Rosneft, Pirelli and the Koleso retail chain have opened the first of many Pirelli tyre centres that are planned for Rosneft service stations in Russia’s capital, Moscow. The Pirelli centre at Mira Avenue 94 has been established under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Rosneft head Igor Sechin and Pirelli & C. S.p.A. chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera on 24 May 2014 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Ford approves Nizhnekamskshina as OE tyre supplier in Russia
Deliveries of Kama tyres for original equipment fitment on Russian-made Ford vehicles are set to begin now that JSC Nizhnekamskshina has received final approval from the Ford Sollers joint venture operation. Nizhnekamskshina began working towards homologation when the joint venture between Ford and Sollers was first established in October 2011.
New Continental facility meeting growing Indian demand for premium tyres
With the promise of “German engineering and technology”, adapted for local market performance requirements, Continental has launched two premium passenger car tyre lines in the Indian market. The ContiMaxContact MC5 and ContiComfortContact CC5 are being produced at a new, state-of-the-art passenger car and light truck tyre facility at the company’s Modipuram plant. The newly-built facility has an initial capacity of 800,000 tyres per annum, with potential for further expansion.
Although commercial vehicles operating in Turkey have been legally obliged to use winter tyres between 1 December and 1 April for two years now, so far this requirement has not been enforced. This will change on 1 December 2014, when a TRY519 (£149) fine will be levied for non-compliance.
Toyo Tire Europe GmbH president Tatsuo Mitsuhata has confirmed that Toyo Tire Deutschland GmbH will exhibit at the Essen Motorshow which runs from 28 November to 7 December. The company returns to the motorshow after an seven-year absence in order to introduce key new products which will become available in the German market in 2015. […]
Tweel not being developed for cars – at the moment
As reported yesterday, Michelin has officially opened its new Tweel factory in the US. The plant produces the airless tyre and wheel combination for off-road commercial applications, and at the inauguration the chairman and president of Michelin North America addressed recent speculation regarding the extension of Tweel technology to passenger cars.
Michelin’s Tweel factory has opened in Piedmont, South Carolina, USA, manufacturing airless tyres for commercial applications. From Piedmont, Michelin will boost output of its X Tweel SSL skid-steer tyres and begin production of the new X Tweel Turf as original equipment for John Deere’s Ztrak 900 Series line-up of zero-turn commercial mowers. The 135,000sqft facility is Michelin’s 10th in the state, and 16th in the US. The company said it would invest about $50 million in the new plant.
Sports Direct acquires Dunlop sporting goods rights for Australia, New Zealand
UK-based sports retail group Sports Direct plc has bought the rights for the Dunlop brand name in Australia and New Zealand. This deal does not affect the Dunlop tyre brand, which in the region is owned by Goodyear & Dunlop Tyres, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goodyear Tire & Rubber.
Apollo to establish Singapore base, redesignates Sarkar as chief business officer
Asia is an enticing part of the world for many tyre makers, including Apollo Tyres, which has stated its desire to make inroads there. A small but significant step it has taken into the region is the relocation of incumbent president and chief financial officer Sunam Sarkar to Singapore. Sarkar’s arrival will likely be followed by the establishment of an office in the city state, and – although Apollo hasn’t yet made any official announcement to this effect – he seems the logical choice to oversee the operation set up there. A secondary function of Apollo’s new presence in Singapore will be to aid its sourcing of raw materials in Asia; the subject of rubber is a high profile one for tyre makers in India, and despite the higher duty affixed to natural rubber compared to finished tyres, manufacturers rely heavily on imports of this raw material.
Starco’s Croatia-based rim manufacturing operation, Starco Beli Manastir, has been voted the best mid-size company in Eastern Croatia and as such honoured with a “Business Fly” award. The company was nominated for the award by the Croatian Ministry of Economy based upon its track record in recent years, including growth of turnover, number of employees, operating profit and export achievement. Starco BM managing director Mario Biscan received the accolade on behalf of the company from the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, at a ceremony in the regional capital, Osijek. The operation will compete for the national title of best “Business Fly” company in a couple of weeks’ time.
TIP Trailer Services extends Goodyear tyre contract
TIP Trailer Services has extended its truck tyre contract supply contract with Goodyear until the end of 2016, at which point the two companies will celebrate 10 years of working together. With more than 50,000 vehicles, TIP Trailer Services is one of Europes leading equipment services providers, specialising in the leasing and rental of trailers, tankers and other equipment. The contract, which covers the supply, service and management of tyres for TIP Trailer Services, commenced in 2006.
Grand opening held for Bridgestone’s US giant tyre plant
Bridgestone Americas has opened its giant off-road radial tyre facility in Aiken County, South Carolina. Kazuhisa Nishigai, COO and board Member of Bridgestone Corporation, and Gary Garfield, president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas, were joined at a grand opening ceremony for the 140,000 square metre (1.5 million square feet) plant by state and local dignitaries.
October – Warmer weather chokes winter tyre sales; OE truck market weakness continues
Mild weather is responsible for far fewer winter tyres being sold in the European market in October, reports Michelin. Statistics released by the tyre maker show a seven per cent year-on-year decline in replacement market passenger car and light truck tyres in Europe (including Russia and Turkey). This drop in sales follows year-on-year growth of one per cent in the third quarter of the 2014 and was not reflected in the original equipment market, which enjoyed a three per cent year-on-year increase in November. Between the start of the year and 31 October, the original equipment and replacement markets are respectively four per cent and two per cent higher year-on-year.
JK Tyre profits rise 18% in July-September quarter
India’s JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has reported consolidated net profit of Rs 755.9 million (£7.8 million) for the three months to 30 September 2014, the second quarter of the company’s current financial year. This result represents a year-on-year increase of 18.1 per cent. The company achieved a consolidated turnover of Rs 18.7 billion (£193.5 million), up 3.6 per cent from the second quarter of the previous financial year.
Linglong opens US office, planning new tyre plants and European tech centre
Shandong Linglong is opening an office for its new US company, Linglong Americas in Ohio. The site in Medina was formally announced by Wang Feng, CEO and
president of Linglong Tire during an event at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas. According to at least two online news sources, the establishment of Linglong Tire’s US company forms part of a broader expansion plan.
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