France’s Mobivia has sold its Norauto tyre, battery and automotive servicing network in Argentina to Stellantis. the company says it is ceasing activities in South America in order to refocus and strengthen its performance in Europe.
Following US$20 million of investment, Vipal Rubber has started production at its new tread rubber and pre-cured tread factory in Argentina. Located in the Perez, province of Santa Fe, Argentina, the new factory will supply the Argentine and export markets.
Cooper Tire & Rubber is interested in expanding its presence in Latin America. Last November the tyre maker signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Argentina’s Fate SAICI, an agreement that initially covers distribution but may be extended to R&D and offtake production, and this month Cooper announced it has established a sales office in São Paulo, Brazil.
The De Rooy truck team recently won the Dakar 2016 rally truck category, driving on standard Goodyear ORD off-the-road truck tyres. The event, which concluded on Saturday 16 January 2016 covered approximately 9000 kilometres in 13 days on the toughest terrain that Argentina and Bolivia can offer, the Dakar – or the ‘Odyssey’ as it is known – is acknowledged as the world’s toughest race.
The signing of a letter of intent between Cooper Tire & Rubber and Argentine tyre maker Fate opens the door to a number of cooperative possibilities, including joint research and development and the offtake production of Cooper tyres in Argentina. Initially, however, the two companies’ work together involves Fate serving as a distributor of Cooper-branded passenger car, light commercial vehicle and SUV tyres in Argentina alongside its own tyre portfolio.
Arminera 2015, the latest in a series of biennial mining exhibition, was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 5 to 7 May. The show was inaugurated in 1997 and is now the largest international, mining related exhibition in the country, with exhibitors showing a variety of vehicles, equipment, tools and the latest in mining technologies.
Dmack runners scored a double WRC2 podium at Rally Argentina – an event the tyre supplier described as one of the toughest in the recent history of the World Rally Championship. Paraguayan Diego Dominguez finished second while Drive DMACK’s Jari Ketomaa battled through a troubled three days to take third.
Marco Andretti is to drive for the Andretti Formula E Team during the forthcoming FIA Formula E Buenos Aires ePrix held on January 10 2015. The Argentinian race weekend, the fourth race in the new series, will see the American complete his first laps in the electric-powered seat.
The twelfth and final round of the will take place in San Luis, Argentina this weekend, with the event deciding the first ever World Rallycross Teams’ Champion on Cooper tyres. The event features a three-way fight for the 2014 trophy between Volkswagen Marklund Motorsport, Ford Olsbergs MSE and Team Peugeot-Hansen. The entry list features 17 […]
Government officials, local authorities and the Automovil Club Argentino (ACA) gathered in Buenos Aires recently for a press conference to officially welcome the new all-electric FIA Formula E Championship, which will see the Argentinean capital host a race for the next three years. The prestigious event was attended by more than 100 distinguished guests and […]
Brazilian company Vipal, best known for its tyre retreading and repair materials, and Argentine tyremaker Fate have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rio Grande do Sul State of Southern Brazil to set up a new tyre factory. The first bi-national industrial collaboration in the state, the Vipal/Fate project sees the companies invest around US$200 million in building a “farm equipment” and “aftermarket car parts” tyre plant. There has been no official confirmation of what brand the new tyres will be produced under, but Tyres & Accessories understands that this means production will focus on passenger car and van tyres.
At the end of July Continental’s existing tyre production arrangement in Argentina comes to an end, and the company has plans to replace this current licensing deal with a direct subsidiary. Tyres sold in this market will henceforth be sourced from elsewhere.
Fate SAICI is something of an anomaly in South America. While the tyre markets in every other country in South America are led by the regional wings of multinational corporations, Fate is Argentina’s largest tyre producer ahead of Bridgestone Firestone Argentina and Pirelli Neumaticos. Tyres & Accessories asked Fate’s Walter Hack what it is that sets the company apart and learnt of some developments within the company’s product portfolio.
Carlos Redondo has been Pirelli’s CEO for Latin America since the beginning of 2003. Before that he was CFO for Pirelli Tyres worldwide. With a turnover of approximately 1 billion euros, about one third of Pirelli’s total worldwide turnover Mr Redondo is successfully piloting his division from its headquarters in Sao Paulo. Tyres & Accessories met Mr Redondo last month in Usuhaia, south Argentina, in conjunction with the launch of its new Sottozero winter tyre. To download the whole article as a PDF file, click here.
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