Kwik-Fit Fleet has launched a new card aimed at SME sector light commercial and car fleets. Called Kwik-Fit Drive, the card replaces the Kwik-Fit Business Drive Card and can be used to purchase fuel and obtain vehicle breakdown and recovery, while it also provides fleets access to a range of Kwik-Fit services at competitive prices. Kwik-Fit Drive will be officially launched in June.
Pearl River Tyre (Holdings) Limited reports that the disposal PRT Capital Pte Ltd took place on 16 April 2013. Upon completion of the HK$85 million (£7.2 million) deal, PRT Capital will cease to be a subsidiary of Pearl River Tyre and the financial results will no longer be consolidated with that of the group.
According to recent information released by the Independent Garage Association (IGA), cash-strapped motorists will be delighted to hear that visiting an independent garage could cost them on average £40 an hour less than if they visited a franchise dealer.
The IGA polled over 2000 of its members on their labour rates and has concluded, that independent garages 'continue to offer motorists the very best value for money.' Enabling all UK motorists to find a 'trusted' local independent garage was one of the key reasons why the IGA launched its UK-wide Trust My Garage scheme.
In recent times a website in Italy has raised the hackles of at least one wholesaler within that country. The site, gommaflash.com, uses an application that offers tyre dealers – for an annual fee of between 500 and 700 euros – the opportunity to view and compare the prices and conditions offered by all distributors. GommaFlash obtains the information by using the dealer’s passwords to enter each B2B distributor’s platform. Prices and other information are displayed in real time.
UK brake supplier Apec has expanded its product range with the addition of 13 new brake pads, continuing the expansion of what the company says is Europe's largest range of direct replacement braking items, which now stands at over 1,400 brake pads, and over 6,000 braking products.
In a press release, Heuver Tyrewholesale shares that “despite difficulties in the market,” the wholesaler “managed to end 2012 on a positive note.” The Netherlands-based company states that, taking market conditions into consideration, its performance last year is viewed with satisfaction.
Chinese tyre manufacturers are shifting away from the production of truck tyres in favour of passenger car product, according to local news sources and Bloomberg. Even with this shift, however, China’s net rubber consumption will remain flat for 2013, good news for tyre pricing worldwide.
While many of us may have thought that price is the most important determining factor when it is time to visit a garage, the latest research from Halfords Autocentres suggests it is actually more about trust. The study among UK motorists found that, despite fuel and insurance prices driving up the cost of motoring, the vast majority of owners (62 per cent) value trust above all else.
Australian fast fit chain Kmart Tyre & Auto has turned its back on short-term price promotions in favour of a new “everyday low prices” marketing strategy. The company implemented the tagline ‘No sales’…’Just low tyre prices that stay low’ to promote this strategy online and in its print and radio advertising. The fast fit network, which encompasses more than 250 outlets, also intends to introduce Facebook and Twitter pages in the near future.
In addition to reporting its 2012 results, US-based aluminium wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International, Inc. has announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Mexico to expand capacity and meet anticipated growth in product demand.
Recently, Denmark-based wholesaler NDI decided to establish a warehouse in China near to where its Nordexx private brand is manufactured. From this warehouse the wholesaler will directly supply Nordexx-brand and other products to its European and international customers. Last week the first shipment of Nordexx tyres arrived in the new Qingdao warehouse, and NDI says it will have the full Nordexx range in stock there within three weeks.
Demand for used vehicles overseas is leading to cars targeted for export selling for up to twice their UK value or more at auction, say independent car information experts CAP. But the used vehicle export phenomenon is not confined to cars, with CAP's experts also reporting a constant flow of trucks, trailers, motorcycles and vans abroad as the export trade grows every day. This trade, supplying almost every continent with used British vehicles, is pushing prices ever higher in the UK and creating shortages of certain models.
Fears that UK motorists will steer clear of this month's '13' registration plate for new cars are unfounded, say CAP – the car information experts. Nor does the company believe superstitious motorists will cause increased depreciation via reduced demand for 13 plate cars by avoiding them in the future used car market.
Milltek has released a new exhaust for the B8 RS4. Milltek’s engineers report that they were keen to maintain the all-round character and usability of the RS4, whilst injecting a little more drama – and power – into proceedings. Two systems will be made available upon launch; a primary cat back, with full EC homologation and approval for those looking to keep things ‘OEM+’ and a wonderfully toned non-resonated system that offers a perfectly pitched rasp and growl, but without the in-cabin resonance and droning of lesser systems.
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.
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