![World’s largest tyre turns 50](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/giant-tire.jpg)
World’s largest tyre turns 50
On 20 May 2015, Uniroyal celebrated the golden anniversary of its ‘Giant Tire’. The 80 foot (24.4 metre) tall model tyre – the largest ever made – was feted by an event at its home in the Detroit suburb of Allen Park. The Giant Tire sits at the entrance to the site where the Uniroyal – now part of the Michelin Group – sales office was formerly located.
Continue ReadingPirelli shareholders appeal for better ChemChina offer
Following the news that ChemChina now controls (both directly and indirectly) 30 per cent or more of Pirelli shares with a view to buying as much as 70 per cent of the company, Italian news reports suggest a number of smaller shareholders are forming an alliance in order to push for a higher offer price from ChemChina.
Continue ReadingMichelin, TVS Srichakra setting up motorcycle, scooter tyre production unit in India
Indian tyre maker TVS Srichakra Limited informed the National Stock Exchange of India on 2 June that it has entered into an agreement with wholly-owned Michelin subsidiary, Michelin India Private Limited, to produce a range of two wheeler tyres under the Michelin brand name.
Continue Reading![JK Tyre appoints new president of India business](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/kamra.jpg)
JK Tyre appoints new president of India business
JK Tyre & Industries has named Vivek Kamra its president - India. Kamra’s appointment to the role follows Arun K Bajoria’s promotion to the position of director and president – international operations.
Continue Reading![Timetable set out for Point S rebranding in the US](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/tire-factory-point-s.jpg)
Timetable set out for Point S rebranding in the US
Point S International recently announced the signing of an agreement with US tyre dealer network Tire Factory and plans to rebrand the 157 member network using the Point S corporate identity. Tire Factory CEO John Kreidel states that the rebranding of the more than 200 Tire Factory outlets begins early this month and will be gradually rolled out over a period of one and a half years. Kreidel also reassured Tire Factory customers that they’d “see more things staying the same than changing” at the newly-rebranded centres.
Continue Reading![Goodyear to pay Sumitomo US$271 million to end global joint venture](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/800px-Goodyearheadquartersandfactory.jpg)
Goodyear to pay Sumitomo US$271 million to end global joint venture
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is to pay Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) US$271 million to end its global joint venture with the Japanese firm. Goodyear expects to increase annual income as a result of the deal, while SRI will take on expanded use of the Dunlop name around the world. This largely means Russia, Africa and Asia, but not Europe. The reasoning behind the dissolution? According to SRI, the North American and European joint ventures did not perform as initially expected. Furthermore there was decreasing technology exchange between the two companies – all of which led both parties to “dissolve the alliance in a constructive manner”. This led to the arbitration filing and subsequent dissolution talks in January and February 2014 respectively.
Continue Reading![Bandag receives Australian environmental award](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bandag-award.jpg)
Bandag receives Australian environmental award
The Bandag operation in Australia reports its receipt of an Environmental Innovation award at this year’s Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) annual conference. The QBIC bestowed this honour upon Bandag Manufacturing Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Australia, in recognition of its investment in green initiatives. The company has implemented a variety of measures at its manufacturing facility in Wacol, including rainwater harvesting, a gas boiler burner upgrade and low energy LED lighting.
Continue ReadingAutomechanika coming to Birmingham
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is jointly launching Automechanika Birmingham in partnership with the people behind the well known portfolio of vehicle parts shows - Messe Frankfurt. The first Automechanika Birmingham is set to take place at the NEC from 7 to 9 June 2016.
Continue Reading![Autopromotec reports strong international growth of visitors, exhibitors](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/OP_150520_Autopromotec_0027.jpg)
Autopromotec reports strong international growth of visitors, exhibitors
Promotec Spa, the organisers of last month’s Autopromotec exhibition in Bologna Italy, have reported final figures that show a strong increase in the international presence both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. According to the company, the 2015 show attracted a total of 103,989 visitors (up 1.4 per cent over the 2013 figure). 83,343 of these were Italian visitors (down 0.3 per cent over 2013). The biggest growth was seen in the total number of international visitors. At 20,646, this figure was up 9 per cent compared with the 2013 figure.
Continue Reading![Lassa Tyres sponsors all indoor FC Barcelona teams](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Picture3_FC-BarcelonaVice-President_Javier-FausiSantasusana_FCBarcelona_President_JosepMaria-Bartomeu_and_BrisaCEO-HakanBayman.jpg)
Lassa Tyres sponsors all indoor FC Barcelona teams
FC Barcelona ad Lassa Tyres have signed a sponsorship deal which makes the Turkish tyre brand a global partner for the next four years. Under the global partnership rights, the club’s basketball, handball, futsal and roller hockey teams, will officially be named as “FC Barcelona Lassa”. The deal took effect on 1 June 2015 and makes Lassa Tyres the “Official Tyre Partner” of FC Barcelona.
Continue Reading![Continental boosting Hefei, China PCR capacity to 14 million tyres a year](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/hefei.jpg)
Continental boosting Hefei, China PCR capacity to 14 million tyres a year
In late April Continental concluded an investment agreement with the Hefei provincial and local governments in China, and has now unveiled plans to significantly expand its passenger car tyre factory there. Annual production capacity will rise from the current level of 5 million tyres per year to 14 million by 2019. In addition, bicycle tyre production in Hefei will be boosted from around 2 million units per annum to 13 million pieces by 2025.
Continue Reading![2015 tyre manufacturer rankings: Stability at the top?](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/tyre-production.jpg)
2015 tyre manufacturer rankings: Stability at the top?
Today we at Tyres & Accessories published our annual ranking of global tyre manufacturers on our tyrepress.com website. As always, this yearly survey takes the turnover of the industrys leading players into account and also provides information on operating profit/EBIT(DA) and annual net income.
Continue Reading![Nexen Tire voted Czech ‘investor of the year’](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/nexen-czech.jpg)
Nexen Tire voted Czech ‘investor of the year’
In 2018, Nexen Tire’s new 1.2 trillion Korean won (£705 million) tyre factory in the Czech Republic will enter operation. The tyre maker confirmed the project in June 2014 and says the facility it is building in Zatec will be “one of the most cutting-edge and eco-friendly plants in the world.”
Continue ReadingTyres not a ‘Priority Product’ for New Zealand
The association representing companies that import and sell used vehicles in New Zealand has expressed its disappointment in a government decision not to proceed with the declaration of tyres as a Priority Product under the country’s Waste Minimisation Act 2008.
Continue ReadingConsolidation now
A couple of months ago we discussed the “restructuring” of relatively large and modern Chinese manufacturer Deruibao Tire. Back then, Qingdao Doublestar was top of the list of firms connected with an acquisition/cooperation/merger rescue orchestrated by the local government. A month later government-owned ChemChina announced that it was buying Pirelli. This latter point has been covered in some depth in the pages of Tyres & Accessories, especially in our April edition. The Pirelli/ChemChina story will no-doubt garner more attention as the very complex outworkings of the deal are walked out, but what remains of interest is the way in which both the local Chinese market and the global industry are engaged in a period of both parallel and inter-connected consolidation.
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