5th International Autosalon Opens In Moscow
The 5th International Autosalon in Moscow looks set to be the most successful yet. More than 600 exhibitors from 27 countries are showing their latest products. It is expected that the number of vehicles in use in Russia will double by 2005.
Continue ReadingEarly Entry Into 500cc Bike Racing For Bridgestone
Bridgestone has announced that it will supply tyres next year to competitors in World Grand Prix 500cc motorcycle racing, one year earlier than originally planned. The company only began testing the tyres this January, in conjunction with Kanemoto Racing; the team that will ride on Bridgestones next season, fitted to NSR 500 bikes from Honda Racing. Bridgestone has supplied tyres for 125cc racing for the past decade and the latest move is designed to enhance the companys image in the ultra high performance tyre sector.
Continue Reading“Innovation And High Performance” From Michelin
The Michelin stand at Frankfurt, the new technological development partner for Bosch presents developments which will particularly enhance the cars of today and tomorrow. As a wood, metal and glass structure, the booth aims to highlight the high technology of the exhibited products, whilst being user friendly for visitors. Innovation (PAX, Chassis Systems, concept tyres) and high performance (tyre product families) are the two messages transmitted through this architecture. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to test the PAX system on two Renault Scénics in the outer area of the fairground.
Continue ReadingSales Down And Net Loss For Titan In 3rd Quarter
Titan Internationals financial figures for the third quarter have been released. Turnover was $100.5 million, compared with $119.8 m for the same period last year. Titan recorded a net loss for the quarter of $9.5 m (Q3 2000: $7.4 m). The net loss for the year to date was $13.3 m, compared to a net profit for YTD last year of $12.5 m. President and CEO Maurice Taylor Jr. was optimistic that Titan would turn the corner next year, pointing to the end of the 40-month strike at the Des Moines plant and the gaining of a $45 million military contract as positive factors.
Continue ReadingWorries Over German Winter Tyre Sales
The tyre industry in Germany will not be able to attain its goal of sales of 18 million winter tyres, although sales of 16.5 million are possible. Signals coming from dealers reveal another worry, as it seems likely that, of the 16.5 million tyres delivered, 4 million will remain unsold to end users.
Continue ReadingLatest News From Berliner Reifenwerke GmbH
Until today, the German Berliner Reifenwerke GmbH has been an example of the incompetence of authorities, banks and others. NEUE REIFENZEITUNG has already reported developments in detail, up to the appointment of the official receiver. Part of around 80 million Deutschmarks, which were originally supposed to build up Berliner Reifenwerke, have either been thrown away or squandered in order to support the lifestyles of some company leaders, and of which the creditors are unlikely to see a penny again. But things are not so bad, because the investment bank Berliner Investitionsbank has already managed other flops. The truly sad thing is that loyal employees of many years’ standing have been dismissed, and they are now without jobs or prospects. The fact that Berliner Reifenwerke – today called Berliner Runderneuerungswerke –, is still alive, can be attributed to both the official receiver and the RuLa shareholders’ delegates. Berliner Runderneuerungs GmbH was founded by RuLa and, because time is short, the plant is being leased from the official receiver, but for the moment this factory will stay in mothballs. Although the huge pressure of time has been relieved, conclusive decisions are needed for the medium-term, as the whole plant cannot be leased for a long term if the contractual partner is an official receiver. Soon, investors will run off.
Continue ReadingBetter Reports From Michelin
For the first time, the Michelin Group is to release figures covering sales, profits and assets per division. The first report is expected on February 23rd.
Continue ReadingTeaming Up: Ford And BFGoodrich
The erstwhile Tyre manufacturer, now aerospace supplier, BF Goodrich has teamed up with Ford to develop a SmartBelt seatbelt. This is a combination of the traditional seatbelt and the airbag, which inflates to protect vehicle occupants in the event of a collision. BF Goodrich sold its tyre operations to Michelin in 1990 and the brand is still manufactured and marketed as BF Goodrich by Michelin.
