Fleets are facing tyre cost rises at an unprecedented rate, placing additional strain on already stretched SMR budgets, warns i247 Group, the outsourced driver support and asset management provider. The Poole-based company reports average tyre costs are likely to continue rising due to a rapidly-changing fleet portfolio mix and double-digit percentage cost increases from tyre manufacturers to its customer base.
The first tyres may only just have rolled offer the Serbia factory’s production line, but as part of its ongoing plans to increase market share in the European tyre market, Linglong is currently rolling out its Hubtrac designed-in-Germany, made-in-Serbia truck tyre range. One part of that strategy is supply strategic customers across the country. And those include key fleets.
Halfords Group has reported strong full-year 2022 revenue growth of +19.9 per cent compared with 2020. That means total group revenues amounted to £1.369 billion in 2022, of which £368 million came from the autocentres business – an increase of 91.9 per cent compared with 2020. Group gross margin totalled £721.7 million, of which £211.0 million came from Autocentres. Much of the Autocentres-driven growth comes via the acquisitions of Iversons and the Axle Group/National Tyres last year, however life-for-like growth of 23.4 per cent shows that business continues on an organic upward trajectory as well. As a result, Halfords Autocentres gross margin is now growing six-times faster than the group’s wider retail business.
Prometeon UK managing director Peter Fairlie is set to leave the company on 8 July 2022 to “embrace new professional opportunities”. In a statement announcing the news and organisational changes, Prometeon thanked Fairlie for “services rendered over the past three years and wishe[d] him every success in his future endeavours.”
An ice cream van was parked in front of the door when Tyres & Accessories visited Direct Tyre Management’s (DTM) new Blackpool headquarters in mid-May. At the same time, staff were presented with sticks of rock, buckets and spades and were enjoying food together. The reason? The DTM team were celebrating the official opening of the company’s Blackpool HQ and executives were welcoming staff to the new location a few miles up the road from the previous offices in Skelmersdale. Beyond the team-building benefits of the celebrations, the relocation itself illustrates how DTM has developed from a niche player into a fast-growing digital fleet technology business. Tyres & Accessories met with chief technology officer Dominic Clark and sales manager Simon Makin in order to find out more.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become vital for a car’s safety and form a critical part of EuroNCAP’s star safety rating system. But to ensure ADAS items continue to work correctly they need to be recalibrated after remedial work. With that in mind, tyre service and maintenance provider ATS Euromaster is advising fleets to consider recalibration work in any SMR undertaken on a vehicle that might affect the proper functioning of the affected safety system.
Following Micheldever Tyres Services (MTS) establishment of Micheldever Fleet Solution fleet tyre operation a year ago, the company has developed both the depth and scale of its fleet tyre offering. One example of the practical application of MFS’s offering can be found in Auto Windscreen fleet. Shaun Atton, Auto Windscreens’ Head of Fleet and Facilities. Atton, who manages Auto Windscreens’ 354-strong fleet of vehicles across 64 UK sites, shared how the fleet support services provided by MFS work to bring “peace of mind” to the business:
Fleets have been less affected than expected by the global semiconductor shortage that has impacted the original equipment business. According to latest research from Arval Mobility Observatory’s 2022 Barometer, just one in four fleets (26%) say that they have been affected.
In early May, Prometeon Tyre Group launched its Pirelli-branded Serie 02 truck tyre range in Venice, Italy. More than 200 customers from 10 countries were invited to learn about the launch of the Serie 02, which has been on sale in the EMEA region since April. General manager Roberto Righi, chief technical officer Alexandre Bregantim, head of marketing Sabina Oriani and region Europe CEO Francesco Antonacci were all on-hand to explain about Prometeon’s latest products and strategies.
Point S Tyre & Autocare is exhibiting alongside its truck tyre distribution partner, International Tyres, at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show. The stand will showcase the Fortune truck tyre range, alongside Point S’ range of high-quality car and van tyres.
Michelin Connected Fleet made its UK debut at the ITT Hub truck technology event in Farnborough on 11 May 2022. Michelin Connected Fleet is an evolution of Michelin’s 2019 acquisition of Masternaut and interfacing with other comparable systems in the Michelin portfolio. The technology, which is as much about service and support as it is technology, was launched in Spain and France in 2021. Next up are Germany and South Africa later in 2022, followed by markets such as Sweden and Benelux after that.
Lack of vehicle availability is extending commercial vehicle replacement cycles, which results in greater service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs in line with increased maintenance requirements, according to ATS Euromaster.
Goodyear will be showcasing its commercial Goodyear Total Mobility solution on a roadshow across 13 European countries in 2022. The tour follows the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship calendar as well as a number of key cities and trade events.
The year-long Drive Results tour and campaign kicked-off on 22 April in France, before heading to the United Kingdom and Italy in May for the first round of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship at Misano. The UK leg sees the company engage with this year’s ITT Hub at Farnbourgh International 11-12 May.
Iain Hayes will report to managing director, Nick Harley, and will be responsible for the company’s mobile operations, warehousing, tyre supplies and distribution.
Tyre management specialist Direct Tyre Management (DTM) has appointed Leigh Goodland as managing director. Goodland brings with him 25 years’ experience in commercial transport, logistics and vehicle fleet management.
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