Judging Begins On Michelin Challenge Design
A jury of six international transportation designers and educators has begun judging entries in the first Michelin Challenge Design in Detroit. The MCD encourages vehicle designs that reflect the special character of French design and those entries selected will be displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next January.
Continue ReadingMichelin To Supply Las Vegas Monorail
Michelin has been chosen by rail transport company Bombardier Canada to supply wheels and tyres for the new Las Vegas monorail; a nine-car vehicle linking eight hotels and the convention centre. The contract follows an audit of Michelin by Bombardier at Clermont-Ferrand, which proved satisfactory and gave Michelin an A rating.
Continue ReadingNissan Suppliers Rebel Over Price Cuts
In 1999, Nissan told its suppliers that they had to reduce prices if they wanted to keep the car manufacturers business. Since then Nissan has achieved a turnaround, achieving its 20 per cent cost cutting target a year earlier than planned. Despite this, Nissan has asked suppliers for a further 15 per cent cost cut and some have reacted angrily, pointing out that Nissan made a record net profit of $3.2 billion last year.
Continue ReadingNew Production System For Yokohama
Yokohama Rubber is to mass-produce car tyres, using a new production system based on an idea from Fuji Seiko Co. Ltd. Yokohama is a member of a group of companies aiming to commercialise the system. Details of the system are not available but it is said to produce high precision tyres with low distortion and consistent quality. As well as Fuji Seiko, Yokohama has been working with Toyota Motor to evaluate the tyres.
Continue ReadingJ.D. Power U.S. Replacement Tyre Survey
J.D. Power and Associates has released details of its 2002 Replacement Tyre Buyer Behaviour and Satisfaction Study. Over 9,400 motorists in the USA who have recently purchased a tyre were questioned and the results were as follows. In the passenger tyre section, which includes cars and compact vans, Michelin came out top for the fourth year running, followed by (in order) Toyo, Uniroyal and Kelly (tied), Cooper and Goodyear (tied). Brands rated as performing at or below the industry average were, in alphabetical order, Bridgestone, Dayton, Douglas, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Sears and Yokohama. In the light truck category, Michelin and Cooper tied for first place, followed by BFGoodrich. Other brands were ranked at or below average and these were, again in alphabetical order, Firestone, Goodyear and Uniroyal. When it came to rating retailers, Les Schwab Tire Centers came out top for the third year running, followed by Big O Tires and Goodyear Auto Centers.
Continue ReadingEdonis + Pax Sets Speed Record
French magazine Sport-Auto recently organised a race for supercars at the Nardo circuit. The winner was the 715 horsepower Edonis, fitted with Michelin Pax System tyres, which clocked up a record speed for the circuit of 359.6 km/hr. The Pax tyre sizes were (front): 245-650 ZR 480 A and (rear): 355-670 ZR 500 A.
Continue ReadingFire At Challenger Tyres
Fire developed after an explosion around 6.00am this morning at Challenger Tyres, the Wednesfield-based retread manufacturer. Over 100 fire-fighters were called to fight the fire and local residents were advised to remain indoors. The problem of tackling the blaze being complicated by the nature of the business and the fact that the building contains asbestos.
Continue ReadingTrouble For Dunlop Zimbabwe
Zimbabwes only tyre manufacturer, Dunlop Zimbabwe, is at the centre of a political row. A member of the ruling Zanu PF party visited the company after reports on the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation alleged that Dunlop was closing down as part of a plan by white-owned businesses to stir up unrest against the government. This has been refuted by a source close to Dunlop, which says that the company is suffering because of Zimbabwes shortage of foreign currency and government controls over tyre prices, but there are no plans to close down. The company, which employs around 800 staff, imports 90 per cent of raw materials needed to make tyres and wants to raise tyre prices. It has already suspended credit sales to customers in order to minimise losses.
Continue ReadingAnalysts Downgrade GM
In the USA, analysts UBS Warburg have downgraded GM stocks from Buy to Hold. This is in response to GMs large pension liability, which UBS Warburg now considers represents a risk large enough to warrant a change in the companys rating.
Continue ReadingNo Merger For Honda
Japanese car manufacturer Honda has revealed details of a three-year business plan, in which it rules out any chance of a merger with another manufacturer. Of Japans five biggest car manufacturers, only Honda and Toyota are independent. Honda also revealed that it will increase production outside Japan, including the building of a second factory in China.
Continue ReadingNew Vice Treasurer For Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has named Darren R. Wells as its new vice president and treasurer of the North American division. 36 year old Wells arrives from his post as the assistant treasurer at Visteon and will start work on 1st August reporting directly to Stephanie Bergeron. Prior to his spell at Visteon Wells spent 11 years with Ford, largely in the Australian division.
Continue ReadingEuropean Brand Manager For Cooper-Avon
Cooper-Avon has appointed David Carson as European Brand Marketing Manager, responsible for both the Cooper and Avon brands. One of his key roles is to build on Cooper-Avons share of the high performance tyre sector. Before joining Cooper-Avon, David worked for Toyo Tyre UK.
Continue ReadingRussian Joint Venture For Nokian And Amtel
Finnish company Nokian Tyres and Amtel Holding of Russia have signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture company to manufacture and market premium branded tyres in Russia and CIS countries. The JV – owned 50/50 by the two companies – will produce Nokian and Nordman branded tyres. The first Nokian tyres will be manufactured at the JVs plant at Voronezh in 2004 and the maximum capacity of three million tyres is planned to be achieved by 2007. Investment in new manufacturing facilities will total US$ 110 million, with a first year investment of 38 million.
Continue ReadingFurther Fall For Goodyear Shares
Goodyear shares fell to just 17 US$ on Friday; a loss of 6 per cent over the week. Asian companies fared better, with gains for Hankook (+10 p.c.), Kumho (+ 9 p.c.), Sumitomo Rubber (+ 8 p.c.) and Bridgestone (+ 8 p.c.).
Continue ReadingJapanese Car Factories The Most Efficient
A report in the Financial Times based on information from the World Markets Research Centre reveals that the most efficient car factory in Europe is the Nissan plant in Sunderland, UK, with a production of 95 vehicles per employee. Equal second are Fords factory at Saarlouis, Germany and Toyotas plant at Burnaston, UK, with 87 vehicles per employee. However, no European or American car factory makes it into the worlds top ten most efficient plants. Of these, the top nine are in Japan and the tenth in Korea. The worlds most efficient car factory is Mitsubishis plant at Mitsushima, which produces 180 vehicles per employee.
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