GRI introduces 5 new Green EX sizes
Five new dimensions have joined the GRI agricultural tyre portfolio. Farmers in the UK and elsewhere will soon have an additional four Green EX RT100 sizes to choose from and one further Green EX FL800 size.
Five new dimensions have joined the GRI agricultural tyre portfolio. Farmers in the UK and elsewhere will soon have an additional four Green EX RT100 sizes to choose from and one further Green EX FL800 size.
Repairify has expanded its technical sales team with two new appointments. The company said the additions would enhance its nationwide customer service and support, supporting its customers in utilising Repairify’s vehicle diagnostic and calibration technology to its full potential.
GS Yuasa International Ltd., the parent company of GS Yuasa Battery Europe Ltd., has announced the signing of an agreement with Honda Motor Co. Ltd. to develop high-capacity, high-output lithium-ion batteries. The two Japanese heavyweights are to begin discussions with the aim of establishing a joint venture to meet the rapidly expanding demand for lithium-ion batteries by the end of 2023.
Public transport operator Warrington’s Own Buses has switched to an exclusive Michelin policy with the tyre manufacturer’s Services & Solutions division, as the business prepares to transition its entire bus fleet from diesel to electric. An important part of the new agreement will see 105 new electric buses arrive at the company specified with Michelin X InCity EV Z tyres as original equipment. The X InCity EV Z is Michelin’s first range of bus tyres specifically designed for electric vehicles (EVs).
UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations grew to 22,098 units in January, a year-on-year increase of 25.8 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The growth represents the first rise in new LCV registrations since the September plate change last year, and while full year growth is expected in 2023, January is traditionally a volatile month due to the intermittent nature of fleet renewal, with this year -6.2 per cent below pre-pandemic January 2020.
The UK new car market grew 14.7 per cent in January to reach 131,994 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), setting the tone for an anticipated countercyclical year of growth. This was the best start to the year since January 2020’s pre-Covid 149,279 units and is the sixth successive month of expansion.
Over the past year or so, Global Automotive Investments Holding (GAI) has acquired a significant stake in Tyremotive GmbH, but managing director and co-founder Jochen Freier initially retained his almost quarter share in the German tyre and wheel wholesaler. Freier has now sold and stepped down as MD “at his own request” on 31 January 2023, leaving behind him a 100% GAI-owned business.
Ebrahim K. Kanoo has become the official distributor of Davanti Tyres in Bahrain. The diversified conglomerate provides comprehensive maintenance services at its Michelin-certified retail network, Tyreplus. In addition to an extensive range of high-quality tyres, Tyreplus also offers lubricants, batteries, suspension, and brake systems for a wide variety of vehicles. Branches manned by experienced technicians can be found in Tubli, Muharraq, Sitra, Saar, Salmabad and Hidd.
ZC Rubber has launched a line of passenger car tyres developed for electric vehicles. Initially available only in the tyre maker’s home market of China, EV Pro products feature “notably reduced rolling noise” and “increased fuel efficiency” as well as “improved grip performance” for EVs. The tyre maker says it will soon introduce more EV tyre options for global markets.
A freshly-signed agreement sees Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) become the exclusive UK distributor for Petlas passenger car, 4×4 and light truck tyres. Petlas is the third exclusive brand MTS has taken on since its acquisition by Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2017
The official Chinese website of Nokian Tyres states that the Finnish tyre manufacturer is withdrawing from business in the Chinese market due to its “limited production capacity”.
Nokian Tyres reports that its fourth-quarter 2022 net sales totalled 411.3 million euros, down 19.8 per cent from 512.6 million euros in October–December 2021. Operating profit was 13.5 million euros (Q4 2022: 88.0 million). Despite that, the company’s full-year 2022 net sales grew 3.6 per cent to 1,776.1 million euros (2021: 1,714.1 million euros). However, that wasn’t enough to prevent a full-year 2022 loss of 116.2 million euros (2021: 268.2 million euros profit). Executives put the fourth-quarter declines down to “lower passenger car tyre supply volumes…”, something that is a veiled reference to the fact that the company is wrestling with a serious passenger car tyre production gap.
Tatneft, the firm seeking to acquire the Nokian Tyres operation in Russia, has purchased Uzbekhistan’s only tyre maker, Birinchi rezinotexnika zavodi. Former majority owner Uzkimyosanoat JSC reports that Tatneft paid US$80 million for a 100% shareholding in the tyre maker. Tatneft also takes over credit obligations and debts equal to $153 million.
Davanti Tyres has added SUV fitments to its recently launched Alltoura all-season tyre range. Launching the Alltoura H/T 4-Seasons, Davanti said the new model has been engineered to provide balanced performance, stability, fuel efficiency and durability for SUVs on the road. The tyre was developed using an extensive testing programme at leading proving grounds, Applus+ IDIADA in Spain and Test World in Finland, in summer and winter conditions. It is available in a range of 16-19” SUV fitments.
In the absence of specific information regarding Goodyear’s plans to cut 5% of its salaried workforce worldwide, uncertainty exists as to where the axe will fall. But it appears Luxembourg has been spared the worst, with media firm RTL Luxembourg reporting that Goodyear has “no official plans” to make staff redundant there. But this doesn’t mean they’ll be entirely unaffected by the tyre maker’s belt-tightening.
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