National Tyres: Vehicle safety vital, staff and customer safety paramount
National Tyres and Autocare have spoken up in support of vehicle maintenance as well as detailing how it will protect staff and customers during the coronavirus outbreak.
The tyre business along with the rest of the automotive industry was hit hard by the effects of coronavirus. This tag brings you the latest news as it happens.
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NTDA: MOTs are central to vehicle safety
Following the news that cars, motorcycles and vans will begin being exempted from MOTs from 30 March 2020 (on a six-month rolling basis) for the next 12 months, the NTDA has affirmed the importance of the MOT. However, NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay also sought to bring some detail and nuance to the discussion.
Lockdown stops tyre production in India
The lockdown now in place across India is one of the most radical measures seen to date during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, tyre production has come to a standstill at plants across the country. While India’s government exempts the manufacture of “ essential commodities” from the three-week lockdown it hasn’t provided clarity as to what products it considers essential. Therefore it is unclear when tyre manufacture will recommence within the country.
Tyre industry ‘braces’ for COVID-19 impact, calls for recovery support – ETRMA
The European Tyre Manufacturers’ Association has called the response to the COVID-19 pandemic “one of the biggest challenges our industry has ever faced.” It calls for “constructive dialogue between industry, EU institutions and governments” to support the workforce of around 370,000 people while an “unprecedented” level of temporary closures and shutdowns are in place, and to smooth the transition to restart activities in the sector. Secretary-general Fazilet Cinaralp also said that the tyre sector is “vital… for the European economy at large,” adding that all stakeholders would need to find ways of supporting the sector “to avoid a permanent loss of capacity, research capability and innovation.”
MOT exemption starts on 30 March 2020
Following talk of a possible MOT suspension, the government has clarified the position. Cars, motorcycles and vans will be granted a six-month MOT exemption from 30 March 2020 in order to allow people to carry on with essential travel. This means vehicles that would usually would require an MOT test won’t need one from 30 March. However, the government does say “vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition, and garages will remain open for essential repair work”, adding that “drivers can be prosecuted if driving unsafe vehicles.”
Nokian Tyres adjusting output in Russia, freezes hiring at new USA plant
In addition to the temporary layoffs planned for its factory in Finland and announced last week, Nokian Tyres is implementing changes at its other sites in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Production output in Russia will be flexibly adjusted “in line with global demand.” While the ramp-up of Nokian’s new plant in the USA continues, the company has postponed recruitment of additional employees. Furthermore, work on the new test centre in Spain has also temporarily stopped, delaying the project.
Garage staff are key workers, says Protyre
Protyre confirms that all its centres are operational at this point in time, adding that the company is monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic daily and will respond accordingly to government advice.
Movin’On Summit cancelled
Michelin shares that the Movin’On team has cancelled this year’s World Summit on Sustainable Mobility, which was due to be held in Montreal on 3, 4 and 5 June 2020.
No Pirelli Calendar for 2021 – tyre maker donating to coronavirus research
There will of course be 12 months next year, but you won’t be able to check that on a Pirelli Calendar. Pirelli has decided to cancel production and the launch of the 2021 Calendar, and instead ‘The Cal’ project will, in the context of other initiatives already undertaken by the company, donate 100,000 euros to the fight against and research into the coronavirus.
Shutdowns to cost European auto industry £29bn – GlobalData
After a period of sweeping announcements by European automakers that they are halting production at European plants for several weeks, Calum MacRae, automotive analyst at GlobalData, has quantified potential effects on industry forecasting.
Apollo Tyres suspends production at four plants in India
Several states across India have announced lockdowns in order to better deal with the COVID-19 outbreak, and as a result Apollo Tyres Ltd. has halted operations at its plants in Kalamassery & Perambra (Kerala), Limda (Gujarat) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu) until 31 March. In addition, employees in the company’s offices have been instructed to work from home.
ATS Euromaster: Most centres open, but priority given to emergency fleets
Even emergency vehicles need breakdown assistance, servicing and tyres, and this is one main reason why the government has authorised garages and fast-fits to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. ATS Euromaster confirms that most of its service centres remain open following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday, however they ask customers for understanding should prearranged jobs be postponed in order to prioritise emergency fleet work.
‘Digital first’ helps Ricardo deliver ‘business as usual’ in COVID-19 lockdown
Transport engineering and environmental consultancy Ricardo states that its investment in implementing a ‘digital first’ strategy has helped it to continue business as usual while minimising health risk in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lock-down across Asia, Europe and North America. The company said it is committed to ensuring that its service to its global customer base continues with the minimum possible interruption, while prioritising the health, safety and well-being of employees, customers and other commercial partners.
Are MOTs suspended during the Covid-19 lockdown?
The Covid-19 lockdown prompts the question of whether getting an MOT test is permitted as a reason to leave the house. As Tyrepress has reported, garages are allowed to stay open under the terms of the lockdown, so does it follow that MOTs will continue to be required? The latest information is that MOTs for the vast majority “lorries, busses, and trailers” are currently suspended (see below or click here for more details), but this could be extended to private passenger vehicles as the situation develops. The Department for Transport states that it is keeping MOT testing for cars, motorcycles and light vans under review. [UPDATE (25/03/2020): the government has announced that cars, motorcycles and vans will receive an exemption from Monday 30 March 2020. Click here for further details.]
NTDA: Tyre retailers, garages are “essential” during lockdown
Following the news that everyone in the UK should stay at home and therefore the country has entered a de facto lockdown, the government has published exceptions to that rule of key businesses include garages. In light of this and the closure of schools the week before, the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) has reaffirmed the association’s support of tyre centres.
