ATS Euromaster and Michelin have renewed their contract with full service leasing specialist Arval, whose growing fleet numbers approximately 58,000 maintained contract hire cars and vans. The new contract lasts until the end of 2014.
Momentive Performance Materials Inc., has announced its collaboration with Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. on the development of Enasave Premium tyre, which earned the best rating (AAA) for rolling resistance under Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association’s (JATMA) labelling system. Launched at the Tokyo Motor Show, 2-11 December 2011, Enasave Premium is Sumitomo’s flagship tyre in its fuel-efficient tyre range.
ATS Euromaster has been named Van Equipment Supplier of the Year in the Fleet Van Awards 2011. Judges praised the organisation for standing out as “the best example of a totally van fleet-focused company”. The Award recognised ATS Euromaster’s £10 million investment during 2010 and 2011 in extending its offer to the van (and car) market, with new services including nitrogen tyre inflation, air-conditioning recharging, computerised wheel alignment, fault diagnostics and electronic brake servicing.
ATS Euromaster has seen cold weather tyre sales quadruple in the Autumn of 2011, with strong demand nationwide from private motorists and fleets. Between September and November 2011 the retailer says it achieved a 301 per cent rise in the number of cold weather tyres fitted to cars, 4x4s and vans, compared with the same period in 2010. Huw Williams, group marketing director at ATS Euromaster, says: “This year we worked hard to secure significantly more stock and it’s enabled us to meet the exceptionally strong demand. We still have cold weather tyres available in many different sizes; however, it’s a continually changing situation and we’re yet to see sales reach their peak.”
ATS Euromaster has launched a new section on its website dedicated to informing motorists about the European tyre label. The Michelin-owned fast fit chain decided to publish this information following an evaluation of an online survey it conducted, which showed up widespread unawareness of the label.
In a Private Members’ Debate on Tuesday 29 November, Paul Goggins MP continued to raise the issue of commercial vehicle wheel safety with Parliamentary under-secretary of State for Transport Mike Penning, asserting “I am not going away on this issue.” The outcome of the debate was that the MPs will meet again soon, to discuss the outcome of Goggins’ meetings with industry representatives and trade associations. The MP, in conjunction with MWS, is setting up meetings with the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association; a process that the latest Westminster action will have eased, company representative Matthew Wells told tyrepress.com/Tyres & Accessories.
ATS Euromaster reports having won back a sole-supplier agreement with Scotland’s largest independent wine and spirit wholesaler, Wallaces Express, just six months after the account was passed to a local independent tyre dealer. The Irvine-based fleet, which operates 50 cars and 70 commercial vehicles, initially changed suppliers in an effort to trim its fleet operating costs, but the new provider apparently failed to meet its required service standards.
According to the Castrol Professional Car Service and Repair Trend Tracker, franchised workshops are losing servicing business to independent and fast-fit outlets. The independent sector now accounts for 45.7 per cent of servicing work, up from 42.1 per cent last year. A decade ago, the independents' share was just 30.2 per cent.
Michelin Tyre has announced the appointment of former Wedgwood and Austin Reed customer service specialist Mike Lawton as its new commercial director of agriculture, responsible for the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Lawton joined Michelin’s UK operation, based in Stoke-on-Trent’s Campbell Road, in 1999. He will replace Rob Beddis, who is retiring at the end of the month, after seven years in the role.
After labour and fuel costs, tyres are one of the largest items in a truck fleet operator’s budget, representing a valuable asset that requires careful management, Bridgestone representatives recently told Tyres & Accessories.
ATS Euromaster has announced that it has won the majority of the service, maintenance and repair (SMR) work across Forward Vehicle Rental’s 1800-strong car and van fleet after being put to the test in a mystery shopping exercise which reportedly saw it perform “flawlessly”. According to the company, Chris Driscoll, managing director of the Shropshire-based leasing company, took direct action after being repeatedly quoted for maintenance work which wasn’t required by previous suppliers.
As a result Forward Vehicle Rental is now using ATS Euromaster for 70 per cent of its tyre service work and expects this to rise to 97 per cent by the end of 2011. In addition to routine tyre repair and replacement, ATS Euromaster is carrying out scheduled car park tyre safety inspections within customer fleets, on occasions when groups of vehicles are parked together in the same location.
ATS Euromaster has joined the Road Haulage Association (RHA) as an associate member becoming the first national tyre service provider to sign up to the highest gold tier membership level. ATS-E says the membership will help build on its relationship with the RHA, while the association’s membership will benefit from having access to ATS Euromaster’s technical knowledge and tyre husbandry.
Tyre Safety month begins on Saturday and ATS Euromaster has marked the occasion by reminding motorists that driving with illegal tyres risks a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for each illegal tyre on their vehicle. With the latest Department for Transport report clocking 860 reported accidents on British roads where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor – including 17 fatal incidents and 165 serious accidents – safety is also a major part of ATS-E’s message. During Tyre Safety Month, ATS Euromaster is offering free tyre safety inspections at any of its 370 centres throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
ATS Euromaster has confirmed its attendance at next year’s Commercial Vehicle Show. The retail and servicing company says the event represents a major opportunity to talk to fleets of all sizes. Peter Fairlie, group sales director, says: “It’s important to have a strong presence at the Show as we are the largest commercial vehicle tyre specialist in the industry.
Gregory Distribution’s Davidstow-based milk collection fleet will use Michelin’s XDN2 Grip Remix policy on its drive axles following successful trials over the last 18 months. Francis Doney, transport manager in Davidstow, says: “Initially we put the XDN2 Grip Remix tyres on a single vehicle. This delivered strong results so we upped the trial to six tankers last winter. The tyres made a significant difference and we were able to complete the majority of all milk collections throughout winter 2010/2011, despite the heavy snow.”
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