Cooper Tire opens ‘central’ US warehouse
The million square foot (92,900 square metre), centrally-located warehouse that Cooper Tire & Rubber Company erected near three of its factories in the USA is now in operation. The new warehouse in Byhalia, Mississippi employs approximately 100 people and is Cooper’s largest distribution centre nationwide.
Continue ReadingTire+ 2018 opens
The second edition of the Tire+ exhibition, organised by China United Rubber Company, got underway today in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province China at the world-famous Canton show ground. The show runs in parallel with the large-scale Guangzhou Autoshow (itself a top three automotive event in China) as well as the China Essen Motor Show and continues until 19 November.
Continue ReadingPrinx Chengshan goes public ahead of expansion drive
With the striking of a ceremonial gong, Prinx Chengshan (Cayman) Holding Limited went live on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at precisely 9:30am on 9 October. The tyre maker’s listing last month followed nearly a year of preparations and represents an important step in a growth and internationalisation strategy that also includes producing in Southeast Asia and making greater inroads into European and North American markets.
Continue ReadingProtyre launches Protech Academy
This week saw the launch of the new Protech Academy, a vocational programme set up by Micheldever Group retail outfit Protyre to qualify young automotive enthusiasts for a career in the industry and to offer current Protyre employees the chance to learn the skills needed to further their careers.
Continue ReadingLeadership team, private equity firm acquire Coker Group
US-based vintage and classic tyre manufacturer the Coker Group has new owners. Four years after the death of company founder Harold Coker, the Coker family has sold the business to Wade Kawasaki, the company’s president and chief executive officer, and the current Coker Group leadership team in partnership with private equity firm Irving Place Capital.
Continue ReadingBridgestone expanding truck/bus tyre capacity at Warren County, USA plant
Production capacity for truck and bus radials at Bridgestone’s Warren County factory in Tennessee, USA will increase as part of a three-year, US$40 million investment to “meet market demand and address emerging customer needs.” Bridgestone Americas says it will break ground on expansion work at the 28-year old plant before the end of this year.
Continue ReadingBridgestone, German workshop chain pitstop strengthen collaboration
Bridgestone has increased its strategic cooperation with the German workshop chain pitstop. As part of a minority stake in Kulas Holding GmbH, which holds 100 per cent in pitstop.de GmbH, Bridgestone and pitstop plan to cooperate closely in sectors of mobility solutions, tyre and workshop services to open new markets. The targeted investment is subject to German antitrust approval.
Continue ReadingISN Europe puts UK Atlas machinery distribution on shoulders of Tyre Bay Direct
Since it became part of the US garage equipment supplier Integrated Supply Network’s ISN Europe division in late September 2017, UK distributor Tyre Bay Direct has added its newly related company Atlas Equipment’s range of garage equipment to its portfolio. The UK company was identified by the US giant, which operates from 13 locations across the USA and Canada, and exports to Central and South America, as “the ideal partner” to help launch its equipment range into the UK, it states.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres: Q2 2018-19 financials
Sales and profits were higher year-on-year during the second quarter of Apollo Tyres’ 2018-29 financial year. The company reports a 23 per cent rise in sales, to Rs 41.92 billion (£447.8 million) in the three months to 30 September 2019. Operating profit rose 25 per cent during the quarter, to Rs 4.80 billion (£51.5 million), while net profit was, at Rs 1.46 billion (£15.6 million), four per cent higher than a year earlier.
Continue ReadingBrigade Electronics wins Living Environment Award for new product innovation
Brigade Electronics has won a Living Environment Award at the 22nd edition of the Sound, Vibration and Air Quality conference in Hoevelaken, Netherlands.
Continue ReadingWhy tyre servicers need to address ADAS – Hella Gutmann Solutions
Technological tipping points are not always easy to identify, and the pace of change in the automotive industry can make it a challenge for garages not affiliated with new car dealerships to stay on top of new carfeatures as they begin to require repair. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are emblematic of this, and considering their centrality to the safe operation of many new cars, the stakes have also risen. Tyres & Accessories visited Hella Gutmann Solutions’ facilities in and around Ihringen, Germany to see how the supplier of diagnostic and camera and sensor recalibration solutions is responding to garages’ increasing need for new equipment, technician training, and data, to address the rise of ADAS.
Continue ReadingNokian Tyres: Financial targets aim for faster growth in Europe, North America
The Board of Directors at Nokian Tyres has set new financial targets for 2019-2021. These targets include faster than market growth of more than five per cent CAGR, EBIT at 22 per cent and a shareholders’ dividend of more than 50 per cent of net earnings. Nokian says the financial targets will guide the company in reaching the strategic ambitions it set in early 2018, which include increasing sales by 50 per cent in Central Europe and doubling them in North America within the next five years.
Continue ReadingMichelin increasing prices in North America
Michelin North America has announced increases for US national account prices of up to eight per cent for all commercial brands, products and services. The new pricing takes effect 1 December 2018. Separately, prices for car, light truck and two-wheeler tyres sold under the Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal brands in the United States and Canada will increase by up to five per cent, effective 1 January 2019.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres: Onkar & Neeraj Kanwar take a pay cut
Following internal discussions and review of a commissioned report produced by Ernst & Young, the Nominations & Remuneration Committee (NRC) within the Board of Directors at Apollo Tyres Ltd. has recommended changes to the compensation packages Onkar and Neeraj Kanwar receive from the company.
Continue ReadingUSA price increase for Pirelli car/light truck tyres
Prices for Pirelli car and light truck tyres sold in the US market will rise from 1 January 2019. Pirelli says the increase will be up to six per cent on average; it says it is implementing the new pricing in response to higher raw materials prices and “growing investment in the development of new technologically advanced products.”
Continue Reading