While the 2019 UK car registration figures are clear that the market declined last year, various sources gave differing views as to what are the most important trends and what should be done.
The UK new car market declined in 2019, with annual registrations falling for the third consecutive year. According to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 2,311,140 units were registered in 2019, representing a -2.4 per cent decline. The market fell -6.8 per cent in 2018 and -5.7 per cent in 2017. This means the 2019 market is the lowest since 2013 when 2,264,737 were registered (see diagram). Representatives from industry associations and market analysts said the turbulent market reacted to weak business and consumer confidence, general political and economic instability and confusion over clean air zones.
Yokohama HPT Ltd has made an agreement to supply tyres to aviation fleet specialists, Rushlift Ltd – making the company part of the running of the UK’s largest airport, London Heathrow.
Seven years after the initial introduction of the European Tyre Label, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have decided on the next phase of the European Tyre Label, which is set to be introduced on 1 May 2021. Article 14 of the agreement requires a review of the regulation by June 2025.
In January 2019, construction of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) first tyre plant began. Now, the best part of a year later, sources operating in the Middle East and Africa region report that the Roadbot factory, which is being built in KIZAD’s China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone by Tirebot, is nearing the completion of its initial stage of development. During the ground-breaking of the plant in January, company representatives said the factory would become operational in October 2020. As much as US$600 million is reportedly being invested in the project.
Uniroyal’s new RainSport 5 is pitched as “the new wet-weather specialist for sporty, powerful cars and SUVs”. With precision handling on dry roads for maximum driving pleasure, Uniroyal’s development engineers have also managed to endow the RainSport 5 with 15 per cent higher mileage than the RainSport 3, as well as delivering improvements in ride quality. The new arrival is also the first Uniroyal tyre to benefit from enhanced Shark Skin Technology.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced its Best New Products Award winners this morning at the 2019 SEMA Show. SEMA’s annual New Product Awards competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the SEMA Show. Products are judged in 16 award categories, and each category has one winner and two runners-up.
Giti Tire has expanded its seasonal tyre range with the launch of the GitiAllSeasonCity, a passenger car tyre aimed at smaller A-C segment vehicles including the Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. Initially available in European markets (but not in the UK) in 13 sizes from 165/70R14 to 195/55R16 across speed indices H and T, the tyre carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol for approved fitment in markets with laws governing winter tyre use.
Apollo Vredestein’s UK operation has launched a consumer-focused campaign promoting the use of all-season tyres. From 14 October to 31 December 2019, consumers upgrading to Vredestein’s award-winning range of Quatrac all-season tyres will be able to claim a £60 scrappage refund for the replaced tyres.
On 5 October, San José Logística de Pneus, a market leading OTR tyre distributor in Portugal and a major player in the equivalent Spanish market opened new facilities in Cantanhede, Portugal.
Falken (Booth 3J 081) will unveil the successor to its popular SN832 tyre at Equip Auto in Paris on 15 October 2019. With an emphasis on all-round efficiency, the new Sincera SN110 Ecorun will be the centrepiece of the tyre manufacturer’s display alongside its expanding range of car, light commercial and truck and bus tyres.
Giti Tire will supply the GitiSynergyE1 in size 205/60R16 92H to the VW T-Cross. The T-Cross is built for the European market on the MQB-A0 small car platform in Pamplona, Spain alongside the Seat Arona Compact Crossover and VW Polo, for which the tyre manufacturer already supplies OE tyres in the same pattern.
When Tyrepress.com published its current ranking of the world’s largest tyre makers several months ago, a new name occupied 9th place – ZC Rubber. With revenues of RMB 26.9 billion (£3.1 billion) in 2018, China’s largest tyre maker had moved up one place from the previous year on the back of 12 per cent year-on-year […]
Firestone launched the second generation of its new all-season touring tyre, the Multiseason earlier in the year. Accommodating a wide variety of cars and drivers, the tyre joins other recent models, such as Roadhawk and Vanhawk 2, supplied by the Bridgestone brand to offer reliable tyres at a value price point. The Firestone Multiseason was preceded by its premium sister-brand Bridgestone’s latest product designed to take advantage of the all-season growth market.
It’s not just the car that’s grown. This August Mini officially began celebrating the iconic marque’s 60th anniversary. We at Tyres & Accessories wanted to join in with the celebrations by sharing a couple of interesting points about how the Mini’s tyres have evolved over the last 60 years.
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