Metro Tyres To Make Conti Two-Wheeler Tyres
Indian company Metro Tyres has signed an agreement with Continental to manufacture two-wheeler tyres for the German company. Said Metro Tyres Managing Director Rummy Chhabra: We will be shortly producing motorcycle, scooter and moped tyres for Continental under the Continental brand name. The move will give us access to manufacturers like Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki among others.
Continue ReadingKumho UK Wins OE Van Tyre Contract
Kumho UK has been awarded a contract to supply tyres as original equipment to specialist van manager LDV. 70 per cent of LDVs annual production of Pilot and Convoy vans will be equipped with Kumhos radial 857 commercial van tyres in sizes 185 R14 and 205 R14. The contract follows a rigorous quality audit at Kumhos Kwangju plant and tyre testing at the MIRA proving ground in the UK, resulting in the Korean manufacturer being awarded Approved Supplier status.
Continue ReadingMore USA Strife For Bridgestone
A Class Action lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone filed on the 12th August in California has been transferred to the Eastern District of the US District Court. Thus allowing Federal jurisdiction on the California originated case. The Class Action lawsuit alleges that Bridgestone/Firestones Steeltex R4S, R4SII and A/T tyre series contain a lamination defect which can, and has allegedly, caused the entire tread of the tyre to separate leading to the tyres destruction. Causes of action in the lawsuit charged the tyre manufacturer with Fraudulent Concealment, Deceptive Practices in Violation of the CLRA, Violations of the Unfair Practices Act, Negligence and Strict Liability. Commenting on the removal of the lawsuit to federal court, Lisoni, acting for the plaintiffs, stated: This legal action was filed to protect and represent the interests of Americans throughout the country who have purchased one of the more than 27.5 million Steeltex tyres manufactured. Lisoni emphasised he has received scores of reports from Steeltex tire owners nationwide of tyre defects and damages as well as accidents and injuries resulting from the defects. The purpose of this lawsuit is not about money, Lisoni stressed, adding: First and foremost, it is to motivate Bridgestone/Firestone to take responsibility for their defective product and do what is best for the safety of its customers-immediately recall the entire Steeltex tyre series.
Continue ReadingAlcoa Realigns Business
Alcoa announced today that it has realigned its existing businesses to provide a closer fit with customer needs in the automotive, aerospace, and commercial transportation market sectors. Bob Hughes, 57, Executive Vice President, will lead a new Alcoa Automotive and Allied Products Group, which will include the businesses that support automotive customers by providing electrical distribution systems, cast and forged automotive wheels, cast and assembled components, and other products.
Continue ReadingContinental Dispute With Viborg
Viborg local dealers who ordered new tyres from Continental today got a surprise. They were told to call their management headquarters for advice. Conti had stopped delivery. It seems that Viborg has not only been slow to pay the bills but also underpaid them without reason; initiating a quarrel which has seen Continental respond by putting a stop on deliveries. Last year there may have been similar problems between Viborg and another important tyre manufacturer. Jescow von Puttkammer was not available for comment to T&A, but passed the message, we dont speak in public about dealer and client relationships.
Continue Reading42-Volt Prototype From Lithium Technology
Lithium Technology Corporation, has announced that together with its German lithium polymer battery company partner, GAIA, the two companies have completed and shipped their first prototype 42-Volt automotive battery to BMW under the auspices of the European Union-sponsored Astor program (Assessments and testing of advanced storage systems for propulsion and other electrical systems in passenger cars). The Astor consortium consists of seven European auto companies: VW, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Opel, Fiat, Volvo, and Peugeot. The prototype lithium battery, which is now undergoing testing in Europe, delivers 7-8 kiloWatts of power at ambient temperatures, with a capacity of 27 Amp-hours, a pulse power capability of up to 6 kiloWatts for starting at an operating temperature of -25 degrees C, and an estimated life of 8 years. The battery is designed to meet the 42-Volt battery specifications of the Astor project.
Continue Reading15 Million Euro Investment By TRW
TRW Automotive has opened a new 15,000 square metre state of the art braking friction manufacturing facility dedicated to the aftermarket. The 15 million Euro investment at Olvega, in Spains Castilla-Leon region, has been opened in to meet demand for TRWs breakthrough heavy metal free Lucas brake pads. TRW now has nine dedicated European aftermarket manufacturing sites in addition to 23 OE braking, steering and suspension plants, supporting the companys ambition to have the best original equipment based chassis systems programme in the aftermarket. Currently, production at Olvega is running at almost two million pad sets a year; at full capacity, the site will produce in excess of five million pad sets annually. The plant employs 200 workers.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Boosts Pension Plans
Goodyear Tire and Rubber has contributed 11.3 million shares of common stock to its two domestic pension plans. The contributions are voluntary on Goodyears part. Robert W. Tieken, chief financial officer, says that the move will benefit both the pension plan participants and the company without any material impact on earnings per share through 2003.
