Ford Retail’s UK parts division, @first Parts, has reported an annual turnover of over £100 million in 2013, the first time since its launch in 2004. According to the company, overall parts sales saw an increase of 14 per cent year-on-year, whist the Trade, Bodyshop and Ford Dealers divisions reported an annual growth of 13 per cent, 22 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.
German car parts supplier Mahle Group acquired all of the shares in its former joint venture company Mahle IPL Limited. Mahle had already been a majority partner in the joint venture with a share of about 60 percent.
Klarius Group Limited put its Quinton Hazell Automotive Limited (QH) into administration on 6 February 2013. Following their appointment, the administrators reached an agreement to sell the Klarius emissions business based at Cheadle, Staffordshire to Klarius Products Limited, preserving 234 jobs. The deal will formally complete during the course of 7 February (today). In addition, the intellectual property rights relating to the QH business were sold separately to Tetrosyl I-Tec Limited, part of Tetrosyl Limited.
Bosal UK, which is best known as an exhaust manufacturer but also makes roof racks and towbards, has entered administration. Various news sources report that calling in the administrators follows the recent confirmation of a contract to supply Land Rover with the exhaust systems for its popular Evoque model.
On 11 January 2013, the company issued a statement appointing Phillip Duffy and David Whitehouse of Duff & Phelps Ltd, Manchester as administrators in a move that follows “a decade of strong support for Bosal UK from its owners in the face of a mix of factors which over time increasingly impacted on its viability”.
The UK’s leading network car breakers have revealed that Londoners are the UK’s most accident prone, with those from Bristol and Glasgow coming in second and third based on demand for car parts in those areas. The is based on data generated by breakeryard.com, which reveals the cities and towns around the UK that have requested the most parts from the site since it launched in 2003.
Euro Car Parts opened 11 new branches, in the second quarter of 2012, continue on its rapid growth trajectory. Delivering on its promise to make Euro Car Parts (ECP) the biggest aftermarket supplier in Scotland, ECP opened two new branches in June alone – Edinburgh East and Perth. The doors also opened at new stores in Borehamwood and Telford during June, with these four branches combined, creating over 200 new jobs. The company opened 17 new branches between Jan – June 2012.
Netherlands based Gaither Europe BV made its debut at Agritechnica 2011 to introduce three new products to the market. Ralph Dubbeldam of Gaither Europe explained: “Gaither has a long standing and successful business association with Trost, one of Europe's leading car parts and equipment suppliers whose clients include a high percentage of agri specialists. We… realised that agriculture could become a new progressive market for us thereby prompting our appearance at the show.”
Joint administrators, David Baxendale, Rob Hunt and Chris Pillar of PwC have confirmed the sale of the business and assets of Rapid Car Parts Limited to Unipart Automotive Limited. Based in the South East, Rapid Car Parts is one of the UK's largest distributors of automotive parts and accessories and went into administration on 7 December 2011 following difficult trading conditions and significant cash pressure. Unipart have acquired the remaining five branches including the distribution centre based in Watford. The sale price was not disclosed.
Unipart Group and H2 Equity Partners have officially completed the previous announced deal that sees H2 acquire a controlling stake in Unipart Automotive, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of car parts, workshop consumables and garage equipment.
Euro Car Parts’ founder and chairman Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia will meet with the UK’s prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer when he attends a “reception for business leaders at 10 Downing Street in mid-September. Ahluwalia has invited comments from the garage trade prior to his meeting with David Cameron and George Osbourne, stating that he will use the occasion to discuss key issues such as the proposed increase in the gap between mandatory MOT tests.
Leading exhaust and catalytic converter distributor CES (UK) Ltd kicked off 2010 with the opening of its 17th branch in Cannock, Staffordshire. According to the company, CES “raised subzero temperatures with a warming welcome to our Cannock customers” at the branch opening on 2 January 2010. The new 10,000 square foot space is said to be “packed with our renowned car parts”.
Leading aftermarket parts supplier, Euro Car Parts (ECP), has reported that it stocks “the largest range of Cats and front pipes with over 500 front pipes and over 1,500 Cats from in the React Brand. According to the company, Euro Car Parts works closely with React to offer a direct technical help line and dedicated React account managers are also “on hand for assistance to both ECP branches and customers.” An additional Express Pattern service is also offered on vehicles that are registered before 1March 2001 at what are said to be extremely competitive prices.
Euro Car Parts (ECP) now stocks what is described as “a comprehensive range of tyre repair materials” from Rema Tip Top. According to a statement released by ECP, Rema Tip Top complements the ECP strategy to offer a wider range of consumables and offer an even greater service to its customers. Rema Tip Top UK Ltd has been operating for over 50 years and offers a wide range of automotive consumables and equipment, ranging from valve hardware and balance weights, to chemicals tools and accessories.
The car parts manufacturer Magna International has agreed to a deal rescuing GM Europe from insolvency. Fiat, who were said to be putting together a bid, decided to decline the option of attending negotiations, which were attended by the German government. Chancellor Angela Merkel, business ministers and representatives of the German states in which GM plants are located will hold a meeting in Berlin on the evening of 29 May to discuss their potential approval of the deal. GM Europe owns auto-makers Opel and Vauxhall, while its American owners General Motors are widely expected to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday 1 June.
Staffordshire based TPCATS specialises in the manufacture of stainless steel manifolds, front pipes and catalytic converters to OE standards. Production to an OE standard of course ensures a high level of quality, and the company comments that its stainless steel products are far more efficient and reliable than ceramic alternatives, yet they are available at comparable prices. And as TPCATS has confidence that its products will not break, rattle or fail an emissions test, it is happy to offer a three-year warranty as standard on its constantly growing range. The result, says TPCATS, is fewer returns, less failures and less hassle for customers. TPCATS boasts a valid warranty claims rate of less than 1 per cent, far below the aftermarket standard of 4 per cent.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
