Sovereign Rotating Machines has launched a new supplement for its range of WPS branded Wiper Motors. Previously seen as a ‘dealer only’ product, wiper motors represent a significant opportunity in the automotive aftermarket and there are just seven part numbers required to cover more than 70 percent of the UK vehicle parc.
Automotive industry charity BEN is celebrating the success of its 16th BEN Scotland Ball, held at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow, which raised a total of £8,900 on the night.
The US Justice Department indicted one Bridgestone Corporation executive and two former officials for conspiring to fix the prices of certain automotive parts, reports Tire Review. Bridgestone itself agreed in February to plead guilty to price-fixing, paying a $425 million criminal fine. The case involves anti-vibration parts used in automotive suspension systems and engine mounts.
The Trust My Garage Charity Challenge teams, the Northern Numpties and the Southern Softies have raised the impressive sum of £8,500 for the automotive charity BEN.
The challenge, which was to visit the most TMG members using a route planned by using only the TMG website, was won by the Southern Softies who visited 85 garages during the four day event.
On numerous occasions German tyre maker and automotive supplier Continental has indicated its intention to increase the number of women holding senior positions within the company, therefore the contract renewal of human resources head Elke Strathmann – the first and currently only female member of Continental’s Executive Board – appeared a mere formality. Yet the company has allegedly decided against renewing her contract upon its expiry at the end of December.
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has announced that Autoparts group factor manager Craig McCracken has joined the IAAF Council. The IAAF Council is a voluntary group of senior aftermarket executives that come together regularly to debate industry issues and set IAAF policy.
The first of April saw the arrival of Wendy Williamson at the IAAF’s offices in Birmingham to take up her position as chief executive (designate). Wendy takes over from Brian Spratt, who is retiring at the end of June.
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has held the first in a new series of members’ network meetings for parts suppliers, distributors, installers and members of the press. All 30 places were taken at the exclusive event, held at First Line’s headquarters in Banbury. Feedback was extremely positive with the information provided described as “excellent” by attendees, with additional comments rating the event as “very informative” and “thought provoking”.
It’s back after an absence of three and a half years – between 11 and 15 November the Michelin Challenge Bibendum returns. This time the sustainable mobility action takes place in Chengdu, China; the choice of location was announced at a joint press conference by the Michelin Group and the Chengdu municipal government. The five-day event will mainly take place at the Chengdu International Intangible Culture Heritage Exposition Park and will follow the theme of “Innovation in Mobility at the Heart of Growth & Urban Well-being.”
Automotive sector technology solutions provider epyx has added tyres to its 1link Vehicle Network trading platform. It says “leading tyre distributors and manufacturers” have signed up and will provide products at “competitive prices”. According to epyx, the inclusion of tyres in 1link will enable dealers to provide fleets with a nationwide, fixed price tyre offering.
A brand new range of ‘vintage’ t-shirts and sweatshirts with Goodyear branding has gone on sale at Pull&Bear retail outlets worldwide and online, as part of the Goodyear Vintage fashion programme. As part of a deal brokered between IMG Licensing and the Goodyear Company, the clothing will be sold at Pull&Bear stores in 62 countries around the world and on their e-commerce website alongside the existing local Goodyear range of clothing.
While Pirelli’s recent sale of a 13 per cent shareholding to Russian petrochemical giant Rosneft brings it access to 2,800 petrol station/tyre points of sale, some industry observers are also warning that the political environment and the deal itself are on shaky ground. On the one hand the collaboration is expected to put Pirelli on a par with the premium leader in Russia, Finnish tyremaker Nokian Renkaat, in terms of a distribution network size there is more than one way to skin a cat in terms of distribution and other factors could end up affecting Pirelli’s overall sales targets. The company is set to publish its full year 2013 results this evening, along with its 2014 outlook commentary.
Only days after five companies were fined a total of €953 million for participating in a cartel within the automotive bearing market, the European Commission has reported its concerns that a number of companies in the automotive exhaust systems segment may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels, restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant market position. On 25 March, officials from the European Commission undertook unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in this sector. The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has named Peter Lawton as Aftermarket Development Manager. After nearly 15 years as an automotive journalist and the last three years as Editor of CAT (Car and Accessory Trader) magazine, he will assume responsibility for SMMT aftermarket activities from 23 April 2014. Lawton replaces Wendy Williamson who is joining the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) as Chief Executive.
Continental AG majority shareholder Schaeffler AG is one of five companies that have been handed substantial fines for operating a cartel in the automotive bearing market. The European Commission fined the companies a total of more than €953 million, with the largest single fine given to Schaeffler. The German manufacturer must pay €370.5 million, almost 40 per cent of the total penalty.
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