Alchemy Pulls Out Of Rover Deal
This morning the venture capitalist company Alchemy Partners pulled out of talks with BMW to buy the Rover Group, including the Longbridge plant. The deal was expected to be successfully concluded today. BMW has allowed one month for another buyer to come forward or the Longbridge plant will be shut down.
Continue ReadingMAST Raises Its Prices
Michelin Americas Small Tires (MAST) has announced an increase in price in the US replacement market for passenger and light truck tyres. Michelin, Uniroyal and BFGoodrich brands will all rise by 5%, along with private and associate brands.
Continue ReadingGerman Rubber Industry Growth
The German Rubber Association W.d.K. (Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie) has announced that total sales of rubber goods increased 4.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2000. Sales of technical products rose 5.8 % and tyre sales increased 3.3 %. However, the W.d.K. continues to worry about increasing material costs (rubber, oil, carbon black).
Continue Reading“Snowprox S950” – Toyo’s New Winter Tyre
In the autumn Snowprox S950 will be available in 55/50/45/40-series. According to Toyo, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in Germany this year, the new winter tyre has (compared with its predecessor M+S 920) improved its performance dramatically.
Continue ReadingJoint Takeover Of Daewoo By Hyundai And DaimlerChrysler?
A spokesman for Hyundai said on 12th June that the company is considering a takeover of Daewoo, together with DaimlerChrysler
Continue ReadingJoint Venture Between Bridgestone And Japanese Partners
Bridgestone (tyres), Akebono (brakes) and Kayaba Ind. (shock absorbers) last week announced a joint venture to develop modules which include the above three products.
Continue ReadingLatest Truck Initiatives From Michelin
In June, Michelin UK appointed Thierry Martin as Commercial Director – Truck and, in an exclusive interview with TYRES & ACCESSORIES, he spelled out the latest efforts of Michelin to woo customers in the competitive truck tyre market. The emphasis has switched from merely supplying product to providing a comprehensive service for customers. A good example is the Michelin Euro Assist breakdown programme, where customers with tyre problems in any of 17 countries across Europe can dial one number for 24-hour help. Today’s service advisors aim to significantly cut costs for customers across the total package and double digit savings are not uncommon. Michelin’s technical advisors monitor maintenance and diagnose problems in order that the customer gets optimum usage from his tyres. Of course, in a fixed-price contract, increasing tyre life benefits the manufacturer too. The importance of the service element was underlined when Michelin won the contract to supply tyres to Transamerica Trailer Leasing (which has 21,000 trailers in its European fleet) for the next five years. The clinching argument was not the price, but the availability of service and back-up across Europe. Michelin has extended its Michelin Business Advantage (MBA) scheme, originally aimed at car tyre customers, to truck tyre buyers. MBA is a scheme whereby independent customers and Michelin sit down together to discuss how they can work together to improve the service on offer to customers, thereby benefiting all three parties. This leads to what Thierry Martin describes as a win, win, win situation.
Continue ReadingFord Award For Hankook
The Ford Motor Company in Dearborn has bestowed its Q1 award on Hankooks tyre plant in Taejon, which produces light truck tyres for Ford. The factory is located 130 km south of Seoul and produces 65,000 passenger car and light truck tyres daily.
Continue ReadingStatistics Query Firestone as Cause
According to the Washington Post, the Ford Explorer has a higher than average accident rate compared to other SUVs. The report was based on statistical analysis of national and Florida state crash statistics. The report suggests that there is evidence that there may be a vehicle related problem contributing to the accidents.
Continue ReadingHigh Brand Recognition For Goodyear During Recall
In a survey in the US, it seems that OE pull-through is an important factor and that the tyre recall has – according to Goodyear – stimulated interest in tyres. Before the recall, 36.7 per cent of respondents said they would choose Goodyear tyres and 21.4 per cent Firestones. During the recall, these figures changed to 55.2 per cent and 4.1 per cent respectively.
Continue ReadingTalks On Future Of Nissan UK Factory
The future of Nissans plant at Sunderland, UK will be decided by the company in. It hinges on whether the plant is chosen to build the new Micra, but Chief Operating Officer and President Carlos Ghosn has hinted that costs may force the group to make the car in France or Spain.
Continue ReadingCost-Cutters Instead Of Architects – Goodyear Facing The Year 2001
There was much celebration when Goodyear announced its joint venture with Dunlop, designed to make the group the biggest in the world. Since then, things not been going according to plan, with Goodyears share price plummeting. A new president has been appointed and an in-depth article in our January issue which can be downloaded in full length as PDF file (size: 1.20 Mbytes, Adobe Acrobat Reader required) argues that the group desperately needs to reorganise and change the way that decisions are made, to get closer to the market and to re-define areas of responsibility. An increase in size has brought inflexibility and a slowness to react, which is stifling the companys chances of future growth. Our article suggests one possible solution to this problem, but it is one which will involve a radical change of philosophy and methods of operation.
Continue ReadingTyre Experience Lands Testing Job
Former F1-Minardi driver Marc Gene has become a test driver at the BMW-Williams team due to his extensive experience in testing new tyre developments. BMW-Williams will start on Michelin tyres next season.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Supply Problems Continue
Goodyears fill rates in the USA remain low. Dealers are very unsatisfied and are making their opinions strongly known.
Continue ReadingPirelli: Investments In Telecommunications And Internet
According to Italian financial analysts Pirelli will use the US$ 2.15 bn received from the purchase by Cisco of their Terrestrial Optical Networking Systems for investments in telecommunications and the Internet.
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