The latest new motorcycle and scooter figures for March show sales overall were down 10.8 per cent against March 2012. Under 50cc scooter sales were down 27.3 per cent in March, while all larger over 50cc motorcycle sales have decreased by 8.9 per cent.
UK brake supplier Apec has expanded its product range with the addition of 13 new brake pads, continuing the expansion of what the company says is Europe's largest range of direct replacement braking items, which now stands at over 1,400 brake pads, and over 6,000 braking products.
Following the news that Yokohama established a Mexican subsidiary, Yokohama Tire Mexico S. de R.L., local news reports suggest the tyre manufacturer is planning to use this company to build a passenger car tyre production plant in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico. According to El Economista newspaper, the plan is for the plant to provide tyres to Honda and Mazda auto plants in the region, as well as for the North American replacement market.
Kohlberg Kravis Robert (commonly known as KKR) has confirmed reports that it is acquiring a controlling stake in Alliance Tire Group (ATG) from an affiliate of Warburg Pincus. KKR also confirmed that Yogesh Mahansaria, founder of ATG, will continue to maintain an ownership stake in the company and partner with KKR to continue to grow the business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed and so details of current shareholdings and therefore the balance of power are not yet clear. As usual, the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and third-party consents.
Dutch off-road tyre company Magna Tyres Group is presenting a wide range of OTR tyres at April’s Bauma 2013 show in Germany, including its largest 57-inch fitment.
On 10 April the head of Continental’s Tire division, Nikolai Setzer, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Continental’s consumer tyre factory in Púchov. The signing of the MoU at Continental’s headquarters in Hannover, Germany paves the way for an expansion project that will see passenger and light truck tyre capacity in Púchov rising by more than 5 million pieces a year.
A Market Harborough-based agricultural contractor has become the first in the country to fit four Michelin AxioBib IF 900/60 R42 tyres to a single machine – its Claas Xerion 5000. Family-run business J Beaty and Sons operates a fleet of six tractors, two self-propelled sprayers and one telescopic loader. Having already fitted Michelin’s AxioBib 800s to two John Deere tractors, owner Richard Beaty opted for all four wheels of his Claas Xerion to be fitted with Michelin’s newest and largest farm tyre as original equipment.
British design firm Carbon One is poised to introduce a new range of wheels manufactured with carbon to achieve reduced weight targets. The firm estimates that using “next-generation lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre composites, could reduce passenger car weight by 50 per cent and improve fuel efficiency by about 35 per cent without compromising performance or safety” – and wheels are the latest component to which it is seeking to apply this thinking.
Alcoa Wheel Products has announced that it will display its forged aluminium products at oil distribution industry exhibition FPS Expo from 17-18 April at Yorkshire’s Harrogate International Centre. The market leader manufactures in Székesfehérvár, Hungary with a service and distribution centre in Paal, Belgium.
The Al Dobowi Group has been distributing Chinese manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce’s Westlake tyre brand in certain key markets for 20. The Group’s chairman, Surender Kandhari marked the occasion by presenting Ge Gourong, CEO of Hangzhou Zhongce, with a commemorative gold dagger. The gift, a symbol of strength, is designed to reflect the 20 years of partnership and “years of future growth together”, Al Dobowi states.
Maxxis has announced its plans to increase its presence on social networking platforms. New Maxxis marketing manager Amy Colbourne explains that the company’s increased activity on social networks will allow it to offer better customer support, as well as allowing customers to speak directly to the company more easily. The brand has recently launched a new Maxxis Babes website and currently has Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Google+ accounts.
In a test reminiscent of a stunt pulled by Top Gear’s original Stig, but fortunately with a different end result, double Superbike World Champion and four-time 250cc World Champion Max Biaggi tested the braking qualities of Pirelli’s new Angel GT motorcycle tyre on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Pirelli has launched the third generation of its Sottozero winter tyre. The Winter Sottozero 3 is designed for cars with medium to large capacity engines and places an emphasis on grip in all conditions and tyre longevity.
US-based retreading advocate the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, or TRIB, has released the results of its passenger car tyre retreading survey. TRIB asked its members around the world several questions on the matter, and the replies it gained indicate that passenger car tyre retreading is viewed as a relatively stagnant business.
Bridgestone Europe says it will present a “strong line-up” of OTR tyres at this month’s Bauma 2013 trade show in Germany. At its stand (109/206 in hall A6), the company will present details of its “Total Tyre Care” programme plus present its new 20.5 R25 VSDR. Tyre aficionados will also have the chance to ogle the world’s largest OTR radial.
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