Bridgestone highlights congruence between winter sports, product with ski sponsorship
As the first athlete took to the slopes on 23 October 2013 to begin the 2013/14 season of the FIS Audi Ski World Cup, tyre manufacturer Bridgestone began its third season of support for the winter sport tournament. The manufacturer says the event offers international coverage, while also displaying characteristics congruent with its winter tyres: safety, control, grip and balance.
EC to investigate anticompetitive practices in automotive exhaust sector
Only days after five companies were fined a total of €953 million for participating in a cartel within the automotive bearing market, the European Commission has reported its concerns that a number of companies in the automotive exhaust systems segment may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels, restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant market position. On 25 March, officials from the European Commission undertook unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in this sector. The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.
Urbanising Kuwait fuels continued imported passenger car tyre demand
Kuwait’s high rate of urbanisation and purchasing power will lead to continued opportunities for imported passenger car tyres, a new report on the country’s automotive segment has revealed. With about 95 per cent of the country’s population residing in urban areas, and private car demand rising, imported PCR tyres have led tyre demand, though the TechSci Research report also suggests that commercial vehicle demand could follow increased mining and oil drilling investments.
Hercules launches Ironman brand I-Series medium truck tyres
Hercules associate brand Ironman has unveiled a new range of medium truck tyres designed to offer very competitive cost per mile averages in the North American market. The I-Series offers more than 30 SKUs comprised of highway, open shoulder drive, closed shoulder drive, mixed service and trailer options, some of which are SmartWay verified. The […]
Pirelli reports strong results in international tyre tests
Italian tyre firm Pirelli has recently scored well in test results carried out by Russian and Swedish publications. The tyres tested were both from the Cinturato family; Russia’s Za Rulem tested the Cinturato P1 while Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet tested the Cinturato P7.
Federal aiming for 10% of Russian tyre market by 2019
Taiwanese tyre maker Federal Tyres states it has “set its sights on ten per cent market share in Russia” and aims to double the number of wholesalers it works with there (currently nine in eight cities, including Moscow, St Petersburg and Ekaterinberg) every year for the next five years to help achieve this objective by 2019. The company has been present in the Russian market since 2004 and its products are available at over 10,000 retailers across the country. It has now launched a brand new website, www.federaltyresrussia.com, VKontakte page, vk.com/federaltyresrussia, and 2014 campaign slogan that capitalises on Federal’s sponsorship of Manchester United: “Awaken the Champion inside” (Пробуди в себе Чемпиона).
Leading tyre building machinery maker VMI Group is planning to “significantly expand” its operations. This means a new factory building will be constructed in Epe, The Netherlands and current buildings will be restructured to enhance lean production. A new R&D and engineering office will also be built. In China, VMI reports that it is working with authorities to expand its facilities there. According to the company, the expansions follow “strongly increased turnover” at VMI.
Brazil’s Vipal Rubber reports that its VL130 ECO pre-cured tread has become the company’s first product to be approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership. As expected from a SmartWay approved tyre, the tread’s design and compound aims to maximise fuel efficiency; Vipal reports that the trailer axle tread has a low bearing resistance that generates less heat, thus ensuring less casing fatigue and helping to improve retreadability.
Double Coin Holdings has posted operating revenue of approximately CNY 14.33 billion (£1.4 billion) for 2013, up 18.43 per cent from the previous year. The company attributed the increase rise to expanded production of tyres at its Anhui branch, as well as products and increased trades of other subsidiaries. Net profit attributable to shareholders rose 4.63 per cent to CNY 306 million (£30.1 million). Earnings per share was CNY 0.344 (£0.03).
From 1 April 2014, global prices for Lanxess rubber chemicals will increase in response to raw material price rises and unfavourable exchange rate effects. The adjustment will impact all product lines, including Vulkanox antidegradants, Vulkacit accelerators as well as specialty chemicals such as bonding agents (Cohedur), retarders (Vulkalent), plasticizers (Vulkanol), zinc oxides (Zinkoxyd aktiv) and DBD based peptizers (Renacit). The price increases will range from €0.10 to €0.70 per kilogramme (US$0.15 to $1.00) depending on the product and region.
Hyundai breaks six million car sales mark in Europe
Hyundai Motor has sold six million cars to European customers since the company began sales in the region in 1977. It took the company 19 years to sell its first million cars in the region. Since then it has taken less time to reach each subsequent milestone, with the latest one million cars sold in just over two years.
Nexen investing US$800 million in new Czech Republic tyre factory
After weeks of speculation South Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen Tire has confirmed that it is investing US$800 million in the construction of a new tyre factory in the city of Nošovice, in the east of the Czech Republic.
BYDs second-generation dual-mode, plug-in high performance hybrid electric saloon car, the Qin, has set a second record month of sales in February. Trends in March now make it Chinas Best-Selling Electric Vehicle according to Chinas National Passenger Car Association. The Qin, in renamed form, is expected to spearhead BYD sales in the European consumer market in the coming years.
Maxxis says its new maxxis.com global website offers an enhanced visitor experience, with an emphasis on user-friendly features. The company claims maxxis.com is equally responsive and easy to use on a desktop, smartphone or tablet, with screen dimensions adjusted to fit any device. The site offers a clean layout for easy navigation and provides answers to consumer questions on everything from tyres to team events.
Dunlop’s Sport Maxx RT has been selected as the exclusive original equipment fitment for models of the new Subaru WRX and WRX STI sold in North America. Both cars will be launched in this market during the spring; the WRX will roll on size 235/45R17 tyres, whereas the WRX STI receives 18-inch rims and size 245/40R18 tyres.
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