Pirelli IPO marks landmark in new ownership structure
If Pirelli’s sale to the ChemChina-led consortium in 2015, along with the legal and integration work in 2016 wasn’t enough, 2017 is proving to have been another complex and busy year for Pirelli. The last 12 months have seen the company pass two key landmarks in its post-acquisition strategy: the separation of the industrial tyre business (including industrial, truck, OTR and agricultural operations) into the new Prometeon Tyre Group in the first part of year; and the successful re-listing of the Pirelli in the autumn. The latest news is that Pirelli’s major shareholder – Marco Polo International - has increased its shareholding in Pirelli following the IPO by exercising a greenshoe option.
Falken, Liverpool FC discuss tyre-football partnership and synergies
Falkens status as the official tyre partner of Liverpool Football Club is one of the latest in an extended series of tyre and football partnerships. Tyres & Accessories took the opportunity of Falken’s first event at Anfield to ask director and senior executive officer, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Yutaka Kuroda and chief commercial officer and managing director at Liverpool FC Billy Hogan to illustrate how the partnership will be used to benefit both parties. In addition to the particular synergies between the club and tyre brand, their answers also illustrate why there has been such a boom in partnerships between top-tier football clubs and tyres in recent years.
Jiangsu General seeking to leverage IPO for export growth
In August Chinese tyre manufacturer Jiangsu General Science Technology Co. Ltd established a base in the USA. At the same businesses unfamiliar with the firm took an interest. With this in mind, during a recent visit to China, Tyres & Accessories met with Jiangsu General general manager Wang Xiao Jun in order to find out more about the company.
Aeolus hosts more than 200 in Italy for launch of Neo commercial tyre series
Aeolus has launched its third generation of truck and bus radial tyres in a large dealer event on the shores – and water – of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Readers of Tyres & Accessories will know that this location is highly appropriate for the Chinese company; the introduction of the new, extensive product range comes at a moment when the ChemChina produced brand is preparing for its future positioning as a second-line sister range to Pirelli in the commercial segment. While the exact relationship of Pirelli and Aeolus continues to be fluidly complex, the Italian brand’s recent separation of its commercial tyre operations under the Prometeon Tyre Group banner give a good indication of where Aeolus commercial tyres are heading.
We’re all mad here – Pirelli unveils Alice-themed Cal
The Pirelli Calendar is a survivor. While other pin-up calendars from within our industry have long been banished to workshop tearooms to avoid offending customers, Pirelli’s handiwork is hailed as iconic by countless people around the world, including those ignorant of the company’s day job as tyre maker. Followers of this most famous of all corporate freebie calendars eagerly await the launch of a new edition, and today their cup of joy is surely overflowing. At a high-budget event in New York, Pirelli has unveiled next year’s Cal.
Michelin X Multi range grows with addition of drive sizes
Michelin’s new X Multi range of commercial vehicle tyres for regional and long haul transportation applications, launched in the UK earlier in 2017 at the CV Show, has been extended with the addition of two new drive sizes – 315/60R22.5 and 295/60R22.5. These X Multi D fitments are particularly targeted at car transporters and low-height 4x2 tractor units, on which they are popular sizes. The manufacturer took the opportunity of the extensions to the X Multi range to host Tyres & Accessories at its recently redeveloped research and development campus in Ladoux, just outside Clermont-Ferrand, introducing one of its latest joint ventures which has helped enhance the production process for the latest Michelin commercial and consumer tyres. It also demonstrated the X Multi range’s performance characteristics against competitors at its proving ground.
Avon Tyres and Caterham marked 60 years of the car manufacturer’s Seven as Sir Chris Hoy took on a 60 Second Donut Challenge at Donington Park. Hoy completed a record 19 consecutive donuts in the time allocation in Caterham’s most powerful model, the Seven 620R on Avon’s ZZS tyres.
Michelin CrossClimate+ tops Auto Express all-season tyre test
Compromise is a word often associated with the all-season tyre segment, and in its 2017/18 all-season tyre test, Auto Express has endorsed the product it views as representing the smallest compromise in year-round UK conditions. This tyre is the Michelin CrossClimate+
At its meeting ending on 1 November 2017, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 0.5 per cent. The Committee voted unanimously to maintain the stock of sterling non-financial investment-grade corporate bond purchases, financed by the issuance of central bank reserves, at £10 billion. The Committee also voted unanimously to maintain the stock of UK government bond purchases, financed by the issuance of central bank reserves, at £435 billion.
Debut WRC victory on home event the ‘culmination of 7 years’ work’ for Dmack
After seven years and 88 events, Dmack has won its first FIA World Rally Championship event – on its home round at Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. Elfyn Evans became the first Welsh driver to win the UK’s round of the championship after he and co-driver Dan Barritt dominated the demanding event – leading from start to finish and winning by 37.3 seconds.
MRF Tyres sponsors three premiership football teams
MRF Tyres scored a hat-trick of sleeve sponsorships deals with Premier League football teams in September - signing Newcastle United, West Ham United, and West Bromwich Albion in one-season deals that last until May 2018. The move can only be seen as a concerted effort to raise brand awareness ahead of the widespread introduction of MRF car tyres in the UK
In 2012 the EU introduced plans to support consumers with better information about a tyre’s noise, wet-braking and rolling resistance performance. Since then, Japanese, South Korean and US variants have been either mooted or implemented. However, the world’s largest tyre market (China), is also close to releasing its own labelling system – or should that be systems? Tyres & Accessories saw two labelling variants during the recent Tire+ exhibition in Shanghai and discussed the subject with a number of firms exhibiting there.
Nexen Tire breaks ground at US tech centre, comments on North American factory plans
Groundbreaking has taken place on the new tyre technology centre that Nexen Tire is setting up in the US, and the South Korean company also reports that plans to establish a factory in North America are “in progress.”
Stopping short over the miles – Michelin introduces Road 5
After four years and more than 1.5 million units sold, at the start of next year a successor to the Pilot Road 4 – the tyre Michelin calls the “European sport touring tyre market’s undisputed benchmark” – will arrive. And despite having such big shoes to fill, with the new Road 5 Michelin says it has “taken the performance of its sport radial tyre range to an even higher level.”
Continental, Goodyear joint winners in Sportauto winter tyre test
Continental’s winning streak in this year’s winter tyre tests continues with victory in the latest from German magazine Sportauto. The comparative evaluation of ten tyres featured in the current issue (11/2017) places the WinterContact TS 850 P in first place together with the first-generation Goodyear UltraGrip Performance.
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