Apollo OE on VW Passat?
Several Indian motoring websites state that Volkswagen has selected Apollo Tyres as a global supplier for its Passat model. No further details were given, and at this stage neither Volkswagen nor Apollo have confirmed these reports or provided any further details.
Continue ReadingUK winter tyre sector is growing
The UK tyre industry has been taking deliberate steps to develop its fledgling winter tyre market for more almost a decade. Over the years improvements have accelerated with the passing of time. Now, new research produced by market analysts GfK suggest sales are accelerating faster than ever.
Continue ReadingBosal: BAIC business offers product supply continuity
Bosal is reassuring aftermarket customers about future supplies of products following the 28 March announcement that Bosal UK’s administrators had not been able to secure a purchaser for the manufacturing business. Following the closure of the company's facility near Preston, Lancashire, Bosal Group announced that it is setting up a new UK sales and marketing company - Bosal Automotive and Industrial Components Ltd (BAIC). BAIC, which will continue to be based near Preston, will look after the needs of current and future customers for Bosal products and services.
Continue ReadingBosal UK ceases production – 116 redundancies
Philip Duffy and David Whitehouse, both of global financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps and Joint Administrators of Preston based Bosal (U.K.) Limited, have announced the sale of certain assets of the Company which relates to sales and marketing activities to Bosal International N.V. and Bosal Tobo B.V.
Continue ReadingPirelli to launch associate CV brand
Italian tyre maker Pirelli intends to introduce a second brand of commercial vehicle tyres that takes its name, if not its heritage, from the company’s F1 involvement. At a recent dealer meeting in Munich, Germany, Pirelli presented examples of an associated tyre brand; this new, yet to be released range is called ‘Formula’, and the Pirelli says its introduction will complete the company’s heavy vehicle product range. Further details about the Formula brand are yet to be made public.
Continue ReadingGfK: UK 4×4 market depressed, but V-Z speed sizes grow
Anyone aware of the continued economic fug across the continent might have expected the news that UK and Europe-wide 4x4/SUV tyre markets were depressed in 2012; what you may not have so readily expected was that the macro-trend of increasing sales of V, W, X and Y speed rated SUV tyres would have continued to grow. Yet the latest data from UK market researcher GfK, read in the context of Europool and ETRMA figures, shows that this is exactly what happened during the last year, with more powerful road oriented models continuing to prove popular.
Continue Reading![General Tire launches Grabber GT European SUV tyre](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/import/GeneralTireGrabberGT_699839426.jpg)
General Tire launches Grabber GT European SUV tyre
The Continental Tire Group’s General Tire brand has launched the successor to its Grabber UHP, with a new SUV tyre in its wide range most equipped to offer on-road performance, at an event in Gran Canaria for around 100 dealers representing 25 European countries. The largest single group amongst these guests was from the brand’s UK distributor, Micheldever Tyre Services and its customers. Visiting the last SEMA show in Las Vegas – “the home of 4x4” according to MTS wholesale director, Alan Baldwin – the wholesaler reported that General has a 4x4 market share into double figures, proving its significance in Europe, despite lacking the original equipment fitments that have come with nearly 100 years of American activity. The availability of General tyres suitable for Land Rover models, which dominate the UK 4x4 market, and the specific market focus of tyres like the Grabber AT have given the brand some notable success in the UK according to MTS marketing manager Amelia Lion – the newly launched Grabber GT taps into a different sort of European market specificity, namely the long-term tendency towards greater on-road performance.
Continue ReadingHGV trailer sales fell 6.3 per cent in 2012
Sales of heavy good vehicle trailers fell 6.3 per cent across Western Europe in 2012. Meanwhile heavy truck demand fell by more than 9 per cent, according to market analysts from the Clear agency, which pointed out that the figures were in line with its expectations. The fall was almost universal – only Norway and Denmark experienced increased trailer demand. The worst performing markets were Italy, Portugal and Spain, which saw falls of between 20 and 40 per cent.
