SMMT: Automotive industry on Brexit “red alert”
UK automotive companies are reducing production and backing off investment as a way of bracing themselves for a no-deal Brexit, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
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Hard Brexit will affect UK driving licences in EU
If the UK plans to leave the European Union without a deal covering driving licences, UK licence holders living in the EU or EEA will have to exchange their UK driving licence for a local EU driving licence before 29 March 2019. If they don’t, after that point they may have to pass a driving test in the EU country they live in in order to be able to carry on driving there.
Two-thirds of UK consumers against winter tyres
67 per cent of drivers don’t think winter tyres are worth the investment, according to an online poll conducted by Co-op Insurance on 25 January 2019. The Twitter-based poll received votes from 4,084 individuals and a stream of interesting comments on the subject followed.
Guy Heywood named Hankook Tire Europe truck tyre marketing director
Hankook Tire Europe has appointed Guy Heywood as the new marketing and strategy director for its European truck and bus business. Heywood has 20 years of experience in the tyre industry in leadership positions, most recently active as the commercial director for Michelin UK and Truck, Bus and Service director for the company’s North Europe area. Heywood is taking over from Seok Yun Kim who relocated to Hankook’s organisation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he has become managing director.
MWheels promotes Mardle to CEO
MWheels has promoted Matthew Mardle to chief executive officer (CEO), a role in which he takes responsibility for financial results and all day-to-day operations of the business. John Ellis, who originally founded the business over 30 year ago, takes the role of chairman, having been chief executive, and continues to be involved in the company’s leadership function.
Kwik Fit aims to raise £1 million for Children with Cancer UK
Kwik Fit has selected Children with Cancer UK as its first ever Charity of the Year. The UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people was chosen following a vote open to more than 5,000 Kwik Fit employees across the UK.
European Springs expands with 1 million euro investment in UK operations
European Springs & Pressings, supported by parent company Lesjofors, has invested 1 million euros in a new spring coiling machine, the first of its kind in the UK.
Hankook promotes Brett Emerson to UK managing director
Hankook Tire has appointed Brett Emerson as managing director for the UK effective 1 January 2019. Emerson brings over 30 years’ experience in the tyre industry, including nearly five years at Hankook in the role of UK sales director. He takes over the position from Jong Jin Park who has now relocated to Hankook’s American Headquarters to assume a new role.
2018 has been ‘Up in the air’
When it comes to reviewing 2018, two words sum up the kinds of talking points virtually everyone has touched on this year: tariffs and Brexit. Indeed it has to be said that 2018’s two meta-themes are not entirely separate from one another. Nevertheless, both have this in common. For most of the last twelve months details of both subjects have been “up in the air”, leaving the rest of us to forecast (which often means speculate) exactly what is going on. See page 32 for further analysis of what has been going on this year as well as coverage of a couple of stories that are emblematic of these themes.
The increasingly high-value UK tyre replacement market
4×4/SUV and UHP markets continued to grow in 2018
As part of our review of 2018, Tyres & Accessories asked market research specialists to give an overview of some of the key trends that have taken place in the UK car, 4×4 and light truck replacement tyre market trends during the course of the year. In doing so, we have a good foundation for looking forward into 2019 and beyond. What we found was that UK tyre replacement market is increasingly high-performance and increasingly high-value.
GfK’s Panelmarket data compares the period between November 2016 and October 2017 with November 2017 to October 2018. Reading left to right, the infographic below shows the percentage share of the panelmarket broken down by vehicle type (passenger car, 4×4 including SUV and light commercial vehicle); key changes in the panelmarket during the last 12 months broken down by rim diameter; brand tier split; and the two five tyre sizes.
Fintyre to open London head office
The last couple of years have been something of a whirlwind for the European Fintyre Distribution project, which has seen the business grow from a key player in the Italian market into a wider European operation with aspirations of being the leading force in pan-European tyre distribution and perhaps even beyond. Tyres & Accessories recently met with European Fintyre chief executive officer Mauro Pessi in order find out more about the company’s decision to base its central headquarters in London as well as its general, ongoing growth.
Servicesure to start search for new ‘Autocentre of the Year’
National garage network Servicesure will start the search for the 2019 ‘Autocentre of the Year’ in November, after this year’s winner gained publicity afterwards leading to a ‘ridiculous amount of new work’.
The debut 2018 event drew tremendous interest from the garage network and the plan is to hold a ‘bigger and better’ dinner and awards ceremony in April 2019, with the winner being announced live on the night. Shortlisted garages will once again all be invited to attend.
Schaeffler to reorganise UK business
The global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler, which employs over 92,000 people worldwide, proposes to reorganise its UK business activities as part of its excellence programme “Agenda 4 plus One”. This programme includes a global footprint initiative that is examining the strategic and economic competitiveness and long-term sustainability of all Schaeffler locations worldwide. As part of this initiative the Executive Board has decided to reorganise its activities in the UK.
Michelin Dundee closure: Scotland’s Economy Secretary convening action group
Scotland’s Finance and Economy Secretary, Derek Mackay, held urgent talks yesterday with trade unions and the management of Michelin Tyre Company Ltd. to discuss the future of the Dundee car tyre plant, following confirmation of Michelin’s intention to close the plant by 2020.
Horiba MIRA appoints new CCO
Horiba MIRA has appointed Miller Crockart as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
An experienced commercial leader, Crockart brings with him more than 20 years of international sales experience; most recently global vice president for sales and marketing at PTV, a provider of traffic simulation and optimization software and services for the transportation industry, and now part of Porsche Automobil Holdings SE.
