Jordan Stays With Bridgestone
Jordan has extended its contract with Bridgestone and hopes to become the tyre manufacturers number one partner. There are rumours that McLaren and Ferrari are leaning towards Michelin like Jaguar Racing, the BMW/Williams team and Toyota did before.
Continue ReadingMAST Raises Its Prices
Michelin Americas Small Tires (MAST) has announced an increase in price in the US replacement market for passenger and light truck tyres. Michelin, Uniroyal and BFGoodrich brands will all rise by 5%, along with private and associate brands.
Continue ReadingRecommended By Analysts: Cooper Shares
In the USA, Cooper Tire & Rubber shares have seldom been so cheap. With the recent acquisitions, the market was not convinced that Cooper was running in the right direction, but after the first quarters good results, most have changed their opinions and are regarding Cooper with more optimism. An increasing number of experts are convinced that the Cooper management might use the low share price to buy back up to 10% of its own stock, which would have a positive effect. Apart from Cooper, Continental was the only other tyre and rubber manufacturer whose shares were tipped as a buy by analysts.
Continue ReadingMexico Selected For Goodyear’s Third Moulded Products Plant
To meet increased product demand, Goodyear Engineered Products has announced plans to establish a moulded transportation products manufacturing plant in Mexico and will continue to operate moulded products plants in St. Marys, Ohio, and Quebec City, Quebec. Moulded products include engine and shock mounts that reduce vibration and improve vehicle handling. Goodyear is exploring sites for the new $16 million facility that will employ more than 100 workers.
Continue ReadingLead Balance Weights To Be Banned?
A European committee has agreed on the final text of the End Of Life Vehicle Directive (ELV). One paragraph bans the use of lead in wheel balance weights, including coated weights, on new vehicles after 1st July 2003. It is unclear whether any ban would apply to the aftermarket. The ELV text has to be submitted to the European Parliament and then to the Council for final vote and adoption.
Continue ReadingMontinex In Administrative Receivership
On Friday 4th August, the Montinex tyre retail group went into Administrative Receivership. Discussions with potential purchaser Stapletons Tyre Services broke down last month. The parts of the Montinex group in Receivership are Chessington Tyres, Malvern Tyres, Northway Tyres and Charlie Browns Autocentres, totalling some 144 retail outlets. It is hoped to sell these as a going concern. Fleet Tyre Management is not in Receivership and is continuing to trade. Montinex turns over £86m annually and employs 840.
Continue ReadingMorgan Tire And Auto Inc. To Buy Tires Plus Ltd.
Larry Morgan, one of the key note speakers at last months BRV/MMS-seminar at the Reifen 2000 exhibition is purchasing Tires Plus Ltd. This company has 140 outlets in nine US-states and a turnover of 220 million US-$. Combining Tires Plus Ltd. and Morgan Tire together will create the second biggest independent tyre dealer in the United States with 540 stores in 24 states and a turnover of 745 million US-$ – a retail powerhouse is how Larry Morgan describes it.
Continue ReadingMore Tyres For Formula 1?
The Formula 1 teams and the motorsport association FIA are in disagreement about the regulations for the next season. Among other things F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has suggested that each car at each racing weekend is supplied with three extra sets of tyres.
Continue ReadingDr. Holzbach Now In Truck Division
Dr. Wolfgang Holzbach, who was responsible for the manufacture of passenger car tyres for the Continental Group, has been named Vice President, Manufacturing, Truck Tyres. He succeeds Dr. Seitner, who retired at the end of July, and George W. Ruccio, who has returned to Charlotte, USA.
Continue ReadingTurkish Group Sabanci Sells Stake To Toyota
The Turkish conglomerate Sabanci Holding – the group which includes the Brisa joint venture with Bridgestone – has sold a 25% stake in another of its joint venture companies. Sabanci has sold 25% of Toyotasa to its partner Toyota Motor Corporation for US$ 109 m, leaving Sabanci with a stake in the company of almost 25%.
Continue ReadingMMP-Factory In Timisoara Opens
It was the biggest day in Timisoara since the revolution, and it will perhaps set off another – this time in the tyre industry. The new tyre production facility was opened 20th October by Continental president, Dr Kessel, and Romanian Prime Minister, Mugur Isarescu, the latter facing the possibility of losing office in the coming election. Amongst the 400 attending the opening were representatives from Continentals key suppliers and selected customers, as well as German and Romanian journalists. When the factory has reached its final stage it will produce 8 million car tyres a year, employing about 1,000 people. The article in November’s TYRES & ACCESSORIES shows that the factory tour revealed little new; we were shown assorted Japanese vulcanising equipment and ancillary machinery, but the state-of-the-art tyre construction machines were still under wraps. The iron curtain may have fallen, but for now there is a rubber curtain round the new technology at Timosoara.
Continue ReadingAutomotive Hose Agreement Between Goodyear And Phoenix
Automotive hose manufacturers Phoenix and Goodyear Engineered Products have agreed to use each others factories to meet increasing demand on a global basis. Phoenix has six plants in Europe and GEP has six in North America and Mexico. The companies expect to expand the agreement to cover Asia and South America.
Continue Reading“SP Super Sport 9000” From Dunlop
At the Essen Motor-Show, tyre manufacturer Dunlop is showing a new high performance tyre, called SP Super Sport 9000. It is a mixture of the SP 9000 and the racing tyre which is supplied exclusively to the German Tourcar Masters. The new tyre will be available in 17 and 18 inch sizes and it will be released in spring 2001.
Continue ReadingNew Order For Dunlop Sales Department
At the beginning of November, Hans-Burkhard Brandt became Sales Director for the Truck Tyre Department at Dunlop. His predecessor, Frank Pickshaus, becomes Assistant General Manager of the distribution section of the OE-department. At the beginning of 2001, the present Dunlop Sales Director Hans Jürgen Wagner will become General Manager in Hanau. Christian Stein, now Sales Director Commerce, will be promoted to Sales Director.
Continue ReadingContinental Ends Champions League Sponsorship
At the end of this seasons competition, Continental will cease its sponsorship of footballs European Champions League. The company has been a major sponsor of the competition for the past five years.
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