"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.
Figures submitted to consumer champion honestjohn.co.uk reveal a discrepancy between official fuel economy ratings and real performance is costing drivers £4.45billion per year.
Damning research by consumer motoring website HonestJohn.co.uk reveals that heavily overstated official fuel figures cost UK drivers up to £4.45 billion per year collectively.
Remy Automotive UK Ltd has introduced 25 new steering pumps and five new steering racks for popular vehicle applications to its range of parts, which now totals well over 2,000, covering more than 20,000 car applications. These are said to be the first of many new steering references which Remy plans to develop during the course of this year.
A new report published by research and markets suggest that tyre demand is increasing in emerging markets. It points out that global automotive production has a direct impact on the demand for tyres and tyre cords in the OEM segment. Higher number of cars produced translates into increased use of tyre cords in tyre production and vice versa. Therefore disruptions in vehicle production tend to distort opportunities in the market.
The Petrol Retailers' Association (PRA), representing the UK's independent forecourt retailers, welcomes the Deloitte Report 'Study of the UK petroleum retail market'. The report indisputably confirms that the majority fuel forecourts are running with dangerously low levels of stock and that the continued closure of forecourts is reducing onsite storage capacity across the country. The study found that independent forecourts are being forced to cut back stock levels to control working capital costs.
Driver performance management company GreenRoad has published the results from its "Fleet Leader 2013 Outlook" study. According to the survey, the majority of UK fleet leaders, 56 per cent, are 'cautiously optimistic' about 2013, only 12 per cent are 'very optimistic', and 22 per cent, identify themselves as 'neutral' about the year ahead. More than two-thirds, 67 per cent, expect the price of fuel to rise ‘modestly’ in 2013, and a clear majority, 84 per cent, cite 'reducing fleet fuel expenses' as a significant or very significant challenge.
UK chancellor George Osborne has scrapped – or at least, postponed – the planned 3p rise in fuel duty in his Autumn Statement. With reports suggesting that UK mileage is holding reasonably steady, this represents a crumb of short-term comfort for businesses and motorists, though the Office for Budget Responsibility prediction of stagnant growth will keep the pressure on the UK economy. Though fuel price campaigner Quentin Willson welcomed the news, arguing “money that's spent on fuel duty is not spent on the wider economy”, it seems likely that campaigns to reduce fuel duty will also continue, since the chancellor will continue to be pressed to take gambles to help kick-start the UK economy. Tyre service specialist ATS Euromaster is amongst those calling for reductions in fuel duty, while PwC’s automotive expert also pointed out that the fuel duty rise is still due to happen on 1 September 2013.
On 21st November, as part of the on-going build-up of political pressure in advance of the Autumn Statement, the Road Haulage Association joined fuel campaigners at the Palace of Westminster to tell MPs, face to face, about the hardship being forced upon their constituents as a result of high fuel prices.
"Each of the supporting groups gave a short presentation to the MPs present", said RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning. "We were able to provide them with a stark list of facts and figures that really pushed the message home. The good news is that those present certainly appeared to be genuinely concerned".
"Contrary to reports, independent fuel retailers have helped to lead fuel prices down recently with several reporting that they had dropped prices below local supermarket competition" said Brian Madderson, Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) chairman.
UK motorists will waste nearly £50 million of fuel this winter by leaving their cars to idle with the engine running in order to defrost them, a new study of regular drivers by Direct Line Car Insurance has discovered.
The fuel wasted equates to over 300 million road miles and would enable someone to drive an average size car more than 13,000 times around the world.
Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) has launched a new guide designed to simplify the commercial vehicle wheel purchasing process. Covering commercial truck, trailer, bus and coach operators, the MWSD Chevron Quality Steel Wheels Product Information booklet steers customers through the advantages of each design along with detailed load and fitting information.
Suzuki GB PLC is keen to ensure drivers are well-equipped to tackle the worst the weather can throw at them by offering a winter tyre promotion with prices on average 10 per cent lower than last Winter and with storage facility now available.
"Motorway Service Areas owned or supplied by major oil companies continue to extort their customers by pricing fuel much higher than at their standard company-owned sites" said Brian Madderson, Petrol Retailers' Association (PRA) Chairman.
Recent data produced by Experian Catalist showed that Shell brand petrol purchased at a Motorway Service Area was 14 pence per litre (ppl) more expensive than Shell brand petrol purchased at one of their standard sites. Diesel was as much as 12ppl more. The gap between prices for Esso brand fuel was very similar.
With the formal introduction of tyre labelling upon us, it is no surprise that the nation's leading tyre manufacturers are seeking to raise the profile of the label and what it means. According to Michelin, the primary strength of tyre labelling is that it has been introduced to enable motorists to make an informed decision about their tyre choice. But the leading tyre maker also looks forward to a tightening of the rules and a further raising of standards. One particular request is to include mileage/tread wear on future labels.
Michelin has reported sales of 16.142 billion euros in the first nine months. The figure, which represents a 6 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, comes despite slow demand and continued pressure in the economic environment especially in mature markets. However, despite the increase, sales volumes were down 6.7 per cent, with the overall improvement being explained by product mix and raw materials-related price increases.
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