modern facilities based in Bergamo, and have a range of popular designs which have sold well throughout the UK.
Exclusive Tuning are based in Exeter and have a management team with decades of experience in the UK’s aftermarket industry. Paul Normington of Exclusive Tuning said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Toora to supply their well designed range of wheels. We will be holding large stock levels to ensure we can cope with the strong demand.”
Two ArvinMeritor LVA employees are taking up the BEN Centenary Aftermarket Challenge, as they attempt to cycle the full length of the country, from Lands End to John O’Groats. The money raised will go towards supporting auto industry employees and their dependents who find themselves in need of help.
The public bus company of Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is to equip more than 500 of its buses with Wabco’s Integrated Vehicle Tire Pressure Monitoring (IVTM) systems.
The growth of high performance tyres in the UK is outpacing the rest of Europe. V-Z rated tyres have grown 15-20 per cent in the last year. However the sector has, in the past, been largely led by OE fitment and reserved for the main players. How well are second line and budget brands competing in the aftermarket? Tyres & Accessories looks at how tyre manufacturers are extending the boundaries and what exactly is possible when it comes to upgrading tyres.
Motor Wheel Service Group launched a full range of forged alloy wheels at the recent Commercial Vehicle/Automotive Trade Show. According to the company, the new forged alloy wheels are exclusive to the MWS Group and will increase the range of wheels already stocked by the company. MWS is remaining tight lipped about which company is responsible and where the new wheels are being produced, but was keen to point out that the MWS forged alloy range will include both polished and machine-finished wheels and will be available through the company’s MWS Wheel Systems (OEM source) and MWS Aftermarket divisions.
Last year some 29, 000 business visitors flocked to the combined Automotive Trade Show and the Commercial Vehicle Show. After a strong start in 2004, the ATS and CV show now has the support of market leaders across the entire aftermarket. With exhibitors and visitors expected from all sectors; garage, body shop, fast fit or factor, there will be a range of new products to see and try. Organisers say there is no longer any doubt that combining the two exhibitions was the right thing to do – Tyres & Accessories will be there to see if they are right.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Automotive Systems has appointed David M. Mestdagh as director of the company’s North American aftermarket business.
Mestdagh will be responsible for overall business strategy, product quality and performance and will oversee development of sales and marketing activities for the company’s ATE brand.
Previously, Mestdagh served as national accounts sales manager for Visteon Corp.’s aftermarket group and has held various positions – including national retail sales manager, program group manager and sales and marketing development manager – at Federal-Mogul Corp.
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