10 million Ecopia tyres sold in Asia Pacific – Bridgestone
More than 10 million original equipment and replacement market Ecopia tyres have been sold in the Asia Pacific region since the brand was first launched there in 2009, reports Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. As of 2014, Ecopia tyres accounted for more than 20 per cent of Bridgestones replacement market sales in Asia Pacific.
From May, owners of vintage and classic cars in Australia will once again be able to select suitable tyres from the Michelin Classic and Competition ranges. Approximately 90 product lines for vehicles manufactured between the 1930s and late 1970s will be offered, with motorsport tyre distributor Stuckey Tyre Service acting as distributor.
By the end of next year, TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. intends to have opened three further plants in China. Two of these facilities will be located on the same site in Zhanghjiagang, Jiangsu province; the first, a factory dedicated to braking, will start operations at the end of the second quarter of 2015, while a November 2015 start is planned for the other, an occupant safety systems facility. The third plant is located in Xian and is also an occupant safety systems factory. It should be operational by the third quarter of 2016.
Bridgestone receives Edison Gold Award for guayule rubber activities
The research Bridgestone has conducted on the use of guayule-derived natural rubber in tyre production was recognised at the 2015 Edison Award Winners event on 23 April. The tyre maker went home with a 2015 Edison Gold Award for Innovation in Automotive Solutions.
Lower material costs help MRF double net quarter profits, despite Chinese competition
India’s MRF Limited reports that its year-on-year net profit almost doubled in the three months to 31 March 2015. Net profit during the period amounted to Rs 3,326 million (£34.4 million), up 94.6 per cent on the Rs 1,709 million (£17.7 million) earned in the first three months of 2014. This huge jump in profit was achieved in spite of hefty competition from imported Chinese tyres, and was facilitated by much lower natural rubber prices – Mumbai-based stock and wealth trading company Angel Broking reports that MRF’s raw material costs declined from 65.7 per cent of sales in the second quarter of calendar year 2014 to 57.4 per cent of sales in the reporting period. Net income of Rs 33,120 million (£342.7 million) for the quarter was only 0.4 per cent higher than a year ago.
Non-certified Toyo earthquake aborbers found in 90 more buildings
90 more buildings in Japan were constructed with earthquake shock absorption devices that did not meet certification standards. According to The Japan Times, this brings the latest figure brings the total to 145. The report also quotes Toyo as saying four employees may have been involved in falsifying performance data on the quake-absorbing rubber equipment.
Tanzanian government to buy out General Tyre East Africa
The Tanzanian Government is reportedly in final talks with Continental AG on the subject of buying back its 26 per cent shareholding in the now-defunct General Tyre East Africa (GTEA) tyre manufacturing company. According to local news reports, the government intends to revamp the tyre company.
Kumho Tire is aiming to increase its sales in China by 30 per cent in 2015. According to online reports originally published by the Yonhap News, Kumho plans to re-take market share lost in the worlds largest auto market.
At an official ceremony attended by local dignitaries, Solvay today launched the construction of its Highly Dispersible Silica (HDS) production plant in Gunsan, South Korea. The facility is being built to address growing demand in Asia for energy saving tyres, and to facilitate Solvay’s development of innovative HDS grades.
Together with Mexico’s President, Enrique Peña Nieto, Goodyear Tire & Rubber chairman and chief executive officer Richard J. Kramer has announced that the tyre maker’s new factory for the Americas will be built in San Luis Potosi. Goodyear says the new factory will be its most technologically advanced plant and have a capacity of six million consumer tyres per year. When it reaches full production, the factory will employ about 1,000 people.
Spain’s Industrias Del Neumaticos wins 2015 Miss Retread Truck Tire Contest
The centrepiece of the North American Tire & Retread Expo was the inaugural Miss Retread Truck Tire Contest, won by Industrias Del Neumaticos of Alicante, Spain. The winning company was awarded $5,000 along with a trophy. 22 retread tires were entered in the contest.
North American Tire & Retread Expo draws praise from exhibitors
The 2015 North American Tire & Retread Expo was held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans between 15 and 17 April, 2015. Featuring 112 tyre, tyre retread, and tyre equipment and repair companies, the show attracted 1,041 registered visitors.
Continental’s tyre test centre up and running in China
Following the opening of a tyre research and development centre at the site of its factory in Hefei, China, Continental says it will be able to more quickly and efficiently develop new generations of summer and winter tyres for the Chinese market. The centre, which was erected with an investment of more than €4 million, opened at the end of March.
According to numerous news sources, including Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, Goodyear Tire & Rubber will later today announce its decision to locate the company’s new factory for the Americas in Mexico’s San Luis Potosi state. Mexico was on a shortlist of potential sites for the new plant that reportedly also included Brazil, Columbia and, initially at least, the USA. Mexico’s President, Enrique Peña Nieto, will apparently announce his country’s selection by Goodyear together with senior company executives.
Export Development Canada loans VW Group €400m for N American expansion
Export Development Canada (EDC) has announced financing of 400 million euros to Germany-based Volkswagen Group. The corporate financing is focused upon Volkswagens expansion of their operations in the Southern United States (US) and Mexico.
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