Continue ReadingTRW To Launch Aftermarket Steering And Suspension
TRWs steering and suspension components currently marketed under licence by Federal Mogul, are to be sold under the TRW brand. Martin Hendricks, director and general manager for TRW Automotive Aftermarket Europe said, We have a clear branding strategy - Lucas for braking and TRW for steering and suspension. Our OE position and the reputation for excellence for Lucas braking and TRW steering and suspension makes this an obvious direction for us.
Continue ReadingMotor Industry To Work With DTI To Improve Standards
Government sponsored mystery shopping in the UK revealed that 51 per cent of garages missed one or more safety related defects and that the standards of servicing varied widely and that 86 per cent of garages missed an introduced fault on test vehicles. Some 27 per cent of fast fit centres recommended unnecessary replacement of parts. The government and industry are to work together to promote the Good garage scheme to deliver a better deal for consumers.
Continue ReadingInvestor Update From Goodyear
In August, North American industry shipments of consumer replacement tires were 8 percent below last years levels. Goodyears shipments of consumer replacement tires were also down and below the industry shipment levels. However, Goodyears shipments to its large wholesalers continued to improve in August. Shipments of custom brand tires declined significantly from August 2001 levels. Commercial replacement tires were up 18 percent from last years levels. Goodyears shipments of commercial replacement tires increased but were below industry shipment levels. European Union industry replacement tire shipments were down 1 percent for consumer tires and down 6 percent for commercial tires compared with prior year levels. Goodyear consumer tire shipments declined at the same rate as the industry and Goodyear commercial shipments were below industry shipments. In Eastern Europe consumer replacement tire unit sales for Goodyear were up significantly compared with August of last year. Volume gains were reported in most countries, especially Russia and South Africa. The Latin American market showed August replacement tire shipments were up primarily due to higher consumer sales in Mexico and Venezuela and strong commercial sales in Brazil whilst OE shipments were down significantly from last year due to a decrease in auto production in Mexico and Brazil. In Asia replacement tire shipments increased throughout the region in August whilst OE tire shipments declined from 2001 levels due to lower sales in China and the ASEAN region.
Continue ReadingKumho Tire Company Newest TRIB Member
Kumho Tire Company is the eleventh new tyre manufacturer to support the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB). Other new tyre manufacturers who are currently TRIB members include Bridgestone/Firestone, Cooper, Dunlop, Goodyear, Hankook, Hercules, Kelly-Springfield, Michelin, Sumitomo and Yokohama. We are very pleased that Kumho Tire Company has decided to support TRIB. They, along with our other new tyre manufacturer members, realise that TRIBs efforts on behalf of retreading benefit the entire truck tyre industry, said Harvey Brodsky, TRIBs Managing Director. Brodsky said that TRIB is actively contacting all other new tyre manufacturers throughout the world with an invitation to join the Tire Retread Information Bureau.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Workers Sue Over Age Discrimination
A group of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employees sued the company on Thursday, saying Goodyears employee evaluation system discriminates against older workers.
Continue ReadingContinental To Build Moscow Plant
In a joint venture with Moscow Tyre Plant, Continental has signed an agreement to build a new production facility in Moscow. Continental is the majority shareholder and will produce tyres for passenger cars and light trucks. The predicted investment will be in the region of 30 million Euros over three years. The plant is expected to produce 1.5 million tyres per year when it opens in 2003 and will generate 3.4 million tyres for Continental and Barum, largely destined for the local market. The new plant in Moscow will help Continental avoid the 70 per cent import tax on new tyres.
Continue ReadingAnother Voluntary Recall For Firestone
Firestone is recalling 18,912 tyres produced at Wilson, North Carolina to ensure the recovery of some 890 potentially faulty units. The tyres in question are FR690 P195/65R15 with DOT No W2C6T00i402 and W2C6T001502 which may have been fitted to 2003 model year Toyota Corolla S and LE models. Firestone will be contacting the owners of the cars in the coming weeks an offering free replacement tyres. Firestone had identified and corrected a faulty piece of equipment at the plane, and had originally thought that the potentially faulty tyres had all been recovered. Subsequent information gave rise to an investigation which suggested a further 890 faulty tyres may have been released to the market. The fault creates pockets of trapped air which cause increased tyre noise and can result in chunk out.
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