Tyre manufacturer Apollo Vredestein has been announced as a partner to the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Van Excellence scheme, an innovative initiative designed to recognise excellence within the commercial vehicle sector and improve operational standards.
In the US, Vans has team up with Michelin to produce a limited-edition range of the shoemaker’s Sk8-Hi and Old Skool models. Both boast a blue and white checkerboard print upper featuring Bibendum’s face in the white cells, as well as “bright yellow accents at the tongue tab, inner lining and foxing”.
April van sales have helped to drive up year-to-date figures for light commercial registrations. “Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations increased 3.9 per cent compared to the same period last year for which there were there were no changes in road tax,” said Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association.
The chancellor of the exchequer, Phillip Hammond, has announced a reduction in tax for the cleanest vans in his Spring Statement. Introducing the measure, he said the government wanted to “help the great British white van driver go green.” Analyst KPMG responded that more detail is needed to allow vehicle manufacturers to develop products to take advantage of the tax reduction.
Michelin has launched a new CrossClimate tyre to take on the demanding conditions in which European van drivers increasingly operate. Having successfully rolled out the “summer tyre with winter capabilities” to the consumer market with two iterations of CrossClimates for cars and an SUV version, Michelin has extended the concept to light commercial operators with the Agilis CrossClimate. To mark its launch, Michelin demonstrated the tyre’s winter characteristics at a special test site in the French Alps. With the so-called Beast from the East providing the most extreme winter driving conditions the UK has seen in more than a decade as Tyres & Accessories goes to print, the appeal of products to handle such conditions while also suiting the mostly moderate climate in a market disinclined to fit winter tyres seems likely to receive at least a short-term boost.
Bridgestone has signed a tyre partnership with online supermarket Ocado. The manufacturer will supply its home delivery fleet, encompassing more than 1,500 Mercedes Sprinter vans, with the Blizzak W810, which will stay on each vehicle all year round following rigorous internal testing. It is Bridgestone’s biggest UK van tyre fleet win to date.
The UK’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market fell -4.2 per cent in January 2018, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The decline amounts to just 888 fewer vans being driven off forecourts in the first month of the year, compared with 2017.
In 2017 the light commercial vehicle market was more resilient than expected with a modest decline of -3.6 per cent on last year. A total of 362,149 units were registered, which equates to only 13,538 vehicles less than the previous year.
SMMT figures show that new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations experienced a double-digit decline in November. The market fell -11.1 per cent, with 26,486 new vans and pick-ups registered – the third consecutive monthly fall.
The new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market declined in October, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 24,968 new LCVs joined British roads last month, a -7.4 per cent fall compared with the same month last year.
Alloy and steel wheel distributor Wheelwright has extended its Calibre T-Sport alloy wheel range. Already popular for Ford Transit and Transit Custom fitments, the wheel is now available for the smaller Ford Transit Connect.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has commented that the lower number of light commercial vehicle registrations in September is indicative of “uncertainty” and higher retail prices of goods from the European Union as a result of a weaker pound.
Figures from the SMMT show that the new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market declined in September. 57,368 new LCVs were driven off forecourts, a -4.2 per cent fall compared with the same month last year.
Following the increase in July, the new van market also grew in August by 1.5 per cent to 15,619 units, SMMT figures reveal. Year to date, the market is now -2.8 per cent down on last year.
Specialist broadcast solutions company Cloudbass has signed a new deal with ATS Euromaster to maximise its vehicle uptime. Sky, BBC and ITV turn to Cloudbass to assist in the production of high profile live sports programming, including Scottish Premier League football and the British Touring Car Championship. For this reason, Cloudbass required a support partner that could keep its commercial vehicle fleet on the road and minimise tyre-related downtime.
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