![Bridgestone takes over from Hankook as SuperTaikyu tyre supplier after factory fire](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20190608_Misano_3.jpg)
Bridgestone takes over from Hankook as SuperTaikyu tyre supplier after factory fire
The Hankook logo remains at the top of the SuperTaikyu official website, but the South Korean tyre manufacturer has backed away from supplying the Japanese endurance racing series after its production was hit by a serious fire at its Daejeon factory roughly six weeks ago.
Continue Reading![Nexen presents 52% sustainable tyre](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nexen-EcoTech.jpg)
Nexen presents 52% sustainable tyre
Nexen Tire has unveiled a sustainable concept tyre containing 52% renewable & recycled raw materials. This Nexen EcoTech tyre, which according to its sidewall is “for the greenish future,” consists of 44% renewable materials, including natural rubber, bio-based synthetic rubber, rice husk silica and bio-based rubber chemicals. A further 8% is recycled content, including cord made from recycled PET bottles and bead wire sourced from scrap metal.
Continue Reading![China: Hankook supplying tyres to various EV models](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Leapmotor-C11.jpg)
China: Hankook supplying tyres to various EV models
Hankook Tire reports that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor. It begins this arrangement with tyre supply to the Leapmotor C11, an all-electric SUV that will wear Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 ev tyres as an original equipment fitment in a 20-inch size. Moving forwards, Hankook Tire and Leapmotor intend to embark on further joint projects.
Continue Reading![Goodyear completes plant expansion in Slovenia](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/goodyear-slovenija-regres-2023.jpg)
Goodyear completes plant expansion in Slovenia
In March Goodyear Slovenia concluded a 90-million-euro project to increase tyre production capacity at its Kranj plant by 25 per cent, a project that has created 160 jobs. The project commenced in January 2019 with a planned completion date of late 2021, however measures related to Covid-19 delayed work on the project.
Continue Reading![Brand Finance: Giti honoured by double Top 10 rankings](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Brand-Finance-top-15-tyre-brands.jpg)
Brand Finance: Giti honoured by double Top 10 rankings
Commenting on the “excellent news” that it has retained tenth place amongst the world’s tyre makers on the Brand Finance Automotive Industry 2023 ranking of most valuable brands, Giti states it is “very honoured” to have received this accolade. The tyre maker also notes that Brand Finance listed Giti among the top ten tyre brands in its Sustainability Perceptions Value ranking.
Continue Reading![Report: Continental signed Russia divestment deal in February](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/conti-russia-1.jpg)
Report: Continental signed Russia divestment deal in February
Yesterday German newspaper FAZ named S8 Capital as the likely buyer of Continental’s business in Russia, including its tyre plant in Kaluga. Russian newspaper Kommersant adds further weight to the notion of a transaction involving the holding company.
Continue Reading![Bridgestone increases renewable energy use in Japan](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bridgestone-Kurume-sml.jpg)
Bridgestone increases renewable energy use in Japan
With the changeover of three facilities this month, Bridgestone is powering all but one of its tyre and raw material plants in Japan with 100% renewable purchased electricity. The Kurume, Amagi and Saga sites are the latest where Bridgestone is sourcing renewable power. A total of ten plants in Japan now run on purchased renewable electricity, the earliest having changed to renewable sources in July 2021.
Continue Reading![Chinese tyre export value increases for three consecutive years](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chuttersnap-xewrfLD8emE-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
Chinese tyre export value increases for three consecutive years
In March 2023, China exported 52.98 million new pneumatic rubber tyres, a year-on-year increase of 12.3 per cent. After experiencing a downturn in January, China’s tyre exports substantially grew in the last two months of the first quarter. Due to the sluggish performance in January, the export volume of Chinese tyres from January to March was 139 million, an increase of only 1.3 per cent compared with the same period in 2022.
