During The Tire Cologne 2024, Kenda unveiled its new Specialty business unit and the company’s vision for strengthening the Kenda brand in Europe. The vision includes reinforcing aftermarket activities in various countries; most recently, this involves a “major step forward” for Kenda Europe Specialty in the DACH region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Moving forward, this will also benefit customers throughout Europe.
Hankook Tire & Technology has today shared news of several managerial appointments that took effect in its European organisation prior to Christmas. Hobum Song, who previously served as MD of Hankook Reifen Deutschland, is as of 1 December 2024 the new VP Central & Eastern Europe. Soo Won Chang, formerly MD of Hankook Tire Austria, takes the baton from Hobum Song in Germany. In turn, Suk Namkung moves from Malaysia to take on the vacated MD role in Austria.
As managing director Stefan Mayrhofer asserts, Kraiburg Austria believes that “retreading will become even more important in the future.” The company is “proactively preparing” for this future with “targeted measures,” including investments of nearly ten million euros over the next one and a half years.
Goodyear has placed Frank Titz in charge of its passenger car tyre replacement sales in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). Titz took over from Dr André Weisz, who is to take on global responsibilities at the manufacturer, in the new year, according to Tyrepress’s German sister site. Weisz will continue to act as managing director of the Goodyear companies in the DACH market, such as Goodyear Germany GmbH (Hanau).
Pirelli’s rally tyres were used to winning effect at the European season opener, the Jännerrallye in Austria. Michael Lengauer’s Skoda Fabia took the podium’s top step, leading the top eight positions in the overall standings occupied drivers who used Pirelli tyres for all or part of the race. Lengauer ran the P Zero RA on the Friday in wet asphalt conditions, the Sottozero STZ-B mixed asphalt and snow tyres on the Saturday, and the Sottozero Ice in deeper snow on the Sunday.
Mercedes-Benz has awarded Goodyear its ‘Preferred Partner of Tires’ status in Austria for a second consecutive time. The vehicle manufacturer performs a comprehensive evaluation of its partners every two years, and after granting Goodyear this distinction in 2021/22, it has confirmed its preferred status for 2023/24.
Genan, supplier of high-performance rubber infill for artificial turf pitches and granulate for shock-absorbing surfacing, has expanded its sales team. As of 1 January 2023, Eduard Vogt is key account manager for the Central Europe region.
Continental has announced a voluntary replacement programme for a total of 7,103 tyres worldwide. According to a statement detailing the news published on 7 December 2022, the exchange programme is being offered in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, France and Italy. In the German market, for example, a total of 745 tyres that were sold through the tyre replacement business or are still in the stocks of tyre dealers are eligible for exchange. A Continental Tyre Group spokesperson confirmed that the UK market is not affected by the voluntary exchange programme.
The recent opening of a plant in Serbia testifies that Shandong Linglong Tire has big plans for Europe. One of its key markets within the region is Germany, and the tyre maker has now found a new distribution partner for this country, as well as for Austria and Switzerland – the ‘DACH’ region. German tyre wholesaler and retailer Reifen Straub has taken on this role.
Hella has expanded its site in Großpetersdorf, Austria. The company’s subsidiary, Hella Fahrzeugteile Austria GmbH has invested in the construction of a new 450sqm tool warehouse on three levels and a 600sqm logistics hall. The investment will also cover the renewal and expansion of machinery. The developments, in which the company is investing several million euros, are scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.
When we published German motoring association ACE’s coverage of the tyre test it jointly undertook with Austrian counterpart ARBÖ, we commented that there were “no bad tyres” in the size 195/55 R16 evaluation. The ARBÖ begs to differ, as it has consigned two tyres to the undesirable ‘not recommendable’ category.
Goodyear has named Oliver Sindermann its sales general manager for the ‘DACH’ region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, effective 1 April 2022. Sindermann, who is currently director sales operations & pricing commercial EU, will succeed Dieter Schölling, who is leaving the company.
Kraiburg Austria shares that a technical fault caused a fire within the vulcanisation department of its plant in Geretsberg last night, but damage was minor. The retreading materials specialist says the rapid intervention of staff and the fire service limited damage to the immediate area where the fire broke out. Kraiburg stresses that nobody was injured, nor were neighbours or the environment endangered at any point.
Nexen Tire Europe is rationalising its approach to sales and marketing, and has thus announced changes affecting its operations in Austria and Sweden. The tyre maker will transfer responsibility for both markets’ sales organisations to its European headquarters in Kelkheim, Germany by the end of Q1 2021.
Michelin has reorganised its sales team in Austria and appointed Roland Steinberger managing director of its business in that market. Steinberger began in the role on 1 November, continuing a tyre industry career spanning more than two decades, including eight years at Michelin. His previous role with the tyre maker was sales manager for its car tyre business within Austria.
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