Pirelli unveils Q3 results, introduces new Industrial Plan
At yesterday’s presentation of its 2013-2017 Industrial Plan in London, Pirelli & C. SpA highlighted its performance since the presentation of its previous Industrial Plan in 2011 (which covered 2011-2015) and stated its aims for the current period. The event followed the release of the company’s third quarter figures on 5 November. The headline figures for the third quarter are net sales of €1.52 billion (down 2.19 per cent year-on-year, operating income of €201.0 million (up 2.87 per cent), EBIT margin of 13.2 per cent (12.6 per cent in Q2 2012) and net income up 27.36 per cent to €108.0 million.
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Dunlop celebrates 125 years in competitive sport with ‘one of most successful’ seasons
Dunlop’s motorsport heritage dates back as long as the brand itself, but even with such a history it is fair to say that its 125th year represented a strong showing. The manufacturer says entering races with open tyre supply is an important part of its drive to innovate and develop, although it continues to provide control tyres to a number of championships too. Dunlop emphasises particularly its endurance victories, which this year have included the Nürburgring 24H, VLN 6hrs, Le Mans 24h LMP2 and FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series race victories too. Dunlop says it uses these championships to develop new technologies and concepts that then cascade into their standard motorsport tyre range and ultra high performance road car tyre range.
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Conti releases Q3 results, lifts EBIT target
Consolidated sales at Germany’s Continental AG reached €8.35 billion in the three months to 30 September, a 2.65 per cent increase on the same period of 2012. Adjusted sales were up 2.44 per cent to €8.31 billion. EBITDA rose 10.36 per cent year-on-year in the quarter to €1.32 billion (15.8 per cent of sales, up from 14.7 per cent) and EBIT grew 15.58 per cent to €886.3 million (10.6 per cent of sales, up from 9.4 per cent).
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Pirelli to lift tempo in Russia
At today’s presentation of its 2013-2017 Industrial Plan in London, Pirelli & C. SpA chairman and chief executive officer Marco Tronchetti Provera spoke of the need for a “change of pace” in its activities in Russia, noting that “we’re running late with our start-up plan.” The Russian market situation, and what Pirelli intends to do there, was then explained in greater detail by Gregorio Borgo, Pirelli’s general manager operations.
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January launch for 3 Michelin Pilot Road 4 tyres
Michelin will bring its latest range of motorcycle tyres in January 2014, with three versions of the Pilot Road 4 available in a total of 17 sizes. The Pilot Road 4, Pilot Road 4 GT and Pilot Road 4 Trail have been developed to decrease wet braking distances. The GT version of the tyre has been awarded a major original equipment contract too; it will be fitted to the new BMW R 1200 RT, one of the bestselling bikes in its category.
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Winter tyre labelling 2.0?
With memories of Nokian’sill-fated alternative winter tyre label fresh in mind, I was interested to learn that Finnish tyre and vehicle test centre Testworld is making its own ice braking test result publically and freely available. Let’s cast our minds back almost exactly a year. The new tyre labelling laws had just been introduced following six months of various manufacturers making certain data available.12 months on virtually all of that has died down and it is far from clear exactly how the market has received this concept, let alone consumers (see Labelling compliance worse..., NTDA/Lanxess labelling report and Goodyear Dunlop: Labelling one year on for more on this.
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Labelling compliance worse one year on
Compliance to tyre labelling legislation is lower one year on from its introduction than it was in the opening months of the rules. According to research conducted by market analysts at Encircle Market, the amount of labelling talk has actually decreased since tyre labelling was introduced in November 2012. The research also reveals a number of other details demonstrating relative some degree of inertia when it comes to the subject of tyre labelling.
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Conti: ContiEcoContact 5 is ‘ultimate eco performance tyre’
Developed in co-operation with Europe’s leading car manufacturers, the ContiEcoContact 5 “sets new standards in terms of the environment and safety”, according to Continental. As we all know, the continued challenge in tyre design is to reduce rolling resistance and wear whilst, at the same time, ensure that the tyre is still good at wet braking.
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Bridgestone launches Movember campaign
Those of you sporting a lustrous ‘Burt Reynolds’, a horseshoe or full imperial, or even just run of the mill upper lip hair, will definitely want to keep the razor at arm’s length this month. Today marks the start of ‘Movember’, and Bridgestone is getting in on the action. The facially hirsute-friendly company has launched its Bridgestone Bros campaign, which follows a moustache-festooned classic VW campervan as it cruises across Europe searching for the “biggest, bushiest and most brilliant moustaches” and encouraging people to get involved to raise money and awareness for men’s health.
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Maxxis: brand and distribution better than ever
It has been a good year for Maxxis’ parent company Cheng Shin Rubber, according Maxxis International UK managing director Derek McMartin. The fact that headcount is up more than 10 per cent to 30,000 and that the company has announced in the last year or so that it is investing in three new factories (Xiamen, Chongqing and Taiwan). The Taiwan project is said to have achieved phase one output of 27,000 tyres a day already, which will rise to 100,000 tyres a day a full capacity (phase four).
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Giti Tire reinforces European, OE focus – Hannover ‘Technical Platform’ takes on regional product development
One size fits all is a poor solution when it comes to clothing, and it’s also an unacceptable compromise for tyres. What’s good for one market may gain a lukewarm reception in the next. For this reason Giti Tire, like other tyre majors, designs and manufactures market-specific products. This commitment to delivering tyres tailored to regional conditions and preferences was given a significant boost this year with the establishment of new research and development centres in the US and Germany. Towards the end of October, Tyres & Accessories visited Giti Tire’s new European Research and Development Centre just north of Hannover to find out more about the new facility and the people who’ll lead it.
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Production begins at Conti’s Kaluga plant
The Russian city of Kaluga is home to several European vehicle manufacturers, including Volkswagen, PSMA and Volvo Trucks, along with suppliers such as Magna, Faurecia, Benteller and Gestamp. The name Continental now joins this list following the official start of production at the company’s new tyre factory in Kaluga on 29 October.
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Bridgestone increasing PCR capacity in China
Demand for passenger car tyres in China is forecast to rise over the medium to long term, and the high performance segment is particularly expected to see high growth. For this reason, Bridgestone Corporation’s group company in China, Bridgestone (Wuxi) Tire Co., Ltd., will increase production capacity at its Wuxi plant by approximately 5,300 tyres a day.
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Vettel claims Championship after early jettison of soft tyre
Pirelli may have brought two slick compounds to India, but with the medium compound P Zero White performing far better than the soft P Zero Yellow, the Formula One tyre supplier was quick to suggest that getting the required stint on the latter briefly and early in the race was the quickest way to navigate the Buddh International Circuit. The race winner, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel followed this advice and was duly crowned winner of both the grand prix and F1 Drivers’ Championship, making him the youngest ever four-time world champion.
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Bridgestone extends championship skiing support
Bridgestone is supporting the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup as it launches this weekend with the women’s and men’s Giant Slalom in Sölden, Austria. The tyre manufacturer is now a major event sponsor at 39 World Cup Alpine Ski events, including this weekend’s opening races. This is Bridgestone’s third consecutive season of close association with the pinnacle of alpine sport, and the company will continue as a major sponsor of skiing until at least 2016, having signed a three year extension to its current deal.
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