“Essen-Motor-Show 2001” – On Course For Growth
The Essen-Motor-Show is putting its foot down! After the record exhibition in 2000 (with 394,800 guests, 12.4 percent more visitors), it has been accelerating once again: the range on offer, which already covered many diverse aspects of automobiles and related products, became even wider in 2001. A total of more than 550 exhibitors, including the leading automobile manufacturers, presented what was on offer on the global market in 18 exhibition halls. Special emphasis was placed on the sporty and individual vehicle models as well as on the wide range of vehicle accessories. Current racing vehicles from all motor-sport categories, including a large number of this seasons Formula-1 cars, supplemented the range on show, where all the major players, almost without exception, were represented. Many exhibitors had booked larger booth areas. Other automobile manufacturers who had not exhibited their makes before had announced their participation in the Number 2 of all German vehicle fairs. Because of the greater demand for exhibition space, the exhibition management had therefore decided to provide an additional large hall for the Automobiles and Tuning exhibition sections. VDAT – Verband Deutscher Automobil-Tuner e.V. (the Association of German Automobile Tuners) had also intensified its involvement in the Essen-Motor-Show 2001. VDAT members presented themselves exclusively in the VDAT Halls 5, 10 and 11 which were designed with a salon character.
Continue ReadingAgricultural Tyre Market: 2001 has been a difficult year
The world-wide market for agricultural machines and tyres is has been characterised by a rationalisation processes over several years. The leading competitors in the tyre sector (Michelin-Group, Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS), Continental and Goodyear) have more or less completed repositioning themselves in the market. The widest multi-brand variation has been attained by the Michelin-Group, which covers with its four brands (Michelin, Kleber, Taurus and Stomil) all price-segments and applications. However, the development of this tyre segment cannot be viewed in isolation. It is influenced and defined by a number of fundamental and mutually connected parameters. These are:· the general economical development of the agricultural sector,· the changing structure of the German agricultural sector since reunification,· seasonal influences/aspects (e.g. weather conditions) and· sales, numbers and specifications of agricultural machines (especially tractors).In Germany fewer and fewer farming companies have concerns about a permanently increasing average area of land - a trend that can be observed throughout the rest of Europe. At the same time agricultural machinery is becoming more powerful, larger and faster, and the tyre manufacturer has to produce a product that can cope with these demands and yet remain gentle on crops to ensure maximum yield.In the first half of the year 2001 the already decreasing number of machinery sales found an additional seasonal reason in the sinking investments of the farmers, due to the BSE and the FMD-crisis. The increased cost-consciousness of the farmers became obvious in an trend towards cheaper brands. In the second half of the year the tyre market recovered a little bit from its bad results in the first six months but the overall negative figures could not be overcome completely so that ultimately a five percent loss was expected, compared to the previous year. This meant a total number of 220,000 tractor tyres sold in Germany (radial: 143,000 pieces).
Continue ReadingKorean Unions Try To Block Daewoo Sale To A Foreign Company
Unions working for car manufacturers Daewoo, Ssangyong, Hyundai and Kia are opposing the sale of car manufacturer Daewoo to foreign businesses, believing that such a sale would lead to job losses and pose a danger to the domestic supply industry.
Continue ReadingIncreased Sales And Profits For Vredestein
Vredestein NV, parent company of Enschede-based Vredestein Banden, has announced increased turnover and profits for 1999. Sales rose to 256 m euros, compared to 252 m last year. Cash flow improved 1.2 m euros to 29.9 m euros and net profit for the year was 10.4 m euros.
Continue ReadingEdouard Michelin: Young And Rich
The UK magazine EuroBusiness ranks Edouard Michelin at number 103 among Europes richest 400 people with a fortune of 1.85 bn Euros.
Continue ReadingVRG Ends Consultations With Team
Surprisingly, Team and VRG could not come to an agreement in some major topics concerning the co-operation of the two German groups of tyre dealers. As a result VRG ended the consultations for the present.
Continue ReadingMichelin Price Increase
After Continental and Goodyear, Michelin is now planning a price increase of 3%, which would be equivalent to absorbing an increase in raw materials (Rubber, Oil) of about 12%. Due to the fact that raw material prices are continuing to grow it seems unlikely that much of the price increase will benefit the manufacturers.
Continue ReadingContinental Shares Like Lead
Despite excellent results and an on-going buy recommendation from Deutsche Bank, Continental shares are not rising. The management has announced that the intelligent tyre is to be fitted as OE from 2003 but refuses to name the car manufacturer. The management also feeds speculation regarding a joint venture partner for brakes in Asia. Will this help the share price to rise?
Continue ReadingMore Tyres Sold In Germany In 1999
The German rubber industry recorded sales of 18.9 bn Marks (+3.9%) in 1999, of which 11 bn Marks (+5.6%) were tyres. German tyre sales (+6.3%) grew stronger than exports (+4.0%). The dramatic increases in prices of raw-materials is a source of worry for the rubber industry, announced the rubber association W.d.K. (Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie).
Continue ReadingHans-Joachim Brand Leaves Continental
Hans-Joachim Brand (53), who, until the end of 1999, was responsible for the British tyre retail chain NTS, left Continental last month.
Continue ReadingAWI Plant Closes
Alloy Wheels International (AWI), a subsidiary of South African company Murray & Roberts, has closed its Cardiff plant because of an expected fall in demand from oe customers Rover Cars and Land-Rover and reduced competitiveness because of currency problems. 250 jobs are lost.
Continue ReadingISO 14001 Accreditation For Hayes Lemmerz
The worlds leading wheel producer Hayes Lemmerz has been awarded environmental certification ISO 14001 for its Czech facility Autokola (Ostrava).
Continue ReadingNorth American Wheels Team By Hayes Lemmerz
Hayes Lemmerz has combined its sales and marketing forces of fabricated and cast wheels in North America. President of the new unit is Ronald Kolakowski, Richard Miller has been appointed vice president and four sales directors are responsible for NA oe customers.
Continue ReadingTronchetti Provera Considers Positively The Goodyear/Michelin JV
The Chief Executive Officer of Pirelli, Mario Tronchetti Provera, considers the PAX-agreement between the two tire giants positively. Pirelli is already a developing partner, together with Michelin, regarding PAX and Run Flat Technologies in general. Tronchetti said that Goodyears involvement will further accelerate the development and the promotion of PAX.
Continue ReadingFirst Quarter At Hayes Lemmerz
Hayes Lemmerz sales and earnings in the first quarter 2000 were at the same level as last year. A significant drop in orders for heavy truck wheels and brake components was compensated by a successful expansion of aluminium wheel capacity worldwide.
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