Africa
Plans to implement a tyre recycling plan in South Africa have once again hit a sizable pothole. Only weeks after a challenge to the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (REDISA) scheme was dismissed by the Gauteng North High Court, an application submitted by South Africa’s Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) has put it once again on hold pending further review.
An article in the Daily Telegraph by David Williams takes an in-depth look at car thefts in the UK. Despite a falling level of theft numbers (1991: 347,000, 2011: 95,681) the proportion of vehicles never returned to their owners is rising. Figures from RetainaGroup show that 41 per cent were returned last year, compared with 51 per cent in 2008 and 70 per cent in 2002. The insurer Swiftcover says that, last year, 65,000 UK-registered vehicles were stolen and never recovered, with a value of £300 million.
Apollo Tyres has released its unaudited financial figures for the second quarter of the company's financial year 2012-13 (July to September). Net sales were up 18 per cent year on year at 33.7 billion Rupees (US$ 612.29 million), operating profit rose 55 per cent to Rs 3.8 bn (US$ 135.33 m) and net profit was up an impressive 96 per cent to Rs 1.5 bn (US$ 27.62 m).
Sailun Tyres has announced details of a string of new appointments to its European sales team. The first was the appointment of Martin Lumb as new business development manager, Europe & Middle East. Lumb joins the Sailun team from 1 November 2012 having previously worked for Infinity and Goodyear.
Now the dust has settled from the first suggestions that Apollo Tyres was preparing to bid for Cooper Tire, the rumour mill has slowed considerably. There are those that are saying there is no smoke without fire when it comes to the reports published in the Indian and then global press; and there are those that believe it was all a carefully orchestrated publicity manoeuvre. Whatever the truth turns out to be, the interest surrounding this story is a reflection of the facts that the global market is ripe for consolidation and that there are a lot of ambitious tyre companies in and around the top 20 aiming to make it into the top 10.
Treadsetters (part of the TIA Group) says it took part in this year's Brityrex to promote the company's three leading brands – Torque, Hifly and TIA Wheels – further, having supported the event for many years. The Telford based tyre wholesaler said Brityrex 2012 joins a number of other international shows at which it has presented a high corporate profile this year, including Essen, Russia, Tyrexpo Africa and events in Tanzania and Panama. The company says the events are part of the group’s growing image “as a global player in tyres and wheels”.
Goodyear and the European Driving Schools Association (EFA) have announced a joint collaboration, to increase awareness for safe driving among young drivers and address this in the training for youngsters on the road. EFA represents the interest of 25 driving school associations from 24 European countries.
Trading in over 30 countries around the world through a series of partnerships, Treadsetters has developed its international activities as part of the TIA Group of companies. Treadsetters believes that the ongoing growth within the global tyre market can be attributed to a combination of providing the company's international client base with ongoing extensive sourcing and marketing expertise, technical support and advice along with the responsive supply of tyres and wheels. The company has recently exhibited in South Africa, Tanzania and Panama as part of the company's ongoing dynamic sales and marketing campaign.
Rob Oudshoorn, CEO Apollo Vredestein BV, is to leave the company on 31 December 2012 after 18 years as CEO. Luis Ceneviz, currently CEO of Apollo Tyres South Africa has been named as his “intended successor”. According to the company, Oudshoorn will be joining the executive board of the Dutch Company Pon Holdings. Apollo representatives said they wish him “all the best in his new endeavour,” in a statement announcing his departure.
On its Chinese-language website, the China Rubber Industry Association links the recently-expired US tariff on consumer tyres with the European tyre label – and refers to both as a “double whammy” for China’s tyre makers. The tariff, which the association also called an attempt at trade protectionism, is held responsible for China’s tyre passenger car and light truck tyre exports to the US dropping from 43 million in 2009 to 31 million in 2010 and 27.3 million the following year.
Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has named Shaun Uys as general manager, sales. The move took effect on 1 October 2012 succeeding Eddie Jordaan who left the company in August.
It’s now more than a day since reports of a potential Apollo Tyres acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber hit the headlines, and Tire Review observes there has been far more speculation than denial since then – which it says brings into question just what is happening. And while silence may be golden, the lack of comment – or even flat denial – from either party has led to all manner of speculation.
Telemetry and M2M solutions provider Concirrus and UK-based vehicle tracking and fleet management solution supplier CMS SupaTrak have announced that that PressurePro’s tyre pressure information will be integrated into their new EcoTyre solution.
Yesterday, Pirelli chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera and the firm’s top management were received by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, to mark the 140th anniversary of the company’s foundation in 1872.
Qingdao Fullrun Tyre Corp. claims to be China’s largest tyre exporter, and has set itself the goal ten million tyres per annum by 2015. Last year the company’s turnover increased almost 43 per cent to US$400 million. Its main brands are Fullrun, AnTyre, Fullway, AutoGrip, AderenZa and TurnPike, and these are sold in more than 100 countries.
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