It may sound like an epithet uttered by Mr. T’s European cousin, but VŪHL is in fact the name of a Mexican vehicle that will make its global debut at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. This is of particular interest to us as Michelin has entered into a technical support arrangement with VŪHL Automotive, the company behind the VŪHL 05. Needless to say, the all-new road-legal lightweight supercar will be shod with Michelin tyres.
Breakdown statistics collected by Germany motorists’ organisation ADAC indicate that its crews were called out to 2.6 million breakdowns last year. In almost one-third of these cases, motorists summoned the ADAC because their car simply failed to start due to a flat or defective battery. Battery-related problems are the single most common cause of breakdowns, and have been so for a number of years now. But in future, vehicles will be able to identify a low battery and report this to drivers via a smartphone app.
Continental has been in business for 142 years, and since 1882 the company has utilised the ‘prancing horse’ in its logo. This year, Conti’s logo and corporate image has been given the once-over in order to, as the company puts it, underline its change over the years from being a pure tyre maker to becoming one of the world's largest system suppliers for automotive technologies. The horse still features prominently in Continental’s new logo – the company says it now holds a more natural and dynamic position – and it is joined by a new slogan: Continental, the future in motion. This is written in a new font, although the uninitiated may be hard pressed to spot the difference between the new and old.
“Our technological solutions are helping people to enrich the quality of their life through mobility and to structure their living space in a sustainable manner,” explains Continental’s chief executive officer Dr. Elmar Degenhart. “We create fascinating solutions and products for volume production in reliable, first-class quality and faster than our competitors. Our brand symbolises this goal and is the promise to our stake-holders by which we measure ourselves on a daily basis.”
In May, private demand for cars in the UK climbed 20.9 per cent, outperforming pre-recession volumes recorded in 2007. However, May's total new car market remains down on 2007 levels. May's new car market secured the 15th successive month of growth and the largest May volume in six years. Registrations have risen 9.3 per cent for the year-to-date to 948,666 units.
A wonderful opportunity has come BEN's way in the form of a competition '#tweetcharity' which is being run by Automotive PR, leading motor industry PR business, to mark their milestone of reaching 13,000 followers on Twitter. The prize is for Automotive PR to provide a charity with £13,000 worth of free consultancy.
Automotive PR asked the automotive industry to suggest a deserving charity with links to the motor industry and five charities have been shortlisted and BEN is amongst the nominees.
Halfords Autocentres has made the automotive benevolent fund BEN a long-term partner. According to the company the move will see over 1,800 of the business’ employees helping to raise vital funds which will enable BEN to continue its work in the automotive community.
Each year BEN helps thousands of men, women and children – who either work or have worked in the automotive industry or are dependents of those who have – by providing different types of support tailored towards the circumstances of those affected. The nature of support will focus on providing information, advice and emotional support but can also extend to financial help.
During Autopromotec week Tech Europe honoured the contribution of a number of loyal distributors who had reached milestones in terms of service and distribution. Plaques were presented by Gary Armstrong (senior vice-president global sales and marketing at Tech International), Martin Blakey (vice-president sales and marketing, Europe) and Walter van Loon (vice-president sales and training, Benelux) to the following distributors:
The SMMT has announced that Michael Hawes will be joining as its new chief executive in the early Autumn. According to the association, he will lead the executive team that will promote the interests and successes of the UK motor industry and help address the challenges of the current climate. He will also ensure the SMMT delivers stronger representation and engagement with all its stakeholders and help accelerate growth of the two key subsidiary companies: SMMT Industry Forum Limited and Motor Codes Limited.
Wegmann Automotive – the world market leader for wheel balancing weights – took the opportunity presented by Autopromotec to launch its Perfect Equipment brand into the European markets. Perfect Equipment brings with it over 75 years of experience and known in the North American market as the largest US brand manufacturer of wheel weights.
As of 1 August 2013, Continental’s Chinese activities will be overseen by Executive Board member Dr. Ralf Cramer. The incumbent head of the company’s Chassis & Safety division will take up the Shanghai-based position in order to “strengthen” Continental’s organisation for “sustained fast and profitable growth in China.” His successor within the Chassis & Safety division will be appointed at a later date.
Many tyre makers are involved in motorsport activities, and a racetrack presence can indeed do wonders for a brand’s public profile. Yokohama Rubber has announced its participation in a technical partnership with a difference – it recently became the first tyre manufacturer to serve as official technical partner to the popular ‘Gran Turismo’ series of motor racing video games. Yokohama lent its expertise to the latest version, Gran Turismo 6.
Johnson Controls, the world’s leading supplier of automotive batteries, will provide its Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery technology to Chery Jaguar Land Rover for fitment in vehicles manufactured in China for the domestic market, including those with Start-Stop technology.
On Saturday 29th June 2013 over 200 outstanding vintage and classic cars and motorcycles will set out from Ascot Racecourse on a 20 mile Rally Tour via beautiful Windsor Great Park en route to Broomhall Recreation Ground, Sunningdale. There they will be displayed as a focal point for the Lynwood Summer Fete starting at 12.30 pm.
Automotive industry charity BEN has announced the appointment of Nigel Rothband to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer.
The addition of this post to BEN's senior management structure is a cornerstone of the charity's plan for strategic development. Rothband will report directly to David Main, BEN's Chief Executive and will be instrumental in building on the charity's already firm foundation. His main objectives are to further raise awareness, extend the range and reach of BEN's services and increase the fund's capacity to help an even greater number of automotive industry employees, past and present.
Continental has developed a new Multimedia Radio Navigation (MRN) System for the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group in China. The product was launched with the Dongfeng Citroën C4 L car model in March 2013 and will later be available in different vehicles. Based on Continental’s scalable Multimedia Platform concept, the MRN System is the first navigation solution of Continental, exclusively tailor-made for a Chinese vehicle manufacturer. The development was mainly done by experts in Shanghai and Singapore, thus marking an important milestone for the development activities in Asia.
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