Pirelli’s Tronchetti Provera: “In Russia we will continue to grow”
Football magnates such as Arsenal’s second-largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov and Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich may have lost nearly losing $809 million (£516 million) $450 million (£287 million) already with the collapse of the rouble, but Pirelli’s Marco Tronchetti Provera remains optimistic about the tyre maker’s chances in Russia.
Michelin partners in Spanish wholesale joint venture
At around the same time that Michelin moved to acquire 100 per cent of German tyre wholesaler Ihle Baden-Baden, the company gained approval to enter the Spanish wholesale market. On 12 September 2014, the Spanish National Authority for Markets and Competition (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia) gave its approval for Euromaster Automoción y Servicios, S.A.U. and Rodi Metro, S.L., which operates the 150+ Rodi Motor Services retail network in Spain, to form a new wholesaling operation to distribute car and light commercial vehicle tyres within the country. Rodi says the wholesale operation has been set up as a 50/50 partnership.
India’s tyre makers meet government to talk rubber prices
Regional government ministers in India met with tyre makers on 18 December to discuss rubber prices. Chief minister of the state of Kerala, Oomen Chandy has chaired a meeting which proposed a minimum guaranteed price for rubber growers – a price of around Rs 125 to 130 (£1.25 to £1.30) per kilogramme was suggested. In recent times the price paid to Indian rubber growers has dipped as low as Rs 90 per kilogramme, a price considered unsustainable.
Linglong Tire’s R&D, European factory plans – Wang Feng gives details
Speaking at the signing ceremony of Shandong Linglong Tire’s agreement with German football club VfL Wolfsburg, the tyre maker’s CEO spoke of the “first class exposure” and substantially increased brand awareness the partnership will bring. He also discussed Linglong Tire’s growth ambitions and the role Europe will play in achieving these.
New logo, headquarters for Toyo Tires in anniversary year
Toyo Tire & Rubber has unveiled a new commemorative logo to mark the 70th anniversary of Toyo Tire & Rubber next year. A further, more tangible change will also take place in conjunction with the anniversary – the company is shifting to a new headquarters.
BKT investing in infrastructure, staff in North America
To accommodate its growing presence in the North and Central American markets, BKT Tires Inc. recently opened a new premises dedicated to the OTR sector and has extended its team with two key appointments. The Balkrishna Industries company has also opened two new warehouses.
According to a report emanating from Goodyear’s hometown, the tyre maker intends to bring its regional headquarters for Latin America back to company headquarters in Akron (Ohio, US) next year. The Akron Beacon Journal wrote on 16 December that efforts to relocate the headquarters in São Paulo, Brazil will begin early in 2015 with the transfer of senior management to Akron. Goodyear will spend several months evaluating which other positions it will move from São Paulo to the US, the Akron Beacon Journal added. The headquarters has been based in São Paulo since 2005, after it was moved from Akron.
On the buses – Hankook wins second award for Blue Bird supply
It’s now two years since Hankook Tire began supplying AH12 steer and Z35A drive axle tyres to bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation for original equipment fitment on its school buses, and the US-based company has recognised Hankook’s efforts by bestowing it one of ten 2014 Outstanding Supplier Awards; Hankook award success was in the Polymer category. This is the second year in a row Hankook has received the award; the tyre maker says its back to back wins underscore the commitment shown in its original equipment activities with Blue Bird Corporation.
India’s rubber growers propose boycotting local tyre makers
Call it tit for tat or levelling the playing field, but rubber growers in India are threatening to hit back at the country’s tyre makers over what many view as a betrayal by the tyre industry. The Indian Rubber Growers Association (IRGA) has requested local tyre manufacturers purchase rubber from them at the cost they’d pay for imported rubber, and have threatened to boycott tyre makers that decline to do so. In addition, the IRGA has suggested that growers may importing and supplying the Indian market with cheap tyres.
Eastern light vehicle markets set to grow, says Frost & Sullivan
A new study from Frost & Sullivan says that Eastern Europe and Central Asia offer very interesting opportunities for the light vehicles sector which includes passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The study analyses this market in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, and finds that by 2021 the annual light vehicle sales volume in these eight countries is expected to reach nearly one million.
Bridgestone reaches 300 retail outlets in Australia
Three hundred and not out – Bridgestone Australia reports its retail network recently scored its third century, with 300 franchise and license stores now operating in the country under the Bridgestone name. The company’s franchise business began in Australia with Bridgestone Tyre Centres in 1986 and expanded in 2006 with the launch of Bridgestone Select franchised stores and licensed Bridgestone Service Centres.
Football & tyres: Linglong Tire partnering with VfL Wolfsburg
As of 1 January 2015, Shandong Linglong Tire will become an international partner to German Bundesliga and Europa League football club VfL Wolfsburg. The multi-year deal sees the tyre maker become a sponsorship partner to the Wolfsburg men’s team in markets outside of Germany. The partnership includes a commitment with Wolfsburg United, the international sporting project from VfL Wolfsburg, and will subsequently support respective Unicef projects and the VfL football school.
On 11 December 2014, Indian tyre maker Ceat Ltd laid the foundation stone for its new manufacturing facility in Buti Bori near Nagpur, Maharashtra state. The stone laying follows the 30 October approval by Ceat’s Board of Directors to invest Rs 4.2 billion (£42.4 million) to set up a plant producing tyres for two and three-wheeled vehicles. The facility’s planned capacity is 120 tonnes per day.
Bridgestone tyre factory gains two Wildlife Habitat Council certifications
The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) has granted Bridgestone Americas’ Monterrey tyre factory in Mexico Corporate Lands for Learning and Wildlife at Work certification. The passenger car and light truck tyre manufacturing facility thus becomes the first Bridgestone plant outside the US to receive these two certifications. In addition, the Monterrey plant was a runner-up for the Corporate Lands for Learning 2014 Rookie of the Year award.
Port congestion sees shipping rates increase – MCS
Increases in freight rates during the last quarter of the year happened earlier than expected, according to Maritime Cargo Services’ Rob Shelley. The freight forwarding company said that the market, led by supply and demand, had seen rates harden due to increased demand for shipping space “earlier than expected”. This ahead of schedule peak season combined with “higher than forecast import volumes” to increase both rates – “in some cases by 150 per cent” – and dockside waiting times.
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