Reifen 2000 Review
The biennial Reifen show in Essen has grown and grown to become what is regarded as the most successful and most impressive show in Europe devoted to tyres and ancillary products. This year’s event was the 21st show and boasted 408 exhibitors – a 13% increase over 1998. 40 countries were represented at Reifen 2000. However, visitor numbers dropped 3.75% to 15,400, but this was regarded as not significant and due to a number of one-off factors rather than a sign that Reifen has begun to lose its appeal. Our review of the show includes articles on no fewer than sixty companies who were exhibiting, from all over the world and the coverage reflects the importance of what many regard as Europe’s premier tyre exhibition, and one which is attracting an increasingly global exhibitor and visitor base.
Continue ReadingGottfried Hess Becomes Goodyear Finance Boss In Germany
Gottfried (Geoff) Hess (58), up till now President of Goodyear Indonesia, is returning to Germany as head of finance for Goodyear and Dunlop in Germany.
Continue ReadingRecall Does Not Prove Firestone Liable Says Ono
Chief Executive of Bridgestone/Firestone Inc, Masatoshi Ono, has told lawyers that the tyre recall in the USA had been carried out for safety reasons and was not an admission that the tyres in question were defective in any way. Neither was his public apology in September an admission that B/F Inc was admitting any liability.
Continue Reading160,000 Tyres To Be Replaced By Continental
Continental General Tire will replace 160,000 Contitrac AS MXS tyres, size P245/75R16, of which 140,000 were mounted on Fords Lincoln Navigator and 20,000 were delivered into the aftermarket. The tyres were produced in the Mayfield factory (Kentucky/USA) between January 1997 and 11th week of 1998. In 62 cases faults have been revealed, some tyres have suffered tread separations in remarkably similar circumstances to the current recall of Firestone tyres: the incidents occurred in Saudi-Arabia, where Firestone tyres have been under scrutiny, and again a Ford vehicle – the Lincoln Navigator – was affected. Up till now it is known that two people have been hurt in accidents, which could have been caused by tyre defects. The Stock Exchange Responds Quickly To The Tyre Recall From Continental. Within a few hours, Conti-shares lost around 8 % of their value.
Continue ReadingJob Cuts At Tenneco Automotive USA
Tenneco Automotive, the manufacturer of Monroe shock absorbers and Walker exhaust systems, has laid off 285 salaried workers at four sites in the USA. The move follows a steep fall in operating profits and is part of a world-wide programme of up to 700 job cuts. Tenneco has 70 factories in 21 countries.
Continue ReadingSenate Approves New Powers to NHTSA
The US Senate, last night approved legislation prompted by the Bridgestone Firestone tyre recall. The new measures strengthen reporting requirements for automotive related manufacturers. The enforcement powers given to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allow them to impose civil and criminal penalties for misleading the government about auto defects which result in death and injury. The maximum civil penalty for violations has been raised from $925,000 to $15M, and prison terms of up to 15 years have been prescribed, alongside fines of up to $100,000 for withholding information in cases where death occurs. The legislation instruct NHTSA to conduct tests into SUV safety and issue rules requiring the fitting of safety devices to warn drivers of underinflated tyres.
Continue ReadingDrive Up Help From Continental Teves
Brake specialist Continental Teves has developed an electronic system that takes over the function of the handbrake when driving up a hill or mountain. The drive up help will go into production in the year 2002 and functions as follows. When the driver has stopped the car and presses the clutch, the brake system automatically builds up the exact brake pressure needed in order to prevent the car from rolling back on a slope. When driving resumes, the electronic system measures the brake pressure and ensures a smooth start without any jerks.
Continue ReadingStrike Ends At General Tire
Employees at Continental General Tire’s plant in Bryan, Ohio USA have signed an agreement ensuring an increase in wages and pensions plus a regulation of working time (a four shift programme, seven days a week) up to the year 2006. The same agreement will apply in Charlotte, General Tire’s largest plant in North America, where employees had been on strike for over a year to achieve these improved conditions. Continental’s workforce has diminished from 1,450 to around 1,300 following the strikes.
Continue ReadingVredestein; Wider And Faster
The Dutch manufacturer has announced the introduction of a new Z and W-rated tyre later this year, aimed at sportscars and luxury cars.
Continue ReadingFocus Named ‘Car of the Year 2000’ In USA
Journalists at the Detroit Motor Show have voted the Ford Focus Car of the Year 2000. The Focus is produced in Germany, Spain and the USA.
Continue ReadingFormer Pepsico Manager Joins Goodyear
Eric A. Berg (37) - a former Pepsico Manager - has joined Goodyear as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Berg will be responsible for Goodyears future success in E-Commerce.
Continue ReadingRMA Takes Over BIPAVER Retreading Administration
At a recent BIPAVER meeting, it was agreed that the UKs Retread Manufacturers Association should take over the administration of the retreading section of BIPAVER. Said an RMA spokesman: We recognised a need for consistent representation, particularly in what is proving to be a very difficult time for the retreading industry. To form two separate divisions under the BIPAVER umbrella seemed to be both logical and sensible.
Continue ReadingNew Managing Director For Goodyear UK
It has been announced that Mr S McDonald has been appointed Managing Director of Goodyear UK, with additional responsibilities for the Goodyear/Dunlop integration in the UK. This appointment is part of an extensive series of strategic management changes within the companys European Union organisation, all of which, will take immediate effect.
Continue ReadingCarlos Ghosn Becomes Nissan President
Carlos Ghosn, once top man of Michelin in the USA will become President of Nissan, effective 1st April 2000, in addition to his post as Chief Operating Officer. Ghosn is interested in speeding up the Nissan Revival Plan, implemented in October last year.
Continue ReadingDr. von Grünberg To Become Member Of Telekom Supervisory Board
Dr. Hubertus von Grünberg will be elected as a member of the German Telekom Supervisory Board on 25 May. the former CEO and Chairman of Continental is already Chairman of Continental Supervisory Board and member of the Board at Allianz, MAN and holds similar positions at BHF-Bank, Dresdner Bank and Schindler Holding (Suisse).
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