Point S Tyre & Autocare was recently recognised as an IMI approved centre. According to the independent retail network, the achievement is “a significant step towards Point S’ goal of becoming the largest qualified and certified European network for electric vehicle maintenance by 2026.”
Roughly half of MOT testers have now completed their annual training and assessment, according to DVSA. But that means that around half still need to complete assessment with the clocking ticking ahead of the 31 March deadline.
A one-stop tyre shop in Basingstoke for truckers, farmers and motorists is the latest depot to become a member of the First Stop network. R & R Tyres, situated on Armstrong Road, will benefit from a wide range of support, including a £5,000 investment already made in new signage. The garage is one of the most popular in the town and one of very few in the country to fit tyres for HGVs, tractors, vans and passenger vehicles all under the same roof, while also offering a mobile call-out service around the area.
Eden Tyres & Servicing has completed the construction of its 21st retail depot in Gainsborough ahead of schedule, which means the new branch opened on 18 February. Located next to Morrisons supermarket on Heapham Road South, company representatives are clearly expecting decent footfall from such a prime retail location.
ATS Euromaster opened a brand-new tyre fitting and service centre in Hull on 1 February 2023. The opening brings ATS Euromaster’s total network size 260 centres. According to the company, the Cleveland Street centre offers “wider scope for commercial vehicle servicing, thanks to its high roof bays”. That enables ATS Euromaster Hull to now provide MOT work for class 4 commercials (motorhomes, ambulances, taxis and vans up to 3000kg) and Class 7 commercials (vans up to 3500kg), particularly high roof versions.
French car parking business Saemes is partnersing with Speedy (the French, Bridgestone-owned tyre and fast-fit operation) and “additional partners” to offer “maintenance of all types of vehicles within its car park”.
Hankook Tyre UK has announced the winner of its latest promotional competition. Mr. Tyre customer Vincent Square won the top prize of a top-of-the-range Hyundai Ioniq 5 after purchasing Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 tyres from the retailer’s Langley Mill depot. The competition was open to purchasers of two or more Hankook car, SUV or 4×4 tyres from Hankook approved dealers, with daily prizes of £100 in Love2Shop gift vouchers also available during the promotional period.
As part of its endeavours to be the “UK’s leading independent tyre dealer and car maintenance network,” in 2022 Point S Tyre & Autocare made a “substantial investment” in its independent auto centres. Point S says its members “can expect a year of further network development and progress in 2023” that builds upon this investment.
There has been talk about closing the recruitment gap in the automotive aftermarket for years. More recently certain training bodies and associations such as the NTDA have taking significant steps to renew efforts to recruit and upskill the tyre and aftermarket workforce. Now, however, is clear evidence that these much-discussed issues are not just theoretical. Rather, the lack of skill people in the trade is affecting the ability to service already depleted demand, which is hitting profitability even amongst some of the largest, fastest-growing and most profitable tyre-selling businesses.
Halfords Group plc (Halfords)’s third-quarter 2023 trading update for the 13 weeks to 30 December 2022 show that group revenue grew 38.3 per cent and like-for-like group sales were up 12.6 per cent compared with 2020 levels. Other headlines included the news that Halfords’s services business represents 50.3 per cent of group revenue, and B2B, which includes the Avayler system 28.2 per cent. At the same time, Halfords hailed its “strong Commercial Fleet performance”, with this part of the business growing 138 per cent year-on-year. However, the company reduced its full-year 2023 underlying profit before tax (PBT) guidance from £60 million to £50 million.
Effective 4 January 2023, Thomas Harbo has been appointed as CEO of Euromaster Danmark A/S. Thomas replaces Henrik Fusager, who since August 2022 has held the dual role of CEO of both Euromaster Denmark and Euromaster Switzerland.
First Stop Tyres & Car Services has confirmed that Brenden Marais has been appointed as the new national franchise manager for First Stop in the UK and Ireland. He will also act as the country manager for the First Stop network in Ireland.
Point S has officially opened its first two pilot points of sale in Brazil. Located in Recife and Vitoria, the brand-new sites mark the beginning of an ambitious five-year plan. The announcement follows the news in April 2022 that Point S had signed a master franchisee contract in Brazil with ATO, whose shareholder companies are ADSTA and Orletti.
Continental Tyres has opened its first BestDrive tyre retail centre in Dubai at an opening ceremony in the Al Quoz district. The third branch to be opened in the UAE, following two openings in Abu Dhabi, BestDrive in Dubai will be managed by Emirates for Universal Tyres L.L.C. (EUT).
ETB Autocentres has introduced a number of retail deals and initiatives to help motorists in the difficult economic climate. The 43-branch network, with sites in the Midlands, Wales and the South West, is offering free brake pads, Amazon gift vouchers and winter safety kits. It is also conducting daily competitor price checks, as well as offering flexible payment plans, acknowledging that automotive work is often an unexpected expense.
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