Chinese EV price war raises fleet fear of similar strategy in the UK
A round of dramatic price cuts by Chinese manufacturers in their domestic market recently has raised the possibility of a similar strategy being adopted in the UK, says fleet software and management specialist FleetCheck. The Financial Times is reporting that BYD has “fired a new salvo in a prolonged price war” by reducing prices of 20 different models by up to 34 per cent with other manufacturers following suit. Share values have fallen as a result.
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Dunlop Aircraft Tyres boosts efficiency with factory upgrades
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited (DATL) is enhancing its manufacturing capabilities through significant factory upgrades at its location in Birmingham. DATL, which is a key player in the global aircraft tyre market, has invested £2,451,000 in capital expenditure, money which has been spent on factory upgrades including a new duplex cold feed extrusion line and a multi-phase roof cladding renovation, both designed to improve operational efficiency and sustainability, according to DATL’s most recent annual report. These upgrades come as the aviation industry recovers strongly, with Dunlop reporting a 5.4 per cent increase in turnover to £57,026,000 in 2024, driven by rising demand.
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Goodyear pays down debt with Dunlop sale proceeds, starts $500 million fundraising
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has commenced a public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5-year senior notes. According to Goodyear, the notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the company.
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Dunlop Aircraft Tyres reports 102GB cyberattack
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Ltd (DATL) has reported that it suffered from a cyberattack last year at its headquarters in Erdington, Birmingham that impacted the company for a month. Following the cyberattack on 30 June 2024, the company said it applied recovery procedures to bring production back into operation by day six while full business operations were restored within 30 days.
Continue Reading![The tyre [markets] they are a changin’](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tyre-Clock.jpg)
The tyre [markets] they are a changin’
With news of the European investigation into Chinese-produced car and light truck tyres, Goodyear’s sale of its Chemical business, tariffs, the publication of our latest tyre retail ranking – and did I mention tariffs? – May was a pretty eventful month. At the same time, we learnt the sad news of industry stalwart Sir Tom Farmer’s passing. From the end of a personal era, to the initiation of new chapter in global trade, what these differing events say together is: the times are changing.
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BKT entering car/truck segments under new 5-year plan
For almost 40 years BKT has specialised in the off-highway tyre segment, but the firm now has its sights on India’s car and truck/bus tyre markets. The company outlined this aim in a new five-year strategic plan that targets annual revenue of Rs 230 billion (£1.99 billion / US$2.7 billion) by 2030.
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Shimizu timing chain focus for Imexpart at Automechanika Birmingham
Imexpart (Imex) will make its Automechanika Birmingham debut next month, and to celebrate the company is bringing key products from its range, with pride of place going to the brand-new Shimizu timing chain kits and Monroe shocks and mounting kits.
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Michelin investing 60 million euros in France composite plant
Michelin reports that it is waking the 5-HMF giant via its investment in a world-first demonstrator unit producing the molecule. For those without a background in chemistry, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is a bio-based, non-toxic molecule with a very low carbon footprint that is derived from fructose and advanced fructose. Applications include brake pads, other automotive parts and fuels as well as numerous demanding non-automotive applications such as aeronautics, construction, space and defence.
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Magna Tyres launches Dealer Portal
Magna Tyres Group has debuted its new Dealer Portal, a digital platform designed to provide European dealers with instant access to real-time stock information. Introducing the portal, Magna Tyres says it offers dealers a streamlined interface to view current inventory levels, enabling faster and more efficient order processing.
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New Straightset Service portal
Straightset Service customers can now access a new portal, Straightset QR. With this in-house developed platform, Straightset aims to streamline its customers’ equipment servicing and minimise disruption.
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Clarios shares site shortlist for critical mineral investment
Enabled by the Trump government’s recent executive orders and using US federal advanced manufacturing tax credits, battery manufacturer Clarios plans to invest up to US$1 billion in a state-of-the-art critical minerals processing and recovery plant in the United States. For the company, this project represents a “significant step” in its strategy to enhance the domestic supply of critical minerals that are “essential for national security.” Clarios reports having completed preliminary site assessments and is considering Indiana, Texas and Utah as potential locations for investment.
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Hankook Tire becomes Al-Ittihad title sponsor
Starting in 2024/25, Hankook Tire & Technology is the new official title sponsor of Saudi Arabian football club Al-Ittihad. By leveraging the club’s high profile – bolstered by world-renowned players such as Karim Benzema and Moussa Diaby – the tyre maker seeks to further elevate its position within the premium segment.
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Goodyear sells chemical business for $650 million
Following the sale of its rights to the Dunlop brand to Sumitomo; and the sale of Goodyear OTR to Yokohama, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has signed a definitive agreement to sell the majority of its Goodyear Chemical business to Gemspring Capital Management, LLC. By doing so, Goodyear has completed the three-part sale of its non-core assets identified in its Goodyear Forward transformation plan. And by raising $650 million for the sale of the chemical business, combined with $905 million for Goodyear OTR and $701 million for its Dunlop rights, that means Goodyear has raised a total in the region of $2.256 billion from the sale of its non-core assets. In other words, Goodyear has achieved its goal of raising “in excess of $2 billion”.
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Safety and sustainability: How Nokian Tyres is going to differentiate from premium competitors
Here, as promised at the end of April, is our in-depth interview with Nokian Tyres CEO, Paolo Pompei. Our wide-ranging discussion covered topics including: sustainability, manufacturing and more... But the first question was: With the first quarter of 2025 under your belt, what is your experience of transitioning to the leadership of Nokian Tyres?
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Yokohama confirms $35 million Romania OTR ‘production capacity’ purchase
The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has formally announced that on 22 May 2025 it acquired “the fixed assets (land, building, and OTR tire production machinery) of a closed plant located in Romania” through its off-highway tyre (OHT) subsidiary Yokohama TWS Romania S.R.L. Although the acquired business is not mentioned by name in Yokohama’s official statement, the Mehedinți County location is the same as the Euro Tyres operation we have repeatedly linked with acquisition by Yokohama.
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