Chancellor George Osborne chose budget day to join the twittersphere, using his maiden post to say: "Today I'll present a Budget that tackles the economy's problems head on helping those who want to work hard & get on." But what is this likely to mean for those of us that are hard working?
Brake, the road safety charity, is partnering with Autoglass to launch a new national campaign promoting road safety. The free Bosch wipers initiative urges drivers to consider the road safety implications of poor visibility and raises awareness of the essential role windscreen wipers play in allowing drivers to maintain good visibility.
Motor Codes, the OFT-approved garage scheme operator, has announced the shortlist of businesses in the running for its Garage of the Year title. Thousands have voted in the annual initiative that helps uncertain motorists know where to turn for top-class customer service. Over 7,000 garages from across the UK, all subscribers to Motor Codes' government-backed code of practice, put themselves up for public scrutiny.
It may not be ‘basta’ for Bridgestone in Bari, after all. An Italian-language text published by Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development suggests that Bridgestone’s decision to close its Bari plant in Italy has not been finalised, and the tyre maker may be prepared to entertain alternative solutions. The Ministry’s statement follows a meeting between senior Bridgestone executives and representatives from Italy’s government, including Economic Development minister Corrado Passera, plus a second meeting that also involved trade unions and local officials. Further discussions will be held in the near future.
Cooper Tire & Rubber and its guayule rubber research consortium partners have reviewed initial progress on their US$6.9 million Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) grant from the USDA and the US Department of Energy. The meeting highlighted significant progress being made in several areas, including guayule plant genome sequencing needed for future breeding tools, irrigation studies to maximise rubber content in the plant, and completing laboratory testing to develop a guayule tyre-grade polymer specification for future commercialisation.
Micheldever Tyres Service’s latest quarterly tread depth analysis shows that between March 2012 and March 2013 between 50 and 60 per cent of tyres taken off in depots were already below the 1.6 millimetre legal limit. A further 40 per cent were on or just above it and only around three per cent were above 2 millimetres. Flicking back to when the research began in June 2008 it is clear to see that that the situation has deteriorated markedly over the last four or five years. Back then only around 15 per cent of tyres brought into depots were already illegal. Now it is more than triple that.
The association representing India’s tyre makers has expressed its opposition to a government decision to increase import duty on rubber. In a statement, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association Anant Goenka said any such decision “will have far-reaching and adverse consequences on tyre industry and its long-term impact will be felt on the entire value chain of rubber sector.”
Recently the French government was told it can keep its “so-called workers” at Goodyear’s slated-for-closure Amiens Nord factory, but news out of France suggests these workers may be offered an opportunity to keep their jobs, independently of Titan International or anyone else. On 26 February the CGT (General Confederation of Labour) union proposed forming a workers’ holding company, making the approximately 1,250 plant workers shareholders in the Amiens Nord operation.
The verbal fisticuffs between Titan International’s Maurice Taylor and France’s minister of industrial renewal Arnaud Montebourg, first leaked to the world by financial newspaper Les Échos on 19 February, has been played down by the US Department of State. During the department’s daily press briefing on 21 February, Taylor’s disparaging comments regarding the French work ethic were broached and spokesperson Victoria Nuland asked whether the US administration considers investing in France any more (or less) difficult than investing in other European countries.
Romanian news portal romania-insider.com stated on 21 February that Pirelli has begun the production of GP2 series racing tyres at its Slatina factory. Further details were not given, however the site notes that the Slatina factory, which is located 110 miles west of Bucharest, also produces GT series tyres.
In its 2012 annual report, Indian manufacturer MRF Ltd predicts that the country’s domestic tyre industry will grow by eight to ten per cent in the current financial year (to 30 September 2013). This growth will most likely be accompanied by continued pressure on margins should cost issued not be addressed, it adds.
"The shock rise in wholesale costs is just one of the reasons why the Petrol Retailers' Assocation (PRA) has been knocking on the door of the Office for Fair Trading (OFT), since this time last year, to demand a full investigation into the workings of the UK market for road fuel" said Brian Maddersion, PRA Chairman.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has confirmed it will focus on the UK automotive supply chain at its Open Forum event, taking place on 21 March 2013 in the West Midlands. The first speaker session will focus on the Automotive Council’s achievements to date and work going forward to strengthen the supply chain as well as activities undertaken by government. Members of the Automotive Council's Technology Group and Supply Chain Group will highlight the progress being made by the two key workstreams.
National Motorcycle Dealer Association is the new name for RMI motorcycle division, the trade association representing motorcycle dealers across the UK. Director Sue Robinson commented: "The UK motorcycle industry is evolving and modern motorcycle dealer's needs are changing. In an industry that has been hit hard by the recession it is more important than ever to have the support and guidance of a reputable trade body.
Six months after appointing Andrew Huntly as business development director, Halfords Autocentres is continuing to drive its fleet and affiliate business with the addition of two further BDMs. The new appointments bring Halfords Autocentres’ fleet account handling complement to six, demonstrating the business’ willingness to invest in the sector as part of ambitious growth targets.
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