Continental producing first Taraxagum-based test tyres
Continental has produced a limited number of Russian dandelion rubber-based tyres for product development and testing purposes. The first products featuring the new natural rubber alternative will be winter tyres. Speaking at a press conference in London on Friday 5 December, David O’Donnell, senior vice president research and development for Continental’s tyre division, shared a number details relating to both the natural rubber replacement material and the tyre production strategy related to it.
Continue ReadingChinese JV exit gives Cooper Tire flexibility to plan for a changing tyre market
In recent weeks and months, Roy Armes has voiced on a number of occasions that Cooper Tire & Rubber still views China as an important part of the company’s future plans, despite its experiences at the Cooper Chengshan Tire (CCT) joint venture factory in 2013. Most recently, the chairman, chief executive officer and president confirmed during a conference call on 4 December that the country “will continue to be an important part of our long-term growth strategy.” But that doesn’t mean Cooper Tire can’t or won’t adjust its activities in China to meet global market conditions. In light of a new round of tariff measures in the US, which came into effect shortly after Cooper Tire sold its 65 per cent share in CCT, the company has shifted some of its production from China to other global locations, and it will continue to do so should conditions favour this strategy.
Continue ReadingCarlos Ghosn re-elected as ACEA President
The board of directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has re-elected Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of Renault, as its President for 2015. Speaking after his re-election, Ghosn said: “I am honoured that my colleagues on the Board have shown their continued confidence in me. 2014 is set to mark the first year of sales growth in the EU industry since 2007. Next year we will continue to push for a political environment that will help us sustain this growth.”
Continue ReadingPro-Align presents latest automated Revolution
While the financial context of the last five years has undoubtedly provided a challenging market environment for many players in the tyre industry, the premium garage equipment sector has seen opportunity. As tyre retailers have broadly seen margins squeezed further as consumers look to save on tyres, so has the importance of maximising ancillary services grown. On the occasion of the launch of another trail-blazing addition to its range with the Revolution tyre changer, Hunter garage machinery supplier to the UK Pro-Align took the opportunity to show Tyrepress the effects of providing innovative services to the sector.
Continue ReadingChengshan forms new JV with investment group
Prinx Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company Ltd has succeeded Cooper Tires joint venture with Chengshan. The previous JV was dissolved when Cooper closed the sale of its 65 per cent share to Chengshan Group Company Ltd on 1 December. Unveiled at Reifen China 2014 in Shanghai, the new joint venture has been formed with Prairie Investment Company.
Continue ReadingPerformance Fibers selling Asia operations
On 7 December, Performance Fibers – one of the worlds leading producers of industrial polyester fibre and fabrics, and supplier to the tyre industry – signed a definitive agreement to sell its Asia operations to Indorama Ventures PCL (IVL), one of the worlds foremost petrochemical producers. Financial terms of the agreement, expected to close in the next few months, were not disclosed.
Continue ReadingRubber ducks bring Goodyear a SABRE award
A public relations campaign supporting the launch of a Goodyear-brand tyre in China has been honoured as one of the world’s 50 best public relations programmes by The Holmes Group, organiser of the SABRE Awards. At the 2014 Global SABRE Awards, an event billed as the “elite of the elite” that brings together the finest from the SABRE Awards competitions in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the EMEA region, Goodyear was named winner in the specialist audience – marketing to men category.
Continue ReadingContinental: UK car tyre market stable, getting larger and AFV fitments growing
Continental executives opened their annual market trends briefing in London with the positive assertion that the 2014 UK car tyre market demand is stable at roughly 35 million tyres for the year. Contis definition of the market includes imported tyres, 4x4 tyres and part worns, so this figure is broadly in line with other estimates.
Continue ReadingBank invokes 29.5% shareholding in India’s Falcon Tyres
The Singapore branch of Indian bank and financial services company ICICI Bank has taken a major share in Falcon Tyres Ltd after invoking pledged shares held by promoters. ICICI Bank took ownership of just over 22.85 million of the BSE-listed shares on 4 December.
Continue ReadingCooper Tire targeting ‘profitable growth’ in UK, Germany – and Eastern Europe
The United Kingdom is already the European market where Cooper Tire & Rubber is best-represented, however the tyre maker sees further potential to expand its market share. Speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2014 Leveraged Finance Conference on 3 December, Cooper Tire & Rubber treasurer Tom Lause conveyed the company’s aim to grow in both developed and emerging European markets, and singled out the UK and Germany as areas of particular focus.
Continue ReadingToyo announces Tire Logistic department changes
As of 1 January 2015, the Tire Logistic department that is currently under the direct control of Toyo Tire & Rubber’s Tire Business Group Headquarters will be transferred to the Tire Planning Division within the Tire Business Group Headquarters. That same day, Tsuyoshi Tanaka will take on the role of general manager of the Tire Logistics department; he will also continue in his current position of general manager of Toyo’s Tire Supply Chain Administration department.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres ranked amongst India’s CSR leaders
Apollo Tyres says it is “a matter of great pride” for the company that it has been named the top automotive ancillary company and 24th overall in the ranking of corporate and social responsibility carried out by India’s leading business newspaper. Hailed as a ‘definitive listing’, The Economic Times’ ET Corporate Dossier, in cooperation with Futurescape and IIM Udaipu, has published its Indias Best Companies For CSR 2014.
Continue ReadingNew Bridgestone Brazil president to oversee growth projects
Fabio Fossen has been appointed president of Bridgestone Brazil, succeeding Ariel Depascuali, who is retiring after more than 15 years with the company. Fossen comes to Bridgestone from Coca Cola Femsa, and his main role will be to lead Bridgestone’s expansion and modernisation in Brazil.
Continue ReadingNew managing director at Pirelli Deutschland
Pirelli reportedly intends to more closely integrate its German business into the company as a whole, and therefore has formally named Daniele Deambrogio – who was previously based at Pirelli’s head office as country manager for Germany and commercial director for the Central European market – the managing director and chairman of Pirelli Deutschland GmbH. Responding to questions from our German sister publication Neue Reifenzeitung, Pirelli confirmed that Michael Schwöbel, who had been chairman of Pirelli Deutschland GmbH’s Executive Board since 2011, has simultaneously been appointed the business’s spokesperson.
Continue ReadingTyre and wheel data firm DriveRight partners with autoaid
DriveRight, a leading independent supplier of wheel and tyre data is partnering with autoaid, a German supplier of internet-based vehicle diagnosis software. DriveRight will now distribute autoaid’s products in the UK and New Zealand and function as the local point of contact for autoaid’s solutions. DriveRight, headquartered in Cardiff, Wales, and founded in 2001, is […]
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