Bosch Appoints New Asia/Pacific Regional President
Automotive technology and services supplier the Bosch Group has announced that former vice president of Sales for the Bosch Independent Aftermarket West Europe & Mediterranean, Ken Ford, has been appointed to a new role as regional president for Asia/Pacific. Ford begins in his new position on April 1, 2009 and will be based in Singapore. The new Asia/Pacific regional president began his career with Bosch in 2004 as the divisional director for Automotive Aftermarket Bosch UK and Ireland. His other previous roles have included general manager for the Aftermarket Western Europe and, most recently, vice president of Sales Western Europe & Mediterranean.
Continue ReadingMichelin, Valeo Partner on Hybrid Systems
Valeo and Groupe Michelin are combing efforts to develop electric and rechargeable hybrid vehicle systems. The pair will work on such systems as drive train, engine and battery cooling management, climate control, lighting, energy management and tyres. “Michelin and Valeo are convinced that by joining forces they will help to accelerate the emergence of electric vehicles in France and worldwide,” the companies said in a statement. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingReports: Schaeffler Could Now Get State Aid
According to Reuters, Conti shares grew 6.7 per cent on Friday (13 February 2009) after Renate Schmidt, member for the SPD in the German Bundestag, reportedly declared that state aid for Schaeffler may be possible under certain conditions. The news follows potential investor Abu Dhabi-owned IPIC denying it was interested. Pirelli also ruled itself out of any possible deal earlier in the week.
Continue ReadingMichelin Net Income Falls 53.8%
Michelin has reported that group sales fell 2.9 per cent in 2008, and 16 per cent in the final quarter. Net income fell 53.8 per cent, to 357 million euros in 2008 compared with 774 million euros in 2007. The financial come against a backdrop of spiralling tyre unit sales volumes (down 2.9 per cent for the year, falling a huge 16 per cent in the fourth quarter). However, when calculated at constant exchange rates, net sales reportedly grew 1.1 per cent in 2008. Either way, operating margin took a real beating falling 4.2 percentage points to 5.6 per cent in 2008. In response to the figures, Forbes reported “investors sent shares of Michelin up 0.7 per cent, or 20 euro cents to 31.16 euros. Like Pirelli just a few days earlier, Michelin announced that it will work on enhancing plant flexibility, with an emphasis on driving further expansion in the new, high growth potential markets. In order to face the challenges that the “difficult” market is presenting, the company will cut capital expenditure to around 700 million euros.
Continue ReadingMichelin May Still Be Interested in Conti
Michelin joint-head Michel Rollier, may have said that the company is facing market challenges head-on by cutting capital expenditure to 700 million euros, but that doesn’t mean it has ruled itself out of buying economically priced competitors. Speaking at a press conference on Friday 13 February, Rollier said the French tyre manufacturer would consider Continental AG again, if the company ever comes back on the market. Coming just days after Continental AG’s major shareholder appealed for investors and state support, commentators are speculating that Michelin has an acquisition strategy. Asked what Michelin would do if Schaeffler were to look for a buyer for Continental, Rollier told journalists: “Obviously Michelin wouldnt be absent. I cant tell you more than that. Rollier’s interest appears to stretch beyond Continental alone to any other strategic advantageous tyre marker: There are many smaller tyre companies in the world, and its not impossible that the crisis can lead to mergers. Here too, we certainly wont absent.
Continue ReadingAlcoa Launches 120mm Offset Lightweight Truck Wheel
One year on from introducing its new series of lightweight wheels, forged aluminium wheel market leader, Alco launched the new FrontRunner 22.5 x 11.75, 120 mm offset wheel. According to the company, Alcoa has succeeded in lowering the weight of this FrontRunner wheel from 25 to 23.6 kilos, shaving off a further 1.4 kilograms. The new wheel is interchangeable with the current one and also features a repositioned hand-hole design and rim flanges with a patented “Unified Rim Horn Design” to accommodate both stick- and clip-on balancing weights. The new FrontRunner will be available from February 2009 on. The 22.5 x 11.75 wheel joins existing products in 22.5 x 8.25, 22.5 x 9.00, 19.5 x 7.50 and 19.5 x 8.25 sizes.
Continue ReadingConti Trumpets Test Triumph
It’s a rare person that isn’t pleased with a good test result, and German tyre manufacturer Continental is clearly chuffed with the outcome of Autocar magazine’s recent tyre comparison. Indeed, a Conti press release highlights the ‘staggering’ difference in quality between tyres made in Europe and budget segment Asian imports. Autocar experts travelled to Continental’s Contidrom in Germany and tested five Asian made summer tyres, using the ContiPremiumContact 2 as their reference tyre. As Conti reports, tests revealed that the imports encountered safety problems, mainly in wet driving conditions, but were also outperformed by the European tyre in terms of braking distance on dry asphalt. High-speed tests showed yet more problems, with four out of five of the import tyres failing to make the grade at top speeds.