Continue Reading![Invalid 3PMSF marking prompts major Michelin recall in USA & Canada](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Michelin-recall-sml.jpg)
Invalid 3PMSF marking prompts major Michelin recall in USA & Canada
Michelin is recalling more than half a million all-season light truck tyres in the USA and Canada as they carry the 3PMSF symbol on the sidewall but do not comply with related local legislation. The voluntary recall affects up to 542,110 aftermarket Michelin Agilis CrossClimate C-Metric tyres produced in France and Poland.
Continue Reading![REACT exceeds 9000, expands into Republic of Ireland](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ITIANTDA-REACT-Licence-Image.png)
REACT exceeds 9000, expands into Republic of Ireland
The NTDA has now issued more than 9000 REACT licences to commercial tyre technicians assessed as competent to work safely at the roadside across the UK. The need for such a system is clear. Prior to the introduction of REACT in 2011, some technicians were seriously injured and others killed while working at the roadside.
Continue Reading![Continental in Russia: S8 Capital named again as likely buyer](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Continental-Kaluga.jpg)
Continental in Russia: S8 Capital named again as likely buyer
Without naming its sources, German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ) stated yesterday that Continental intends to sell its tyre factory in Kaluga, Russia to holding company S8 Capital. The publication shares that Continental is awaiting the transaction’s approval by Russian authorities. A Continental spokesperson told FAZ that the sale is at an “advanced stage.”
Continue Reading![Mission “successfully completed”? The Goodyear-Cooper integration and its contradictions](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Goodyear-Innovation-Center-Luxemburg.jpg)
Mission “successfully completed”? The Goodyear-Cooper integration and its contradictions
When Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced at the end of January that 500 jobs are being cut worldwide and linked this to business performance in the EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa) region (see “Goodyear reports losses of $104 million in Q4 2022, points the finger at Europe”, T&A 3/2022, page 18), executives were effectively acknowledging the significant pressures facing the business. When Goodyear published its full-year 2022 and fourth quarter 2022 figures a few days later, the red numbers highlighted the pressing reality of those problems. Within that broad picture, it now seems clear that the US$2.8 billion Cooper takeover initiated two years ago has not yet brought the promised return, something Goodyears market capitalisation and the relative profitability of its competitors neatly illustrate. Meanwhile, some within Goodyer refer to the integration as “successfully completed”, but without offering details. In other words, the supposed success of the Goodyear-Cooper integration doesn’t match the company’s sub-par financial performance. With that in mind, here we take a pan-European look at those particularly contradictory perspectives.
Continue Reading![Michelin: No new news about Russia](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Michelin-Davidovo_tb.jpg)
Michelin: No new news about Russia
The Annual Meeting of Michelin Shareholders will take place on Friday 12 May, and amongst the plethora of information contained within the accompanying Notice of Meeting document, the company shares a few words on activities in Russia. Its message is largely unchanged since the previous update two months ago.
Continue Reading![China: Synthetic rubber partnership for tyre applications](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/China-synthetic-rubber-signing-ceremony.jpg)
China: Synthetic rubber partnership for tyre applications
The research institute behind Sailun Group’s EcoPoint3 compounding technology has established strategic partnerships with two companies to explore synthetic rubber applications for use in tyre production. EVE Rubber Institute has signed agreements with Ecombine Advanced Materials and Arlanxeo High Performance Elastomer (Changzhou), with the three parties planning to draw upon their respective technological and marketing strengths to deliver innovations in liquid-phase mixing.
Continue Reading![Key appointments aiding growth at Ascenso Tyres CE](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Marcel-Fuhrer-sml.jpg)
Key appointments aiding growth at Ascenso Tyres CE
During what it refers to as a “successful” first quarter 2023, Ascenso Tyres CE has added to its team with the appointment of Pawel Kopinski, who takes over responsibility for the business in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Olaf Sandeck, who joins the company from Mitas to expand original equipment activities. The aim of generating sales of 50 million euros within five years is “thus gaining momentum.”
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