Renault Recalls Kangoo Model
French car manufacturer Renault has recalled 25,000 of its Kangoo cars, equipped with Kléber tyres, due to quality problems with the tyres. It is expected that Kléber will release further details shortly.
Continue ReadingPrice Hikes Planned By Goodyear/Cooper
Goodyear and Cooper both plan price rises for car and light truck tyres in the United States. Price increases of around 5% are rumoured, mirroring Michelins proposed increases for the fourth quarter.
Continue Reading“Intelligent Tyre System” From Goodyear
Goodyear has unveiled an intelligent tyre system at a mining exhibition in the USA. The six tyres on a 240-ton truck are fitted with a transponder which measures temperature and pressure and transmits the information every three minutes. The data can be viewed in the cab or at a remote location and, should a tyre become hot, operators can adjust routes accordingly. Goodyear expects to have 250 transponders in service this year and full commercialisation early next.
Continue ReadingBibendum Best Logo In The World
An international jury, chosen by the Financial Times and Report on Business magazine, have voted Michelins Bibendum as the worlds best Logo.
Continue ReadingTwo Piece Tyre Tested By Goodyear
Goodyear is testing a two piece design for off-the-road tyres. The tyre consists of a steel cord casing which is matched to a separate, removable over belt carrying the steel belt, bead and tread package.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit To Acquire Silver Shield Screens
Kwik-Fit is to buy Silver Shield Screens Ltd, the automotive glass repair and replacement company. Silver Shield has 57 branches and 225 company-owned and franchised mobile fitting vehicles, providing a 24-hour windscreen repair and replacement service. The purchase price was £6 million, with up to another £2 million, dependent on future events. Silver Shield is number three in its market, with annual sales of more than £20 million.
Continue ReadingStinnes-Reifendienst: Record Figures For Main Shareholder
The london-based Legal and General Group has announced that it is managing assets worth £102 billion; a 25% increase. Subsidiary company Legal & General Ventures Ltd. is the main shareholder of Dorana, which purchased Stinnes-Reifendienst last year.
Continue ReadingWOCO Michelin AVS
Michelin AVS (49%) and WOCO AVS (51%) have founded a joint-venture group for cooperation in the field of car vibrations. The combined turnover of the new company is around 250m Euro.
Continue ReadingBridgestone/Firestone Price Increases
Similar to other tyre manufacturers, on 1st January 2000 Bridgestone/Firestone officially announced price increases of 3% for passenger car tyres and 2% for commercial tyres. The effects of this increase are now visible in the German replacement market.
Continue Reading“Product Range 2000” of Marangoni
At the beginning of April Marangoni, the Italian tyre manufacturer, broadened its tyre range in the high-performance sector by seven new sizes within the product programme 2000. Top of the summer tyre series is the Zeta ESC, a low-profile tyre with a directional tread pattern approved for speeds up to 270 km/h, which had five new 17-inch sizes added. Two more sizes were introduced to the second product line, Heron, making a total of 25 sizes in aspect ratios 65, 60, 55 and 50 and speed indices from H to W. On the occasion of these new introductions Marangoni invited the European trade press to Rapallo on the Italian Riviera, where questions were answered not only about the latest additions but also about the past, present and future of Marangoni Tyre S.p.A. When all is said and done, Marangoni is a kind of outsider in tyre production matters, hoping to raise the degree of international awareness and acceptance by its presentation. The production of new tyres (the Marangoni and Stunner brands) for cars, trucks and small transporters is one of the business units of Marangoni Holding, best known for its divisions Marangoni Tread (production of materials and technology for retreading) and Marangoni Pneumatici (retreaded tyres),which last year generated a turnover of 400 billion lire. The Marangoni Tyre share of the consolidated annual turnover of the group of companies is a quarter, according to Andrea Vassura, managing director and board member of Marangoni Tyre S.p.A.
Continue ReadingChange At Austrian Dealers Association
The Austrian Tyre Dealers Association VRÖ (Verband der Reifenspezialisten Österreichs) has appointed a new President: Former Vice President Ing. Walter Antosch succeeds Ing. Günter Deschka.
Continue ReadingMarket Expects Record Sales For Conti
Rumours in the tyre market anticipate record sales for the Continental Group of almost 9 billion Euros for 1999, mainly due to the integration of Teves. This rise also presents a 30% increase in EBIT to around 520 million Euros. Exact figures were made available in early April.
Continue ReadingTurnover Up, Profits Down – Nokian’s First Quarter Figures
Nokians net sales in the first three months were up 18.4% over last years figures, reaching 67 million Euros (1999 Q1: 57 million Euros). Operating profit was -4.4 m Euros (2.7 m Euros). Manufacturing made a profit of 2.9 m Euros (5.8 m Euros) while the retail chain made a loss of -6 m Euros (-2.9 m Euros).
Continue ReadingContiTech To Increase Stake in Kühner
After procuring 51 percent of Kühner (Oppenheim) in order to strengthen its market position, ContiTech now intends to acquire a further 35 percent of the company, which produces hoses for air conditioning equipment. The deal is planned to become effective 1st May.
Continue ReadingNew Head Of BMW GB
Jim ODonnell (50) has been appointed Managing Director of BMW (GB), effective June 1. He succeeds Kevin Gaskell, who left the company in February. ODonnells former roles include Sales & Marketing Director for BMW South Africa and, most recently, Sales Director of BMW (GB).
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