RainSport 1 And rallye 680 From Uniroyal
The two latest offerings from Uniroyal are classed as wet weather tyres. The RainSport 1 is a high speed (V and W rated) tyre which succeeds the RTT 2 and features include a directional tread with a double-V tread pattern and a silica compound for improved wet grip and lower rolling resistance. The rallye 680 is a T-rated tyre, aimed at the family driver, and it is a replacement for the rallye 580. Again, the compound is silica-based and Uniroyal claims improved performance in the areas of aquaplaning resistance, wet braking, tyre life and noise generation.
Continue ReadingCorporate Sales of Continental Grow to Over 10 Billion Euro
The Continental Corporation boosted its sales in 2000 by 10.8 per cent to 10.1 billion Euro (prior year: 9,1 billion Euro). All corporate Groups contributed to this result. Because of nonrecurring effects totalling 60 million Euro, the operating result (EBIT) was reduced to 432 million Euro (prior year: 511 million Euro). The result after tax amounts to 205 million Euro (prior year: 235 million Euro).
Continue ReadingDespite Sales Growth, Continental’s Profit Drops Significantly
The Continental Group is reporting a turnover of 2.578 bn Euro, compared with 2.426 bn Euro for the first quarter of 2000, and EBIT figures fell from 135 to 106 million Euro. Despite the fact that the Automotive Systems business unit showed a large increase in turnover from 749 million Euro (Q1 2000) to 879 million Euro, EBIT came down from 29 to 26 million Euro. Only ContiTech – which is up for sale – reported more or less unchanged figures. ContiTechs turnover makes up 18.5 per cent of the groups turnover, but 42 per cent of the groups EBIT comes from ContiTech. The performance of the passenger car tyre division was quite good, with a growth in sales from 588 to 636 million Euro and an EBIT rising from 36 million Euro (Q1 2000) to 46 million Euro. The situation at General Tire North America, now named Continental North America, is dire. For the first quarter of last year, the company achieved an EBIT of 15 million Euro. For the same period this year, it reported a loss of 23 million Euro. At the moment, there are no signs of a turnaround for the tyre division in North America.
Continue ReadingContinental’s Annual General Meeting
At the annual general meeting of Continental AG, held at the Preussag-Arena of the Hanover EXPO Centre, both management board and shareholders were united in not being very happy with the development of the companys share price. However, they did not agree over the intention to sell ContiTech. Whereas, for the groups representatives this is another logical step towards becoming a systems supplier for the automobile industry, the question was raised, whether instead it might be more useful to separate from the weak Continental Tire North America (the former General Tire). Another factor is that last year ContiTech achieved quite a profitable result. This kind of argument took the wind out of the sails of both Continentals managing director, Dr. Stefan Kessel and board member Manfred Wennemer, who is responsible for this business unit within the group. They were united in their desire to follow the path towards Global Chassis Control. And in order to emerge from the decline, a cluster of measures has already been introduced. We expect these measures to bear fruits soon, and that sales increases will be reflected in the results, too. However, 2001 will be a very difficult year for tyres in the USA – such was the managing directors outlook. Therefore, it will be even more important to become a systems supplier. As there are only a few suppliers for the automobile industry, hostile take-overs will be rather unlikely. Kessel was trying to allay the shareholders fears and once more justify Continentals strategic change. Of course, it would be very helpful to spur on the share price, as explicitly declared by the groups top management at the AGM – however, it needs more than words.
Continue ReadingHealth And Safety Protection At Dunlop Plants
Three of the four Dunlop plants in Germany – Hanau, Wittlich and Riesa, have been certified to the internationally recognised OHSAS 18001 standard in the fields of work safety and health protection. This expands on the plants existing health and safety management systems.
Continue ReadingSell-Off Of Mannesmann Sachs – Continental The Favourite Bidder
Reports in the press say that Siemens is selling two businesses that it acquired with the purchase of Mannesmann Atecs. One of these is Mannesmann Sachs, manufacturer of clutches and shock absorbers and which is said to be worth one billion Euro. Continental was named as the front runner among those seeking to buy the company.
Continue ReadingSeat Arosa Saves Fuel With Conti Tyres
With an average consumption of 3.18 litres Diesel per 100 kilometres, a series Seat Arosa 1.4 TDI completed the 6,367 kilometres distance from Nordkap to Tarifa in the south of Spain. Across Europe In 100 hours, For 200 Euro was the target of the fuel saving ride, made on ContiEcoContact EP tyres with an insignificantly higher-than usual pressure (2.8 bar) and at an average speed of 83 km/h.
Continue ReadingNew President And CEO Appointed By Hayes Lemmerz
Hayes Lemmerz Int. appointed Curtis J. Clawson as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with Clawsons appointment, Ranko Ron Cucuz, the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will remain as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Most recently, Clawson was President and Chief Operating Officer of American National Can Group, a $2.5 billion NYSE traded manufacturing company, which was acquired by Rexam PLC.
Continue ReadingNew Structure for Automechanika Frankfurt
With a wider range of OE-products, Automechanika Frankfurt wants to open its gates from 17th to 22nd of September 2002. For the exhibiting companies, an additional 30.000 square metres of space will be available at the Frankfurt fair. Furthermore the five existing product groups – autoparts, autotronic, auto accessories, autocare and autocolour – will be complemented by the new categories auto business and auto environment. The modified structure is designed to offer better presentation possibilities for the exhibitors and to make things easier for visitors.
Continue ReadingNew Member of TecDoc
American automotive supplier Delphi has become the latest member of the TecDoc automotive parts information platform. With a turnover of 29 billion US-Dollars in 2000, Delphi Automotive Systems is the biggest automotive supplier in the world. Altogether 114 companies worldwide, representing 130 brands, now support the TecDoc platform, covering 100 percent of the European spare parts market.
Continue ReadingEarly Entry Into 500cc Bike Racing For Bridgestone
Bridgestone has announced that it will supply tyres next year to competitors in World Grand Prix 500cc motorcycle racing, one year earlier than originally planned. The company only began testing the tyres this January, in conjunction with Kanemoto Racing; the team that will ride on Bridgestones next season, fitted to NSR 500 bikes from Honda Racing. Bridgestone has supplied tyres for 125cc racing for the past decade and the latest move is designed to enhance the companys image in the ultra high performance tyre sector.
Continue ReadingKelly On The Way Out
In Europe the Kelly brand will be removed as part of a plan to reduce the number of Goodyears brands in Europe. Kellys removal is expected to be followed by other brands (Sava, Debica), with appeal only in Eastern Europe. The decision to scrap Kelly comes only seven months after the brand was comprehensively relaunched in the UK at Tyrexpo Europe.
Continue ReadingEnhanced Warranty In Cooper Settlement Agreement
Cooper Tire and Rubber Company has filed tentative agreement to settle 32 lawsuits brought against the company in the past 10 months. This involves a five year plan offering free replacement tyres for all Cooper produced steel-belted radial tyres, made between 1985 and 2001, that suffered tread separations.
Continue ReadingReport Predicts 20 Per Cent Fall In US Auto Market
A report from automotive intelligence firm Autopolis predicts hard times ahead for the US auto industry, with demand falling by 10 per cent this year and 8.5 percent next. Sales of cars and pickups are forecast to fall until the first half of 2003 at 14.1 million units, down 20 per cent on the 2000 sales figure of 17.6 million units.
Continue ReadingProst Picks Michelin For F1
The Prost Formula 1 racing team has now signed a three-year deal with Michelin to supply tyres, beginning with the 2001 season. Prost has not yet chosen its second driver to team up with Jean Alesi.
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