Continue ReadingSuperior Tire Names New GM
Frank Bongiovanni has been named general manager of Toronto’s Superior Tire & Auto. According to Superior Tire president and CEO Paul Hyatt, Bongiovanni “brings a great wealth of experience to one of Canadas oldest, independent tyre and automotive repair companies celebrating 67 years of continuous service to consumers.” Bongiovanni has held a number of posts in the tyre industry, serving as a store manager with Goodyear, then becoming a Superior Tire franchisee and eventually becoming Superior Tire’s director of business development. Also appointed to a new position is Jason Hyatt, who will assist Bongiovanni with store development and assume the position of manager of store development. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingDonington Park Loses Dunlop Landmark
Work to convert Donington Park into a Formula One circuit is underway, and a casualty of the transformation has been the famous Dunlop Bridge. On February 12 – a day described as ‘historic’ by Donington Park chairman Simon Gillett – the week long effort to remove the structure began, and piece-by-piece three decades of motorsport history was taken down. As a motorsport enthusiast, I am sorry to see the Dunlop Bridge come down,” said Gillett. “However, it is an iconic structure that has become an integral part of Donington Park. I will do everything in my power to ensure that we are able to resite the bridge within the circuit.” It has been suggested that the Bridge could be relocated to the circuit’s entrance.
Continue ReadingFederal Confirm OE Deal with Chinese Auto Makers
Federal Corporation has announced the commencement of three OE fitments. The company’s SS657 will become original equipment on products from automobile manufacturers BYD (aka Build Your Dreams) Auto and JMC (Jiangling Motors) Landwind in Mainland China. Also fitted on a JMC sedan in size 175/65R14 is the company’s S-drive. Federal’s SS657 is designed, says the manufacturer, for low noise levels, confident driving and a comfortable ride. It has large grooves to improve water dispersion and prevents hydroplaning in touring coupes and sedans – a feature that Federal says has ultimately led to BYD and JMC choosing the tyre.
Continue ReadingMaxxis to Sponsor Dodgers, White Sox and Yanks in 2009
Maxxis International will sponsor the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees throughout the 2009 season. Maxxis’ signage will be displayed behind home plate for half an inning during every other home game at both Dodger Stadium and U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Signage will also be placed at new Yankee Stadium. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingEarnings Down Sharply at Yokohama Rubber
Yokohama Rubber has released its results for the first three quarters of the current financial year, and the company has joined the growing list of firms whose income has been severely curtailed in recent months. Operating income to December 31, 2008 declined 43.8 per cent from the same period of the previous year, to 17.3 billion yen (£134.19 million), on a 0.2 per cent increase in net sales, to 410.6 billion yen (£3.18 billion). Net income declined a whopping 99.1 per cent, to 222 million yen (£1.72 million). Sales growth in Yokohama’s Tire Group offset a decline in the Multiple (diversified) Business Group, the company reports. Operating profitability suffered from the rise in raw material costs during most of the nine-month period, from the appreciation of the yen, and from the sharp decline in demand for tyres and hoses, which undermined productivity in those product sectors. Net income reflected the downturn in operating profitability, the effect of the strengthening yen on foreign currency–denominated sales receivables and on debt liabilities at overseas subsidiaries, and the partial relinquishment of a tax benefit associated with the write-down of unrealised gains on inventories.
Continue ReadingChampion Drifter Joins Team Toyo
Toyo Tire USA announced today that Drifting World Champion Rhys Millen has become the newest member of Team Toyo. Millen will compete for the Formula Drift championship in a 550-horsepower, 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe equipped with extreme performance Toyo Proxes R1 tyres. In addition to the Formula Drift series, Millen plans to compete with the car in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb as well as Redline Time Attack events. Since its release in 2007, the Proxes R1R has won two Formula Drift championships, the D1 GP championship and the Street Touring S class championship during the 2008 SCCA Solo National Championships as well as many time attack competitions.
Continue ReadingBridgestone: ‘Think Before You Drive’
Bridgestone Americas has officially unveiled its new online driver safety program at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. With the launch of the new website, all of Bridgestone Americas’ consumer road safety programs are unified under a single banner — Think Before You Drive — a driver education initiative of the global Bridgestone Group. While the site is designed to educate all passenger vehicle drivers, it has a special focus on younger drivers, incorporating all of Bridgestone’s consumer safety and education programs under one comprehensive umbrella to further reinforce the importance of smart driving, the company said. The company said that ThinkBeforeYouDrive.org provides tyre safety lessons and driving skills to help reduce preventable tragedies on the road. The site highlights the variety of consumer safety and education programs the company runs or sponsors, such as SafetyScholars.com, Mario Andretti’s Real Information On Safety, Driver’s Edge, Car Care Academies and TireSafety.com. The site offers visitors a variety of interactive services including video games, quizzes, videos, vehicle maintenance tips and more, according to the company. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingTyrFil Maker Adds Staff, Facility
Despite the current economic situation, Pathway Polymers, marketers of TyrFil Recycling Systems, claims that it has expanded its sales force and opened a new facility.The new 6,000 sq ft development, processor training and machine demo area is at Pathway Polymer’s production facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The development, processor training, and machine demo area is fully equipped with TrioFil, AutoFil, Graco, Electric TyrFil, and LiteFil tire fill systems for use by Pathway’s development staff and customer processors. The three new territory managers include Kevin Carr, based in Henderson, Nevada, who covers the western US; Ben Parish, from Chicago, who covers the Midwest; and Pat McKinney in San Antonio, who is responsible for the southwest. (Tire Review/Akron)
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