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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
To mark the completion of Swiss company Gebrüder Schaad into the Starco organisation, the new entity Starco GS held a distributor day earlier this month at the company’s facility in Sübingen, Switzerland.
Canada’s transportation regulatory body, Transport Canada, has outlined a number of changes in regulations pertaining to tyres. The new regulations, announced by Transport Minister Lisa Raitt on 20 November, are intended to enhance the safety of tyres manufactured for the Canadian market; they also bring Canadian regulations more closely in line with those enforced in the United States. Manufacturers have until 1 September 2014 to comply with the regulations.
Women in the United States are being encouraged to buy local; Goodyear Tire & Rubber has featured twice in the ‘America’s Best in Automotive’ category of this year’s Women’s Choice Award. The company was selected as best Premium Tire Brand, Tire Retailer and Auto Service Retailer.
IBM has published an angry response to the lawsuit filed by Bridgestone America’s alleging IBM’s computer system threw the tyremaker’s “entire business operation into chaos.” IBM insists that its Bridgestone’s mismanagement of the project that caused the problems, according to Business Insider International.
The Tire Industry Association has reached a membership milestone in 2013 – a first in its 93-year history – adding 1,000 members this year.
“It is great to know that we have had a record number of new members join TIA this year,” said Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president.
In October, the EU car market recorded a 4.7 per cent increase, totalling 1,004,935 units. It was the first time since September 2011 that demand for new cars had risen in two consecutive months.
From January to October, new car registrations amounted to 10,006,807 units, or 3.1 per cent less than in the same period last year.
Italian brothers arrested for tyre-related tax evasion
In Italy, the Guardia di Finanza (Fiscal Police) have arrested two brothers who are active within the tyre industry for tax evasion of more than €30 million; the two men allegedly falsified invoices in order to fraudulently represent the amount of tax, VAT and customs duties they were required to pay. According to PneusNews.it, our sister publication in Italy, one of the brothers, Vincenzo Tufano is in prison while Giovanni Tufano is under house arrest.
Bosal opens emission systems plant in Chongqing, China
The Belgium-based Bosal Group has opened its first production facility for automotive emission control systems in Chongqing, China. According to the company, the new 2700 m2 facility in Dadukou District will produce innovative emission control systems and components for passenger car manufacturers in the region. The factory is reporteldy equipped with a latest technology production line including laser welding and CNC roll forming. The news comes less than 8 months after the firm closed its UK production operations with the loss of over 100 jobs.
Giti Tire reports that it has agreed its first GT Radial distribution deal in Iceland, with Solning already reporting high demand for the initial stock of Champiro IcePro and IcePro SUV. The deal, which commenced at the start of November, is initially for extreme winter weather tyres with the parties already discussing summer stock, including the Adventuro A/T light mud and M/T maximum traction tyres, and the brand’s extensive truck and bus range.
Cooper Tire shares that it received a ‘Global Media Award’ at this month’s SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo for introducing the new Mastercraft Courser MXT at the show. In addition, the Cooper Zeon RS3-S (in size 325/30R19) was named a runner-up in the New Products Showcase in the Tire and Related Product category.
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