More 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.
Continue ReadingA New Name For Woosung
The Korean tyre manufacturer Woosung wants to change name and corporate identity. According to present information, this will be announced in Korea on 10th Febuary this year.
Continue ReadingNews from the Detroit Motor Show
DaimlerChrysler denied interest in acquiring a stake in or taking over Daewoo.
Continue ReadingTitan Sales Dropped
Sales of tyre and wheel manufacturer Titan (Quincy/Illinois, USA) have dropped last year to US$ 588 million (1998: US$ 660,8 million). Striking and a bad condition of the American agriculture are assumed to be responsible for the figures showing an EBIT of US$ -11.4 million compared to US$ 8.4 million in 1998.
Continue ReadingCooper Tires with changes in Top-Management
Pat Rooney, CEO and Chairman of Cooper Tires Ohio/USA, is to retire on June 3rd 2000. Tom Dattilo, currently President and COO, will succeed him.
Continue ReadingWFZ Becomes Europart
The German accessories wholesaler WFZ has changed its name to Europart. This is the result of the expansion from a specialised utility to a car part dealer. Europart has a foothold in 15 countries throughout Europe with its own outlets.
Continue ReadingRussian – Made Tyres For Conti?
An article in the newspaper Handelsblatt suggested that Continental is about to open a tyre factory in Moscow and that negotiations were close to final agreement. An investment in the region of 30 million Euros was reported. In September last year, Neue Reifenzeitung reported on negotiations between Continental and Moskauer Reifenwerke, which was very close to bankruptcy, although the financial situation may have improved as the main shareholder Yukos has sold its stake in the company. NEUE REIFENZEITUNG asked Continental for more details, but the company said it was not in a position to comment and could not confirm the figures quoted. Continental is only one of the tyre companies involved in negotiations in this area, with Michelin being another.
Continue ReadingStrength in Unity: The MFP 2000 Annual Meeting in Karlsruhe
The fifth annual meeting of the MFP partners, held by invitation of Michelin this year at Karlsruhe, had new performance standards for market progress, Markt-Förderungs-Programm (MFP), and current products as the main themes of its agenda. Approximately 500 guests had gathered under the slogan Gemeinsam am Markt erfolgreich (Successful in the Market Through Unity). Patrice Kéfalas, as spokesman for Michelin Germany’s sales management and the person responsible for the car and transporter tyre division, combined in his welcoming address the question: What added value can the MFP partner expect from the Michelin group? with a short résumé/look ahead, We have increased our car and truck tyre production capacity considerably and improved price competitiveness. Now we are vigorously investing in our high-performance tyres. We shall also rejuvenate the Kléber and Riken products and their brand images. And we are doing all this with the aim of being successful with our partners and more successful than the competition. The strength of the Michelin group with its more than ten per cent worldwide turnover growth last year also safeguards its partners’ future security, he said. Of increasing importance for the Clermont-Ferrand tyre manufacturer is the high-performance tyre market, not only because of the company’s commitment to Formula One. The market in fast tyres is booming, and Michelin is determined to emphasise its strong presence in this market with the new Pilot Primacy and Pilot Exalto. In order to be successful in the market through unity Michelin offers quite a number of solutions, which are described in the May issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Continue Reading