Continue ReadingQuinton Hazell Cheadle sold, other sites closing
Klarius Group Limited put its Quinton Hazell Automotive Limited (QH) into administration on 6 February 2013. Following their appointment, the administrators reached an agreement to sell the Klarius emissions business based at Cheadle, Staffordshire to Klarius Products Limited, preserving 234 jobs. The deal will formally complete during the course of 7 February (today). In addition, the intellectual property rights relating to the QH business were sold separately to Tetrosyl I-Tec Limited, part of Tetrosyl Limited.
Continue ReadingInnovators acknowledged at Tire Tech awards
At the 13th annual Tire Technology Expo awards, held last night in Cologne, Apollo Tyres was honoured as Tire Manufacturer of the Year. Shortlisted alongside Bridgestone, Continental and Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Apollo was selected for the award in recognition of the brand’s continued expansion in the European market, growth underpinned by the launch of key products such as its first high performance summer tyre for Europe, the Aspire 4G, and the inauguration of a new technical centre in Enschede, The Netherlands, a site that has taken on global responsibility for passenger car tyre research and development. Announcing Apollo’s selection as Tire Manufacturer of the year, Tire Technology International noted the company’s “impressive” financial growth; in 2011-12, Apollo’s revenue exceeded US$2.5 billion for the first time.
Continue ReadingMWSD’s Ellis presents CV wheel safety issue to Euro Parliament
Managing director of Motor Wheel Service Distribution, John Ellis has presented expert testimony to the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) during last week’s (22 January) public hearing into the Roadworthiness Package. Acting in his capacity as director of the Northwest Automotive Alliance (NAA), Ellis presented an introduction and background to the issue, then called for five measures, most prominently the light regulation of the supply chain to enforce existing standards and improved inspection procedures across all EU member states. Ellis, who has pursued the issues confronting the safety of commercial vehicle wheels in the UK over the last few years, said his proposed changes would make for a “far safer” commercial vehicle sector without burdening CV operators with additional costs.
Continue ReadingNew Conti TPMS function enters production, more in development
Continental reports that a new feature related to its TPMS system has entered series production. The company says an Asian vehicle manufacturer now offers its customers a sub-function of Continental’s ‘Filling Assistant’ – feature that uses a motorist’s smart phone. An app on the phone omits a short ‘honking’ noise upon achieving optimal pressure during tyre inflation. The Filling Assistant function ensures that tyres always run on the correct pressure, even if they are filled using non-calibrated equipment.
Continue ReadingStellana launches Optima system
Stellana, Inc., a moulded polyurethane wheel manufacturer recently introduced its Optima line of polyurethane tyres for the material handling industry, which apparently differ from press-on bands. “Standard press-on tyres come with costly trip charges, press-on charges, and downtime expenses. The Optima Tire System eliminates these costs: simply bolt the tyre onto your lift truck and you are up and running again,” said Stellana’s sales and marketing manager, Michael Scoon.
Continue ReadingBosal goes into administration
Bosal UK, which is best known as an exhaust manufacturer but also makes roof racks and towbards, has entered administration. Various news sources report that calling in the administrators follows the recent confirmation of a contract to supply Land Rover with the exhaust systems for its popular Evoque model. On 11 January 2013, the company issued a statement appointing Phillip Duffy and David Whitehouse of Duff & Phelps Ltd, Manchester as administrators in a move that follows “a decade of strong support for Bosal UK from its owners in the face of a mix of factors which over time increasingly impacted on its viability”.
Continue ReadingRemy introduces new steering pumps, racks
Remy Automotive UK Ltd has introduced 25 new steering pumps and five new steering racks for popular vehicle applications to its range of parts, which now totals well over 2,000, covering more than 20,000 car applications. These are said to be the first of many new steering references which Remy plans to develop during the course of this year.
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