automotive Archives - Page 31 of 143 - Tyrepress

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Tyre makers tipped to reap benefit of price rises, lower rubber costs in 2012

In their daily automotive sector report, analysts at Deutsche Bank observe that while most tyre companies budget a natural rubber price of US$5.00 per kilogram for 2011, the current price for the commodity is, at $4.20 per kilogram, 15 per cent below this planned-for figure. As natural rubber purchasing costs account for between 13 and 18 per cent of sales, they posit that recent declines in the price of natural rubber could “have a meaningful impact” on next year’s tyre maker earnings, assuming – the analysts add, that the industry retains similar discipline to that it has demonstrated in the last few years.

26th September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

UK-funded project leads to a better EV battery

Axeon, a Dundee-based independent supplier of lithium-ion batteries, says a project it undertook with two other companies, Ricardo and Allied Vehicles, has succeeded in developing a new battery for use in electric cars that offers a more than 35 per cent improvement in range compared with batteries weighing the same and employing existing technologies. The parties involved are said to currently be in “active discussions” about the commercialisation of the new technology.

22nd September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius appoints new European sales director

Bas Donders has been appointed European sales director for the Klarius Group. Donders will be responsible for European sales growth across the entire portfolio of aftermarket brands.

According to the company, Bas Donders has an “exemplary record of achievement” in generating sales growth via both market and product range development, having successfully headed European sales and management teams for Delphi, Valeo and other major players in the European automotive component parts supply chain.

21st September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

For sale: Itochu to divest French subsidiary Speedy

Only a few months after Japanese trading concern Itochu Corporation acquired UK fast-fit giant Kwik-Fit, the British company’s French subsidiary Speedy is, according to French media reports, up for sale. The resale of the Speedy fast-fit chain admittedly doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as from the outset Itochu expressed its main interest as being in the UK and Dutch markets.

21st September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook proclaims DTM influence in latest Ventus

The fruits of Hankook’s DTM involvement can now be seen by all – the Korean tyre maker has released its first ultra high performance tyre to employ engineering drawn from DTM racing technology, the Ventus S1 evo². This flagship of Hankook’s UHP portfolio is said to benefit from expertise the company has gained as exclusive tyre supplier to the DTM – Hankook states a “multitude of technical innovations and design features” has enabled its engineers to arrive at the “best balance” between wet and dry performance. The Ventus S1 evo² has also been developed to meet next year’s EU-labelling requirements.

20th September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti enters lithium-ion battery partnership

Continental has announced it is partnering with lithium-ion battery specialist Akasol Engineering in order to develop the next generation of lithium-ion technology for electric vehicles. The two German companies’ work centres on a scalable battery concept that allows for modular expansion to accommodate vehicles of varying size. The batteries under development will also utilise a fluid cooling system that uniformly cools all parts of the unit, an action that enhances battery performance, vehicle range and service life.

19th September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone shows CAIS tyre surface sensor technology

Bridgestone Corporation has developed a new technology designed to provide real time road surface condition information to the driver by way of the tyres. The new technology is based on a concept called Contact Area Information Sensing (CAIS) and it was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

16th September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Canadian Tire Picks Rotary Lift

Canadian Tire Corp has selected Rotary Lift as a “preferred vendor” for alignment lifts for its automotive service centers across the country, reports Tire Review. Rotary Lift provides the Y-Lift alignment lift for many Canadian Tire dealers already. Canadian Tire and its associate dealers combine for 485 stores from coast-to-coast.

13th September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

MWS aiming to increase turnover from £7 million to £20 million, new CFO

Leading wheel distributor, Motor Wheel Service has appointed Peter Knapman as finance director. Knapman, from Manchester, previously operated as a finance professional offering freelance advice and solutions to a wide selection of SMEs throughout Europe including Polish engineering firm, Europower SPZ O.O. and Italian automotive exhaust specialist, Klarius Srl. The appointment comes on the same day as John Ellis, managing director of Motor Wheel Service, announced the company’s plan to increase turnover from £7 million to £20 million in the next five years.

5th September 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Steel price down 15% in 6 months

The price of steel price has dropped US$120-130/tone in Europe (North European HRC) since March and now sites around $730-770/ton level (515 – 540 euros/ton), according too financial analysts. Writing in an investor’s note dated 30 August, Deutsche Bank explained its view of that the market has stabilised in the medium term market: “We expect current prices to remain more or less stable in the second half of 11 and for full year 2012.”

30th August 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Mums lax with tyre care, Cooper Tire reports

Although a regimen of over-cautiousness seems de rigueur in parenting these days, when it comes to children and road safety the average mother takes a more casual attitude. A recent US survey conducted by Cooper Tire & Rubber in partnership with the websites Cars.com and MotherProof.com showed only one per cent of mums consider automotive maintenance as a priority in "keeping their children safe" – and none specifically mentioned tyre maintenance as a priority.

25th August 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

BEN following “Tarka Trail” for charity

The UK’s automotive industry charity BEN is inviting industry workers and their families to cycle the “Tarka Trail” – some of the route completed by the world’s most famous fictional otter in Henry Williamson’s 1927 book Tarka the Otter. Unlike Tarka, participants won’t be covering the 180-plus miles covered by the intrepid aquatic mammal, rather starting in Meeth and heading 30 miles north up to Braunton in Devon, taking approximately 4 hours including a stop.

22nd August 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre shop still offside of rugby body

With the start of the Rugby World Cup 2011 less than a month away, the host country’s governing body would be well advised to avoid any negative publicity. However the New Zealand Rugby Union finds itself in the news again for its continuation of a trademark dispute. And, as you may have already suspected, tyres lie at the heart of the matter.

19th August 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

SMMT figures: UK car manufacturing rises, CV down

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has revealed that car manufacturing rose 1.3 per cent in July and is up 3.7 per cent over the first seven months of 2011. Commercial vehicle output has not been able to match the upwards creep of car manufacturing, with a decline of 5.9 per cent in July, down 5.1 per cent over the January-July period. UK engine production is stable, dipping just 0.4 per cent in July and up 4.0 per cent for the year-to-date. Vehicle production in the UK is less fragile than much of the UK economy thanks to strong exports.

19th August 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Autodata MD Tony Swiatek dies

Autodata Limited has reported the death of managing director Tony Swiatek on the 24 July 2011 from cancer. Sharing the news with “deep regret and sadness”, company representatives said: “Tony was an inspirational leader and dedicated his enthusiasm to taking Autodata firmly into the digital age, doubling the size of the company and building it into the successful international business it is today.”

19th August 2011/by Tyrepress Editors