![Yokohama commits to SBTi](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/hevea-rubber-trees-sml.jpg)
Yokohama commits to SBTi
On 30 January The Yokohama Rubber Co., Lt. submitted a commitment letter to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)1, the first step in gaining validation of science-based targets (SBTs) for greenhouse gas emission reductions consistent with standards established by the Paris Agreement.
Continue Reading![China Automotive award for Sailun EcoPoint3](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Sailun-China-award.png)
China Automotive award for Sailun EcoPoint3
China’s state broadcaster CCTV presented the fourth annual China Automotive Festival on 28 January. The event at Beijing National Stadium included an awards ceremony honouring the best from domestic and international manufacturers, and amongst the recipients was Sailun Group, which won the Jury’s Choice Award for its EcoPoint3 technology. Mrs Liu Yanhua, chairwoman of Sailun Group, accepted the award on behalf of the tyre maker.
Continue Reading![The increasingly all-season SUV tyre market: Budget share grows in premium-dominated segment](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/martin-katler-DvTc58ioYUA-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
The increasingly all-season SUV tyre market: Budget share grows in premium-dominated segment
SUV and 4x4 tyres have stood out as a high growth, high margin sales opportunity for several years. Latterly, the growth of both all-season and EV-specific fitments has only served to strengthen the niche value of the segment. As we look forward into 2024, Tyres & Accessories takes a look at the latest data from market research specialists GfK in a bid to reflect on what has happened in the last year as well as to prepare for what might come in the next 12 months.
Continue Reading![Tyremakers sued in US class action antitrust lawsuit – public communications and high prices at centre of case](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Price-Graph.png)
Tyremakers sued in US class action antitrust lawsuit – public communications and high prices at centre of case
Days after the European Commission announced that it is investigating a number of leading tyre manufacturers in relation to allegations of price-fixing, the same companies have become the subject of a similar class-action lawsuit in the USA. The class action relates to “…purchases of tyres within four years prior to the filing” – which clearly relates to a potentially enormous number of tyres. The case basically alleges that the named tyremakers colluded to raise and sustain higher tyre prices and that such action was at least partly facilitated via public communications. The named tyremakers have all already denied price fixing and stated their compliance with the law and their cooperation with investigations in relation the EC investigation.
Continue Reading![Continental probably cutting more jobs than previously announced](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Continental-flags2-sml.jpg)
Continental probably cutting more jobs than previously announced
Last autumn, German business publication Manager-Magazin caught wind of plans at Continental to axe 5,500 jobs in its Automotive group sector. Continental confirmed this shortly afterwards. The magazine now has another exclusive, citing inside information that Continental is currently discussing the elimination of “more than a thousand additional jobs,” leading to cuts in research and development being “more severe than expected.”
Continue Reading![Nokian Tyres signs rCB agreement with Enviro/Antin JV](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Enviro.jpg)
Nokian Tyres signs rCB agreement with Enviro/Antin JV
To help achieve one of its key sustainability targets, Nokian Tyres has secured a long-term purchase agreement for recovered carbon black (rCB). The Michelin-supported joint venture tyre recycling operation that Scandinavian Enviro Systems and Antin Infrastructure Partners formed last year will deliver rCB to Nokian Tyres from 2026, a year after its first plant in Sweden enters operation.
Continue Reading![Apollo Tyres appoints new sales manager in France](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Olivier-Pataud-Apollo-Tyres-Cropped-scaled.jpg)
Apollo Tyres appoints new sales manager in France
Apollo Tyres has appointed Olivier Pataud as country sales manager for France. He succeeds Francois Hien, who becomes the company’s new “head of customer experience projects” operating across all of the company’s product groups in France. Pataud joined Apollo Tyres last year as a key account manager for the Passenger Car Tyre division.
Continue Reading![Sailun Group joins SBTi](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sailun-placeholder.jpg)
Sailun Group joins SBTi
Membership in the Justice League? Not quite, or not yet – but Sailun Group has joined several organisations and initiatives dedicated to doing good in recent times. The company confirms that it is now a member of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It also recently became the first Chinese tyre maker to join the United Nations Global Compact.
Continue Reading![VMI gains Silver EcoVadis Medal](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Silver-medal.jpg)
VMI gains Silver EcoVadis Medal
Business sustainability ratings company EcoVadis has awarded VMI a Silver EcoVadis Medal for its progress toward sustainability. By achieving Silver status, the machinery specialist is in the top 15 per cent of all companies worldwide that EcoVadis assessed by EcoVadis for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in 2023.
Continue Reading![Romain Sartorius named Chairman & CEO of Mobivia](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mobivia-Romain-Sartorius.jpg)
Romain Sartorius named Chairman & CEO of Mobivia
French automotive and mobility sector company Mobivia, which operates 11 brands and some 20 start-ups in several countries, has a new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Following its election on 27 January, the company’s Board of Directors chose Romain Sartorius to lead the firm for the next four years.
Continue Reading![ZC Rubber building factory in Mexico](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ZC-Rubber-Mexico.jpg)
ZC Rubber building factory in Mexico
Not only is Zhongce Rubber Group Co., Ltd (ZC Rubber) setting up a new factory in Indonesia, the Hangzhou, China-headquartered tyre maker has also unveiled plans for a plant in Mexico. The company is looking to establish a manufacturing facility in Saltillo, in the state of Coahuila, with a potential size of up to 600,000 square metres. It will also build a North American warehouse centre adjacent to the factory to improve the local distribution network and optimise cost efficiency.
Continue Reading![Bridgestone invests ~£5 million in Bulldog Bandag plant and refreshed retread range](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EB1_3627-scaled.jpg)
Bridgestone invests ~£5 million in Bulldog Bandag plant and refreshed retread range
Bridgestone is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Bulldog retread factory in Bourne, Lincolnshire with a multi-million-pound investment designed to “mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the site’s history”. Specifically, executives said the investment equates to “close to £5 million”.
Continue Reading![New Pyrum Innovations reactor already at 75%](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tlo_biz83a-scaled-e1602237521703.jpg)
New Pyrum Innovations reactor already at 75%
Pyrum Innovations is working to bring two new reactors into operation at its main Dillingen plant in Germany’s Saarland, trebling the facility’s capacity. It began a second test run of the first of these, reactor 2 (TAD 2), on 30 January and reports “initial successes” towards the reactor’s commissioning.
Continue Reading![Ireland extending EPR waste tyre scheme](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/scrap-tyres02.jpg)
Ireland extending EPR waste tyre scheme
The Republic of Ireland’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for tyres is to be extended to cover all tyre categories set out in country’s Tyres Regulations (8th regulation). According to Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, this extension will take effect on 1 January 2025 and enable the environmentally sound management of bus, truck, agricultural, construction and industrial waste tyres. Currently, the EPR scheme manages and seeks sustainable solutions for end-of-life passenger car, 4x4, van and motorcycle tyres.
Continue Reading![Masuta ends Europe remit – now heading Sumitomo Rubber (China)](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SRI-Masuta.jpg)
Masuta ends Europe remit – now heading Sumitomo Rubber (China)
Tomohiko Masuta has concluded his tenure as Senior Executive Manager, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Falken Tyre Europe, becoming Chairman and General Manager of Sumitomo Rubber (China) Co. Ltd. as of 1 January 2024. He succeeds Eiichi Masuda in these roles. Masuda concurrently serves as Chairman and General Manager of Sumitomo Rubber (Changshu) and Chairman of Sumitomo Rubber (Hunan).
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