![MAN and Goodyear expand driver training cooperation](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Goodyear_MAN_Cooperation_ProfiDrive_1.jpg)
MAN and Goodyear expand driver training cooperation
Goodyear has become MAN’s exclusive tyre partner for its MAN ProfiDrive driver training initiative across Europe. The partnership includes equipping all 25 tractors and trailers used by MAN ProfiDrive with the latest Goodyear premium tyres. These comprise the fuel-efficient Fuelmax, the dedicated mileage line Kmax and the mixed service Omnitrac II for use both on and off road. Goodyear will maintain the tyres, which includes taking over the tyre repair shop. The partnership further involves Goodyear training the MAN trainers in tyre matters. This builds on Goodyear’s and MAN’s long-term close collaboration related to original truck equipment. The two companies have worked together for some time with events such as the MAN Trucknology Days.
Continue Reading![France’s Eurotyre, BestDrive and Siligom cooperate in Fleetpartner](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/fleet_partner.jpg)
France’s Eurotyre, BestDrive and Siligom cooperate in Fleetpartner
Three of the largest French tyre distributors have agreed to cooperate on the Fleetpartner fleet tyre project. Together partners Eurotyre, BestDrive and Siligom offer some 550 points of sale across the country, in a move designed to appeal to key account customers.
Continue Reading![Conti to ‘significantly expand’ Contidrom](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/contidrom-award.jpg)
Conti to ‘significantly expand’ Contidrom
Continental AG’s tyre division is planning to “significantly expand” its Contidrom testing and development centre, north of Hannover. According to local press reports, the tyre manufacturer have already bought an adjacent 20-hectare area of forest. The expansion is said to focus on expanding wet handling test capacities which have been described as a bottleneck for the entire site. Nearly 11,000 tyre tests are currently conducted on-site.
Continue ReadingGoodyear ‘clarifies’ Triangle position
Following the recent publication of “Triangle and Goodyear in ‘long-term cooperation’”, which picked up on a smaller thread in Triangle’s recent conference coverage (see “Triangle ‘goes global’ at Weihai summit”), Goodyear spokespeople from the firm’s US and European headquarters contacted Tyres & Accessories in order to comment on the report. Presenting a statement on the subject, the Goodyear representatives said “Goodyear wishes to set the record straight on public comments made by Triangle.”
Continue ReadingEU car registrations up @10 per cent in September
European passenger car registrations continued their growth phase with another strong monthly rise in September. According to ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) figures, growth was up 9.8 per cent year-on-year to 1,356,868 units.
Continue Reading![Point S cooperating with Group Mobivia](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/PS-Mobivia_tb-800x533.jpg)
Point S cooperating with Group Mobivia
Mobivia and Point S have agreed a procurement alliance. According to the two companies, this strategic alliance will cover the listing and sourcing of the products ranges purchased by both Groups – that is tyres and car parts – for the markets they cover. However, while the two organisations are working together in terms of purchasing, under the terms of the alliance each group remains autonomous when it comes to the management of its network, policies and development.
Continue Reading![First Line Groupauto award follows HSBC International ranking success](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Groupauto-runner-up-supplier-of-the-year-2015.jpg)
First Line Groupauto award follows HSBC International ranking success
Presented at a gala dinner following the recent Groupauto & UAN trade show in Liverpool, First Line Ltd has been presented with Groupauto’s runners-up trophy in the ‘Supplier of the Year’ category. First Line stated that the award is “further recognition of the strength of the First Line and Borg & Beck brands, as well as the relationship the company and its employees have with motor factors and workshops across the country.”
Continue Reading![Michelin celebrates Ladoux 50th anniversary, launches RDI phase 1](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/g12.jpg)
Michelin celebrates Ladoux 50th anniversary, launches RDI phase 1
This year Michelin celebrates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of its Ladoux research and development centre not far from the tyre manufacturers Clermont Ferrand global headquarters. At the same time, Michelin has announced the initiation of the first phase of its RDI ( Research, Development, Industrialization) Campus, which sits on a seven-hectare site. Delivered in two phases, the first being at the start of October, it is the largest building to be found in France’s Auvergne region (covering 67,000 square metres). When completed, this fully-integrated, low energy consumption building will accommodate 1,600 work stations.
Continue Reading![Pirelli supports World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for cancer charity](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Pirelli-Macmillan-coffee.jpg)
Pirelli supports World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for cancer charity
Pirelli employees in Burton raised £391.10 from their Macmillan coffee morning, with the company topping this up to £500 in total. The annual coffee morning is Macmillan Cancer Support’s biggest fundraising event, raising money for people living with cancer. In 2014, over 200,000 people signed up, raising a record £25 million.
Continue ReadingChemChina/Aeolus interesting facts
With the news that Aeolus’ parent company, ChemChina, is now the majority shareholder in Pirelli via a complex ownership structure, we thought it would be fitting to mark the occasion with a few particularly interesting facts about ChemChina’s various tyre operations, which together put the firm’s tyre assets amongst the top three Chinese tyre makers in terms of output:
Continue Reading![Maxi Haulage signs Bridgestone fleet contract](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/BS-Truck-Point-07.jpg)
Maxi Haulage signs Bridgestone fleet contract
Bridgestone says its Lincolnshire retreading facility played “a huge role” in its latest fleet contract win. Leading haulage company Maxi Haulage agreed the fleet deal with the tyre manufacturer, coinciding with the 10 year anniversary of Bridgestone’s acquisition of Bulldog in Bourne, which boasts an output of roughly 50:50 mould cure to pre-cure. As a result of this ratio, the company says the operation stands out in the historically mould cure dominated UK retreading market.
Continue ReadingTriangle and Goodyear in ‘long-term cooperation’
In answer to questions from Tyres & Accessories, Chinese manufacturer Triangle has verified that it is in a “long-term cooperation” with Goodyear, confirming earlier suggestions of business connections between the two companies.
Continue ReadingPirelli is now Chinese owned
As of yesterday (12 October 2015) Marco Polo Industrial Holding’s offer for Pirelli ordinary share capital achieved an acceptance rate of 53.6 per cent. However, because today (13 October) is the last day of the offer period, it is very likely that this percentage will be significantly more at the end of the day. This means the pre-announced plans for ChemChina to buy around two-thirds of Pirelli is well underway and therefore the company is now effectively Chinese-owned.
Continue ReadingSchaeffler cuts IPO following VW scandal
In what is being interpreted as fallout of the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal, Schaeffler significantly reduced its initial public offering (IPO) after delaying in light of the VW revelations. VW accounts for more than 10 per cent of sales at Schaeffler, which makes ball bearings for products ranging from tools to airplanes.
Continue Reading![Independent tyre distributors building ships for choppy waters ahead](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ihle-Baden-Baden_tb-800x600.jpg)
Independent tyre distributors building ships for choppy waters ahead
In October 2014’s Wholesale feature, Tyres & Accessories asked whether Europe’s independent tyre wholesalers still have a future in the context of the German company Ihle Baden Baden’s failure and subsequent sale to Michelin. Pointing to the lightening of the business due to such factors as the price transparency offered by e-commerce (and online marketing) we wondered whether the value of the relationship between customers and their suppliers had become more tenuous, relying only on price and reliability of deliveries. Should these two considerations become the only weapons in a wholesaler’s arsenal, T&A suggested that their role becomes more akin to a specialised freight forwarder.
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