Kwik-Fit Fleet has won a five-year multi-million pound tyre repair, replacement and management contract with LeasePlan UK. The deal with LeasePlan UK, one of the country’s largest contract hire and fleet management companies with almost 120,000 funded vehicles on its books, will run until the end of 2011. The new contract builds on a business relationship between the two companies, which dates back to 2004.
While the original Hummer and the subsequent H2 found few friends on this side of the Atlantic due to their massive dimensions, the new Hummer H3 may have shed sufficient pounds to make it a less rare sight on UK roads. The H3 is 389mm shorter, 119mm lower and 73mm narrower than the H2, although at 4.78 metres (almost 16ft) in length it still cuts an impressive figure.
Shock absorber company KYB was named “Supplier of the Year” at the 2006 Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF) awards ceremony, which took place at the Hilton Metropole hotel in Birmingham.
Said Matthew Robinson, Sales Manager for KYB UK, “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award, the result of continued hard work and dedication by all members of the team to ensure our customers receive the best possible experience of KYB and its products.”
TyreSafe (formerly the Tyre Industry Council) has issued a warning outlining potential safety risks posed by equipment used by hand car wash teams in the UK. It appears that the industrial strength washing equipment used by such outfits, which are capable of dispensing water at extremely high pressure, can cause sidewall damage and degradation if aimed directly at a tyre, especially if the water is heated or if applied for a prolonged period of time.
Global tyre major Hankook is throwing its weight behind the Volkswagen Racing Cup for the second year running, acting as a principal sponsor for the manufacturer-backed saloon racing series. The Volkswagen Racing Cup, now in its seventh season, is arguably one of the most successful championships of its type in the UK.
Vicki Butler-Henderson, former racing car driver and presenter of the popular channel five motoring programme Fifth Gear, has put her support behind online tyre franchise etyres.
Pirelli UK Tyres Ltd is joining forces with Vacu-Lug, the UK’s largest independent retread manufacturer, in a strategic alliance that stands to strengthen the position of both companies.
Automotive filter and engine component supplier Mahle Filter Systems UK has appointed Phil Everitt as its new managing director. Everitt has been finance director of the company since 2002 and has over 25 years’ experience in the automotive sector, holding senior positions with TRW/Lucas and Rover.
He succeeds Ian Stanworth, who is taking early retirement after a career spanning 35 years in the automotive aftermarket, the last five of which were as Mahle’s MD
With the introduction of one man testing and Automatic Test Lanes, MAHA have produced a new range of brake testers to meet all MOT, ATL and any foreseen future requirements that may be introduced.
The basic MAHA IW 2 LON Brake Tester is approved for MOT testing for both classes IV and VII. The MAHA IW 2 LON basic brake tester is a modular system and can be manufactured to customer’s specifications. To update the basic IW 2 LON for AT specification will only require the addition of a weighting system and a PC.
Kwik-Fit Fleet has appointed Phil Preece to take charge of its relationships with vehicle insurance companies and bodyshops following the end-of-year retirement of Peter Melville. As business development manager for the insurance/bodyshop sector Mr Preece, who has been Kwik-Fit Fleet’s area sales manager for the Midlands for the past nine years, will be responsible for establishing new and developing already existing business relationships with all major motor insurers.
The NEC in Birmingham will be brimming with nostalgia and the spell of Le Mans on 13 & 14 January as one of the most significant displays of Le Mans cars ever assembled will be reunited with their legendary drivers, at Autosport International. The Le Mans feature, in association with BEN and Motor Sport magazine, will reunite the famous drivers with their famous cars, tracing the history of this near-mythical race from its very beginnings in 1923.
Having already committed itself to closing plants in the US, Canada, UK and New Zealand, Goodyear tire & Rubber Co has announced its intention to close its manufacturing facility in Casablanca, Morocco, by the end of 2007. Approximately 150 jobs will be cut as a result of the closure.
Sibur tyres may soon be available at your local independent garage or tyre fitter. Russia’s largest tyremaker is preparing to launch its push into the UK market at the Brityrex International 2007 show in May.
In keeping with the company’s aims to reintroduce discontinued tyres for motoring enthusiasts, Vintage Tyre Supplies has announced that original equipment replacement Land Rover tyres are now available in 600-16C 6pr at £129.50 and 700-16C 6pr at £135.50 (plus VAT). The Avon Traction Mileage cross-ply tyre was developed for serious off-road work and features rugged shoulder buttresses for even traction.
The RAC have revealed details of patrol callouts during 2006, and while punctured tyres were one of the most common reasons for requiring assistance, patrol personnel also reported encountering a number of unexpected and bizarre situations.
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