Nitto further grows Facebook fanbase
It’s been less than a year since Nitto Tire reported gaining its three millionth Facebook fan, and now the company says it has five million fans on board. Nitto attributes this social media growth to its engagement strategies, including its Nitto Ambassador Program, live multi-player mobile games and a proprietary automotive interest blog, DrivingLine.com. Utilising such tools, Nitto says it has generated a loyal community with fan engagement that goes beyond the traditional likes, shares and comments that exist in the social network platform.
Continue ReadingApollo, Sumitomo close African deal
The sale of Apollo Tyres South Africa (ATSA) to Sumitomo Rubber Industries has been closed, report Sumitomo and Apollo Tyres. In exchange for US$60 million, the Japanese firm now holds the rights to the Dunlop tyre brand in a further 30 African and two Indian Ocean region countries. Also included in the deal is the 9,600 tyre per day Ladysmith PCR factory that Apollo acquired as part of its Dunlop South Africa purchase in 2006, the ATSA distribution and sales network, and the ATSA distribution, sales and head office teams. Apollo retains the 2006-acquired Durban factory, which manufactures TBR and off-road tyres.
Continue ReadingYokohama and Kumho sign technology exchange, capital alliance MOU
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. And Kumho Tire Co., Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 29 November. The companies report that they have agreed to open discussions relating to technology exchanges and a capital alliance based on “cross-shareholdings”.
Continue ReadingConti to lift SA specialty tyre capacity
Continental Tyres South Africa will reportedly invest more than ZAR100 million (£6.0 million) to expand capacity at its plant in Port Elizabeth. Independent Newspapers’ iol.co.za website reports that these funds will in part be used to establish the facility as a hub for the manufacture of specialty tyres, particularly those used in underground mining applications.
Continue ReadingReport: South Korea to grow 5% CAGR from 2013 – 2018
Analysts at TechSci Research have published a new report highlighting the growth potential of the South Korean tyre market. According to the report entitled South Korea Tyre Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018, the tyre market in South Korea is expected to grow at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 per cent between 2013 and 2018 in terms of sales revenue.
Continue ReadingBridgestone increasing Aiken County workforce
Earlier this year Bridgestone Americas reported completing a capacity expansion project at its Aiken County plant in South Carolina. The US$346 million investment increased output of passenger car and light truck radials by 2,750 units a day. Now local media sources state the company is looking to increase its plant workforce; Leslie Wilhite, Bridgestone Americas’ manager of community and corporate relations, is quoted as saying the company is looking to fill 850 corporate and contractor positions, starting in January.
Continue ReadingCourt ruling bans Bob Jane from using own name
Decades ago, the advertisement that Bob Jane’s company ran on Australian television claimed ‘not even the tyres can believe the low prices’; now Judge Besanko can’t believe them, either. In the Federal Court of Australia this week he found that the companies Jane established after leaving Bob Jane Corporation have “engaged in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive,” and infringe on Bob Jane Corporation’s trademark rights. To remedy this, Besanko ruled that Bob Jane may no longer use his own name to sell tyres or related products and services.
Continue ReadingConti begins Chinese run-flat production
Sales of locally-produced Continental run-flat tyres will reportedly begin in China before the end of this year. Quoting Jay Dhillon, general manager of Continental Tires China, the China Daily wrote on 28 November that annual output of these products will reach 340,000 units next year and 510,000 units in 2015. Hefei is the fourth Continental plant to begin run-flat production, after Aachen (Germany), Port Elizabeth (South Africa) and Mount Vernon (USA).
Continue ReadingTechking launching 11R22.5 Super DM
Chinese tyre firm Techking has announced it is released an 11R22.5 Super DM tyre designed for mixed road service. According to the company, the groove width has been increased and as a result stones will be much more easily pushed out. Furthermore, broader tread and thicker under-groove rubber have been added in order to ensure the “good performance on rough terrain” as well as prolonging mileage.
Continue ReadingTirendo organises Sebastien Vettel meet and greet
Tirendo is raffling the chance for a meet and greet with four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. The face-to-face meeting is set to take place during a Formula 1 event in 2014. According to the company, it will offer the winner and one friend the unique opportunity to meet the professional racer and get to know him from a completely private side.
Continue ReadingPirelli signs research MoU with Russian partners
Russian government-owned oil company Rosneft and state corporation Rostec (Russian Technologies) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Pirelli. Under the MoU, signed on 26 November, the three parties agree to the joint research and development of materials to be used in tyre manufacture.
Continue ReadingAME publishes new catalogue
AME International introduced its 2014 Tool and Equipment Catalogue during this year’s SEMA show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center 5-8 November. The new AME 2014 catalogue purportedly showcases the company’s expanded range of tyre and wheel service products used around the world by retail, commercial and OTR tyre dealers.
Continue Reading![3rd plenary points to a bigger and more valuable Chinese tyre parc](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Bentley_Continental_GT_II_–_Frontansicht_2_30._August_2011_Düsseldorf.jpg)
3rd plenary points to a bigger and more valuable Chinese tyre parc
The hybrid communist/capitalist system makes the Chinese political environment an odd one for those doing business inthe People’s Republic. As well as booming demand for imported brands (many of which are manufactured domestically), the strange combination of top-down legislative rule-issuing combined with crypto-relational give-and-take means success is as much about knowing the people and protocol as it is about having your numbers straight. So when the ruling communist party announced a string of apparent liberalisation measures, you can imagine why Chinese middle class and the businesses employing them (as well as courting their custom) inclined their ears.
Continue Reading![Conti’s Sumter plant now in operation](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/sumter.jpg)
Conti’s Sumter plant now in operation
The Facebook page set up by Continental Tire the Americas’ Sumter facility has announced the plant’s early production start. Production was originally scheduled to commence in the beginning of 2014, however plant manager Craig Baartman wrote on 24 November that production was underway at the new South Carolina plant. Baartman thanked employees and Sumter economic leaders “for their help in getting us to where we are today.”
Continue ReadingCapacity increase for Yokohama in Thailand
According to news reported by the Bangkok Post today, Yokohama Rubber intends to double capacity at its Rayong factory in Thailand; the stated reason for this increase is to equip the country as a base from where the ASEAN region can be supplied.
Continue Reading