Michelin In Chinese Joint Venture?
There are reports that Michelin is on the verge of forming a joint venture with Chinese tyre maker Shanghai Huayi Group Corporation (SHGC). Michelin would not comment, but SHGC has been quoted locally as saying that the deal has been done and is waiting formal government approval.
Continue ReadingBlack Figures Are General Tire’s Aim
Sales are up in the year 2000 and profits have gone like snow in the sun. That, in short, describes the present situation of Continental General Tire in North America. But red figures are not an option. Bernd Frangenberg (59) President and CEO of CGT, vigorously denied the possibility that he could be forced to inform the parent company about red figures at the end of the year. All the necessary actions have been taken to make sure that CGT remains profitable even in a difficult climate, Frangenberg declared Tyres & Accessories. Continental General Tire employs 9000 people and runs 5 factories in the US and 2 in Mexico. Last year’s turnover was about 1.5 bn Euro.
Continue ReadingThyssenKrupp Group Stopped At Stock Exchange
ThyssenKrupp is not able to bring its subsidiary steel company to the stock exchange for a reasonable price, due to current weak circumstances. Institutional investors were not sufficiently interested in the shares. The group calculated up to 4 bn Euros for the steel company. It is now unlikely that ThyssenKrupp could start a raid on Continental. The management made clear that it is streamlining the whole business and focusing, among other things, on the automotive field.
Continue ReadingNew Goodyear Polymer Plant Begins Production
Production has started at a new Goodyear Chemical polymer plant in Beaumont, Texas. The plant cost US$ 144 million and has an annual capacity of 240 million pounds of synthetic rubber and speciality polymers. It is Goodyear Chemicals fourth facility in Texas.
Continue ReadingNew President And COO For Goodyear
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has appointed Robert J. Keegan (53) as president, chief operating officer and director of the company, effective Oct 1st. Currently president, consumer imaging of Eastman Kodak, Keegans appointment reinforces Goodyears intention to focus more on the consumer, says the company.
Continue ReadingIntelligent Tyre From Nokian Links To Driver’s Mobile Phone
Nokian Tyres has developed an intelligent tyre technology system that sends real-time data on tyre pressures and temperature to the drivers mobile phone. No extra display is required inside the vehicle.
Continue Reading“Truck Force” At The Starting Line
Goodyear has got on well with their integrated truck service concept, as stated by the group. Whereas, by the end of last year, 65 partners have been using this Goodyear service for commercialising truck tyres, the figure has currently raised up to 90, which means another step closer to the target of an area-wide service network in Germany. As estimated by Frank Titz, Manager Sales & Marketing Truck Tires at Goodyear Germany, around 150 service points will be necessary, of which 120 are already covered by their 90 partners. Because of continuing merging activities within the forwarding business, foreign markets have to be considered, too. All big freight vehicle fleets are on the road all over Europe, so that service may not end at the frontiers, Titz is explaining the motivation for the European-wide extension of the concept, named Truck Force. By the end of 2001, we want to be represented at all main international traffic arteries, either from Portugal/Spain to Scandinavia and from France versus Eastern Europe. Advantages are not only suggested for trade, but for Goodyear itself, of course. In fact, according to Titz, in Germany more than 50 per cent of all new truck tyres have been sold so far by their partners.
Continue ReadingFurther Price Increases Necessary Soon
Recently announced price increases effective from the 1st November have not been sufficient to compensate for constantly increasing costs. The Continental Group therefore sees the necessity to increase prices again. The company expect to announce rises of around four to five percent early in the new year, Jescow von Puttkamer told NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Continue Readingteam Reifen-Union Cooperates with VRG
The two cooperatives team Reifen-Union/Top Service Team KG (currently about 400 outlets) and Vereinigte ReifenFachhändler GmbH (VRG; currently about 200 outlets) have agreed a far-reaching cooperation on all levels, including the servicing of large customers and fleet management. An important ingredient is the immediate creation of a company called Team Reifen Partner GmbH + Co. KG (TRP), which will gradually incorporate both VRG and new companies as members. VRG members will still have to approve this measure officially in a meeting at the end of January. The team group, to date with a membership of 25 regionally successful tyre traders and as such the number one marketing group in the tyre market, will thus embrace also smaller and medium-sized tyre trading companies, whose members have already given their official consent to the plan. The new group based on the team/VRG cooperatives with more than 600 outlets is set to expand its base. An essential precondition for tyre dealers with local and regional operations and aspirations also to serve trans-regional customers, especially fleets and leasing companies, is full geographical coverage throughout Germany. At the same time the new partners want to coordinate their procurement and stocking policy and improve their purchasing terms and conditions.
Continue ReadingGoodyear To Close Factory In Argentina
The American tyre manufacturer plans to close one of its oldest factories, Pneumaticos Goodyear SA, which is located near Buenos Aires. Goodyear has operated a sales office in Argentina since 1915, making it one of the companys oldest subsidiaries outside the USA.
Continue ReadingLightest Wheels For Concept Car
General Motors recently introduced a Precept Technology Demonstration Vehicle at the Detroit Motor Show as part of the project PNGV (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles) – a co-operation of American car makers, suppliers and the federal government. The concept car is fitted with the lightest 3.8 kg 16-inch fabricated aluminium wheels by Hayes Lemmerz.
Continue ReadingRenault Sales 2.29 Million In 1999
Renault car sales last year totalled 2.29 million; a 7.4% increase. The company also announced that, in the future, it will use Nissans production capacity outside Japan to produce and market Renault cars.
Continue ReadingTyre Safety Check
During the so-called tyre safety month organised in Germany for May 2000 motorists are offered a free tyre check. Several associations (DVR, BRV, ADAC, ACE, DEKRA, TÜV etc.) are involved in this initiative as well as ten tyre manufacturers.
Continue ReadingMichelin Subsiduary Reduces Workforce In Poland
Michelin subsiduary Stomil-Olsztyn has announced that it will be reducing ist workforce by 120 people during this year. At the same time, a further 70 full time employees have reverted to part-time. Stomil-Olsztyn are located in the regions of Warmia and Mazury in northern Poland and employ around 4.000 workers who produce passenger, truck, light truck and agricultural tyres as well as tyre fabrics and curing moulds.
Continue ReadingNew Industrial Tyre Innovation From Continental
Continental has announced the development of a new concept for industrial tyres which combines the benefits of both solid and pneumatic tyres. It will be produced under the brand name of SFR 3000.
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