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To help it design tyres that contribute towards lower fuel consumption and, in electric vehicles, increased range, Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. has developed its own aerodynamic simulation technology. It calls it ‘Mobility Aerodynamics’ and says the technology “represents an advance never seen in the industry before.”
Bridgestone Corporation today announced its title sponsorship of next year’s World Solar Challenge, which will be held in Australia from 13 to 20 October 2019.
Nexen Tire recently presented a pair of new additions to its portfolio, the Nexen N’Fera Sport SU2 and the Nexen Winguard Sport 2 SUV. The first of these is positioned in the UHP segment and the second offers SUV fitments for 15- to 19-inch rim diameters. Both tyres will be available as of 2019.
At a meeting of its Board of Directors held on 15 June, two days after the passing of company chairman Mr Ding Yuhua, Mr Ding Mu was elected the new chairman of Triangle Tyre Co., Ltd. He also became, with immediate effect, the company’s legal representative according to its Articles of Association.
Off-highway tyre maker BKT has taken on title sponsorship of Italy’s second-highest football championship, Serie B. The arrangement covers a period of three years and sees the championship’s official name change to Serie BKT. In addition, BKT gains brand visibility in all Lega Serie B stadiums and during televised matches.
When visiting the team at Interpneu during The Tire Cologne, we assumed they’d talk about business at home in Germany. We were wrong – the wholesaler shared a strong interest in expanding its operations in the UK and in northern Europe. Plans to do this are already in place.
When stage one of the Tour de France begins in Noirmoutier, northwest France, on 7 July, Continental will launch into its first year as a sponsor of the world-famous cycle race. Through its sponsorship of the Tour de France, Continental not only aims to draw attention to its bicycle tyre range; it also hopes the exposure gained will aid its ‘Vision Zero’ push towards a world without road fatalities and accidents.
Another tyre wholesaler in Germany is now in manufacturer hands. Hankook Tire has announced the 100 per cent equity purchase of independent wholesaler and retailer Reifen Müller. The acquisition gives Hankook Tire ownership of Reifen Müller’s sales distribution affiliate company, Reifen Müller KG, its 44 retail service outlets and the Reifen Müller GmbH & Co. Runderneuerungswerk KG retreading business.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has finalised its acquisition of New Zealand’s TRS Tyre & Wheel Ltd from automotive market company Bapcor Limited. TRS Tyre & Wheel distributes agricultural, material handling and construction tyres throughout New Zealand, specialising in the provision of tyres and complete wheels for tyre and tractor dealers.
Distributed in the UK by Traxx Tyres, Vitora is a relatively new tyre brand. At The Tire Cologne we caught up with Luke Bedford, who is in charge of international sales for Vitora, and he filled us in on what’s been happening since the brand was established two years ago.
On 28 May 1983, the late Stefan Bellof set a new outright lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife when he propelled his Porsche 956 around its entire 20.832 kilometres in 6 minutes 11.13 seconds. This record stood until 29 June 2018 when another Porsche – the spectacular 919 Evo – was brought into play during the 919 Tribute Tour. With Timo Bernhard behind the wheel, the Porsche hybrid sped around the Nordschleife in just 5 minutes 19.55 seconds.
It recently upgraded its V.ply port tyre line with the introduction of Port Plus, a compound designed to reduce heat generation and abrasion. Now Continental has announced plans to complete its port tyre portfolio next year with the summer 2019 launch of new radial products.
The Global Management Association, a research evaluation institution operated by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, has voted Nexen Tire the tyre segment winner of its Global Customer Satisfaction Competency Index (GCSI) for the ninth consecutive year. The tyre maker’s victory is based upon feedback received by the approximately 102,000 respondents to an online survey performed in April 2018. The survey rated companies in categories such as customer satisfaction, customer value, global competency and loyalty.
Although present with its Goodride, Golden Crown and Westlake brands at The Tire Cologne, Richard Li stressed that the main focus for the Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) during the show was upon the last of the trio. Westlake is, explained the assistant general manager and marketing director, the tyre maker’s “flagship brand in Europe.”
A reshuffle of upper management within Continental’s Tire division took effect yesterday. The new line-up sees Christian Kötz leading the division’s Commercial Vehicle Tires business unit and his previous role of head of the Passenger and Light Truck Replacement Tires EMEA taken over by Philipp von Hirschheydt. The latter’s previous position, head of Passenger and Light Truck Replacement Tires APAC, is now the responsibility of Ferdinand Hoyos.
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