Yokohama Expands China Operations
Yokohama Rubber Co. is reportedly expanding the capacity of its Hanzhou Yokokahama Tire Co. passenger car tyre plant in China. Hangzhou Yokohama’s annual capacity of 3 million units a year is expected to grow to 4.1 million passenger and light truck tyres from 2011, following investment of 3 billion yen (214 million yuan). This is the fourth capacity expansion since Hanzhou Yokohama started production in 2003. Yokohama makes its ASPEC A349 low rolling resistance tyre in China and expects general car ownership to increase 10 per cent annually in the years to come.
Continue ReadingEU Probes Chinese Wheel Dumping Complaint
On 14 August, the European Commission began an investigation into the alleged ‘dumping’ of Chinese-made aluminium wheels into the European market. The investigation followed Association of European Wheel Manufacturers’ (EUWA) June complaint that the practice has been taking place. “Having determined that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the Commission hereby initiates an investigation,” Reuters quoted the journal of the executive arm of the 27-nation European Union as saying. China's Ministry of Commerce denied the charges saying: “It raises the cost of repairs for customers, affects the recovery of the European auto sector from the global financial crisis, and hurts the interests of both China and Europe'” in a statement on the Ministry's website.
Continue ReadingWaste Tyres to Power Ceat Plant?
India’s RPG Enterprises is considering generating power from waste rubber at its Ceat Tyres factory. According to the company’s vice president of corporate finance, BL Chandak, electricity so generated at the Ceat plant would be solely used for the facility’s own consumption.
Continue ReadingHabitat for Humanity Benefits from Michelin NA Volunteers
For the second year in a row Michelin North America employees have pitched in and lent Habitat for Humanity a hand in the tyremaker’s home neighbourhood of Greenville County, South Carolina. Since the groundbreaking in May, more than 600 Michelin employees and Habitat volunteers have given nearly 5,000 hours to build the two houses in the town of Greer, not far from Michelin’s US headquarters. Michelin North America chairman and president Dick Wilkerson was on hand to present the keys to the new homeowners.
Continue ReadingCash for Clunkers to Wind Down
The White House is now working on plans to wind down the popular Cash for Clunkers program. At the urging of car dealers, who want a defined end date for the program so they don’t get caught out on the incentive program, the Obama Administration may announce this week when the consumer incentive program will end.
Continue ReadingZimbabwe Fast Fit Chain to Reopen Branches
In September Zimbabwe’s National Tyre Services will reopen the outlets and a factory that had closed due to business conditions. At the company’s Annual General Meeting, CEO Cleophas Makoni told shareholders that the 35.05 per cent Apollo Tyres South Africa owned company will "roll out and revitalise our branch network. We have enough stock and we are in a position to meet the demand."
Continue ReadingCeat Considering 3-5% Price Increases
Ceat managing director Paras K Chowdhary has stated the Indian manufacturer will have to increase tyre prices by up to five per cent in October if rubber prices, which climbed 10 to 15 per cent in the last quarter, remain high. In a video interview with CNBC-TV18, Chowdhary said “if Indian rubber prices don’t come […]
Continue ReadingIndian Tyre Prices To Rise?
A report on the Business Standard website suggests that Indian tyre companies are contemplating raising prices. The article says that Apollo Tyres, the country’s second-largest tyre maker (by tonnage) is planning to increase tyre prices four to five per cent on account of a 10 to 15 per cent increase in the prices of natural […]
Continue ReadingECI International launches Tyrexpo India
India is set to have its own dedicated tyre and equipment exhibition following confirmation of plans to stage Tyrexpo India in Chennai in July 2011. The exhibition, based in the region that is home to many country’s leading automotive industry players, including Apollo Tyres, Michelin, Dunlop India and MRF, will be based on the successful model already applied by organiser ECI International at its established Tyrexpo Asia, Tyrexpo Africa and Brityrex events.
Continue ReadingNew Apollo Factory to Produce Vredestein Brand Tyres
The factory Apollo Tyres is building in India’s Chennai state will most likely produce Vredestein branded passenger car tyres. According to the Hindu Business Line, production of premium Vredestein tyres at the soon to be completed Oragadam plant will be supplemented by Apollo branded UHP tyres. These will be marketed in Europe from next January onwards.
Continue ReadingFederal Sports New Booth in Moscow
Federal Tyres will show off its new trade show booth at the upcoming 2009 Moscow International Motor Show (MIMS). The 13ths edition of the MIMS will be held at the Crocus Exhibition Centre on outskirts of Moscow from Aug 26-30. During the show, Federal will be featuring competition tyres FZ101 and FZ202, its gravel rally […]
Continue ReadingA New Day for Tyre Recycling in Kazakhstan
A new facility owned by the Kazakhstan Rubber Recycling company has become the Central Asian country’s first end of life tyre recycling plant to enter operation. The facility, located in the capital city of Astana, is equipped with machinery built by Germany’s MeWa Recycling Maschinen und Anlagenbau and holds a capacity of around 11,000 car and truck tyres per annum.
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Kwik-Fit Gains Presidential Support in Viral Video
Tyre change by Presidential decree… the man in America’s top job pauses from world affairs to discuss a topic of true importance. Of course, its just a bit of fun from Kwik-Fit, but the viral film of President Obama does deliver a message worth listening to. The viral video, titled “Obama calls for tyre change”, was produced by advertising agency DDB London.
Continue ReadingTyre s-marking statutory instrument delayed
I had to say it, didn’t I? I should have known better than to put proverbial pen to paper and write “unless there is an unlikely 11th hour stay of execution at the European parliament.” I should have known better because no sooner had these words gone to print then exactly this happened. I am, of course, referring to the wonderful s-mark legislation (also known as regulation 2001/43), which has become the subject of so much coverage in Tyres & Accessories recently. Apparently, tyres won’t necessarily need an s-mark to comply with regulation 2001/43 and, er, be s-marked. However, it doesn’t end there. The latest from the Department for Transport is that there has been a “delay in putting into place the statutory instrument which is required for the new s-marking regulations to become law.” In short, there won’t be any means of enforcing the new law in the UK until March 2010. This fact doesn’t affect the other European markets, which will all have to comply by the original 1 October 2009 deadline.
Continue ReadingSentaida Opens New China Tyre Plant
Sentaida International has opened its new tyre plant, Cenchelyn Tire Co. in Qindao, China. The building of the “state of the art” plant was reported on Tyrepress.com when it was two-thirds of the way through its development in September last year. The marketer said the new plant features “state-of-the-art machinery from Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.” Sentaida said that in 2010 the plant’s production capacity will increase to 6 million tyres with a focus on the 17- to 30-inch UHP segment. Company sources suggested last year that the total production would touch 10 million units in 2013. The manufacturer concluded that as a result of the new facility, it will offer the Delinte UHP brand exclusively throughout the US, and offer customers the opportunity to create their own personal private brands. (Tire Review/Akron)
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