Continue ReadingBoard Nominations At Bridgestone
The following nominations will be made at the meeting of Bridgestone Corporation shareholders, to be held on March 29. New board members: Osamu Inoue, currently plant manager, Hikone Plant and John T Lampe: CEO and president, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. Retiring from the board: Yoichiro Kaizaki, president, chairman and CEO, Tadakazu Harada, executive vice president, Katsuyooshi Shibata, executive vice president, president of Bridgestone Cycle Co. and Hiroji Ohbuchi, president of Bridgestone Tire Osaka Sales Co. Shibata will continue as president, Bridgestone Cycle Co. and Ohbuchi as president of Bridgestone Tire Osaka Sales Co. after 29 March.
Continue ReadingCar Parts and Accessories – 3rd BBE Conference in Cologne
On 5th April the consultant company had invited more than 150 experts from the car parts and accessories sectors for its third conference concerning the car component aftermarket. As tyres are counted as part this segment as well, trends from this part of the business were presented and discussed as well. In times where sales of new cars begin to drop, the importance of the aftermarket business begins to grow again. But on the other hand the competition in this field is fiercer than ever -due also to the internet and e-commerce. This was the reason why the event was subtitled The good times are over – means for success in hard times. And the topics of the internet and e-commerce were at least mentioned by almost every speaker, sometimes being even the main topic. These new media enable the industry to provide products directly to the end consumer, leaving behind the old traditions of trade via wholesaler and retailers.
Continue ReadingE-Commerce – Confused? Who Wouldn’t Be?
The tyre industry is being swamped by companies trying to grab a piece of the e-commerce cake. Whether individuals like it or not, surviving in the tyre market in the future will depend upon access to technology, and the ability to buy and sell stock on-line. Who do you turn to? ContiContact? Tyreman? Cam Systems, Team Systems, who? Do you need Internet, or EDI? What are the legalities? The whole concept is confusing to the layman and the trader alike and the pace of change can be frightening to those who are not e-literate as they feel they may be left behind by increasingly-sophisticated customers. This series of articles looks at the potential, the hazards, the products, and throws in a healthy pinch of salt but still concludes that the future is electronic.
Continue ReadingExplorer Rollovers – Ford Blames Firestone
Ford has issued a comprehensive report in which it places the blame for the fatal crashes involving the Ford Explorer fairly and squarely on the Firestone tyres and not the vehicle. Ford contends that the Explorer is no more prone to rollovers or tyre failures than any other medium-sized SUV. Bridgestone/Firestone disagrees, saying that tyre and vehicle makes up an integrated system and any investigation has to take the vehicle into consideration. It also criticised comparative temperature tests on Firestone and competitors tyres, saying that they measured only external temperatures and took no account of internal running temperatures.
Continue ReadingBuyer For ContiTech To Be Chosen Soon?
Continental is reported to have drawn up a short list of bidders for its ContiTech division and the preferred bidder could be chosen soon. The tyre manufacturer has said that it wants to sell to one buyer and is hoping for a sale price of at least 800 million Euro. Three private equity firms are named as being among those on the short list; Swedish company Industri Kapital, CVC and Carlyle.
Continue Reading“Grand Prix de la Publicité” for Pirelli TM600-Campaign
The advertising campaign for Pirelli TM600 standard series tyres, launched in July 2000, has been rewarded by the French Grand Prix de la Publicité de la Presse Agricole, for the mechanization sector. The prize is given every year by a jury of experts to the advertising campaign that makes use of the press media in the most creative and effective way. Developed with the international ageny Ogilvy & Mather of Milan, the campaign has been translated into seven languages.
Continue ReadingCooperation Between Continental And Yokohama Intensifies
Continental and Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama, who already operate a plant together in the USA, producing truck tyres, want to intensify this cooperation. They want to create a 50-50 joint venture in Japan by the end of the year, merging their Japanese activities and focussing on their Japanese OE customers. Yokohama will also help Continental increase its replacement market business. In addition, the two companies want to work more closely together in production in the NAFTA area and are looking at potential synergies, in areas such as purchasing.
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