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Conti Tyre on M-B C-Class for Driving Events

(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG’s ContiSportContact 3 has been named the “official tyre” of Mercedes-Benz USA’s C-Drive national ride-and-drive series, featuring the automaker’s redesigned C-Class sedan. The ride-and-drive events began last month and continue through October, hitting major cities like New York, Washington, Atlanta, Miami and Dallas.

“We are very pleased to be a part of the Mercedes-Benz C-Drive series,” said Ed Marohn, director of automotive aftermarket sales, Continental Tire North America. “The ContiSportContact 3 is our premier performance tyre, and is a perfect fit with the sporty, agile performance of the Mercedes C-Class.”

10th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Exports from India Growing Steadily

The value of tyre exports from India has grown at an average of 11 per cent per annum during the last decade, according to India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association. The current value of exports of all category of tyre is Rs 26 billion (£315.5 million). During the 1996/97 financial year total exports only amounted to Rs 8.32 billion (£101 million).

Since the start of this current decade the strongest export growth has been in the passenger car sector, with exports increasing more than tenfold to 966,046 units in 2006/07. While this amount is still dwarfed by exports of truck tyres (2,276,049 units) and tyres for light commercial vehicles (1,599,230), the high level of passenger car tyre radialisation achieved by tyremakers has provided them with a product that can potentially gain acceptance in many more overseas markets.

6th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Equip Auto 2007 Kicks off on 15 October

This year’s biggest vehicle service trade show, Equip Auto, is about to open its doors to the automotive world. Suppliers and 140,000 visitors from 130 countries are expected to attend this biennial event in Paris from 15 – 20 October 2007, where market trends are formed and companies present the latest innovative products and the whole of the European vehicle service market meets.

Chicago Pneumatic is promoting the fact that it will be present. Interaction is the theme of the Chicago Pneumatic stand, with all products working and the opportunity to try them in simulated industry conditions; it is a chance to show mechanics and technicians that working with Chicago Pneumatic products could drastically improve their work space.

Products on show include the formal introduction to the European market of the new range of BlueTork products including the CP7600 and Ergoseat, both products continue to capture the end users imagination and provide a real talking point wherever they are taken. These products highlight the growing importance of the E2Q principal, encompassing increased Ergonomics, Efficiency and Quality.

5th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Valeo Considers Sale of Electrical Wiring Business

According to news published by French daily Les Echos, French automotive components manufacturer Valeo is conducting exclusive talks with German component maker Leoni regarding the potential sale of Valeo’s electrical wiring business.

The electrical wiring business unit generates annual sales of 545 million euros and employs 12,000 staff. The sale of this unit would reportedly enable Valeo place a greater focus upon its core businesses; comfort enhancement, driving assistance and powertrain efficiency.

4th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyremakers at Odds with Rubber Board

Tensions between India’s tyre industry and the government run Rubber Board have recently been under strain and appear to be getting worse. Representatives from the tyre industry claim that a drop in natural rubber production of close to 50,000 tonnes since May stands to cost the industry Rs 20 billion (£242.6 million) annually, yet these concerns have been dismissed by the Rubber Board, who argue such dire predictions are no more than a ploy by the tyre companies in order to secure a reduction of import duties on rubber.

Chairman of the Rubber Board, Sajen Peter, states there are no grounds for the tyre manufacturers’ claims. “This year we had projected production to be 8.74 lakh (874,000) tonnes (and domestic consumption to be 8.53 lakh (853,000) tonnes,” he told India’s The Economic Times. “Availability is not a problem at all, even though the chickengunia disease has affected our tappers. Tyre companies have been pushing to reduce the import duty on rubber for a long time now and we are going to fight them till the very end.”

3rd September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Preparing to Work with Integrated VDO

In the month following being granted consent to acquire the VDO Automotive division from Siemens, Continental AG has busied itself becoming acquainted with the new workforce and sharing its vision of VDO’s future within the company. According to Conti executive board chairman Manfred Wennemer, his company is interested in ensuring the larger Continental that emerges from the purchase of VDO can fully appreciate what the component manufacturer has to offer, and integrate this into Conti’s existing structure.

Wennemer has travelled to VDO’s production sites, including its headquarters in the Bavarian city of Regensburg, and has used these visits as an opportunity to reassure VDO workers that the company they work for will maintain its own identity. When the integration of VDO is complete Continental’s automotive parts division will be reorganised into three units; security-related parts, powertrain components, and information and entertainment systems. Wennemer indicates that at least one of these divisions will have their headquarters in Regensburg, and no distinction will be made between VDO and Continental employees when making personnel decisions.

“The Continental system will not necessarily win,” Wennemer said. “What will win is the best system and the best man for the job.”

31st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

AASA Sees Aftermarket Growing

(Akron/Tire Review) A new report by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) says that the US light vehicle automotive aftermarket industry is expected to grow over the next several years, with the largest increase predicted for 2007.

A detailed analysis of the size of the aftermarket is included in the 2007-2008 AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report.

According to AASA, the value of the light vehicle aftermarket (parts and labour) will break the $200 billon mark within the next few years. The light vehicle aftermarket reached $185.2 billion in 2006, a 2.9 per cent increase over 2005. AASA estimates the light vehicle aftermarket will finish 2007 at nearly $193 billion, an increase of 4.0 per cent.

29th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Vredestein Founder Reduces Share in Company

The founder of Amtel-Vredestein, Sudhir Gupta, has reportedly sold 17.9 per cent of his holdings, reducing his stake in the Russian tyremaker to 11.4 per cent. Analysts also expect Gupta to part with the remainder of his holdings, which they say means the free-float of the company could reach 59 per cent. Should this level be reached, the position of the holding’s senior management, including CEO Petr Zolotarev, would be significantly strengthened.

Gupta sold the 17.9 per cent stake between July 18 and August 22 at a range of US$5.21 to $5.68, which reportedly created $63 million to $69 million return to Gupta. The stocks were acquired by a number of Western capital funds. Russian media also reports that “Mr. Gupta will sell all stocks of the holding and withdraw from its board of directors.”

The tyremaker owns three factories with Russia; Moscow, Voronezh and Kirov, plus a plant in Enschede, the Netherlands, as well as the AV-TO chain of stores, which sell and automotive parts. The company sold thirteen million tyres in 2006.

29th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Beru Appoints New CEO

During a meeting on August 27 the Supervisory Board of Beru AG agreed upon the appointment of Dr.-Ing. Thomas Waldhier as member and chairman of its Board of Management, a position that he will commence on October 1.

Dr. Waldhier has more than ten years of experience as a member of management boards in companies supplying the automotive industry. Since April 2004 he has been member of the management board at SAS Autosystemtechnik, Karlsruhe, a joint venture company between Faurecia and SiemensVDO.

28th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz Names Yost Executive Vice President

Hayes Lemmerz International has promoted vice president, finance and chief financial officer to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer. Along with gaining the world “executive” to his title Mr. Yost is responsible for the company’s global finance and information technology functions, and will continue to report to Curtis J. Clawson, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board.

The global wheel and automotive component manufacturer states that Mr. Yost has strengthened the company’s finance team and enhanced internal accounting controls across the Company. Furthermore, Hayes Lemmerz gives Mr. Yost much credit for the success of the recent equity rights offering and debt refinancing, which raised new equity, retired high cost debt, and strengthened the company’s balance sheet.

24th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyremakers Lobby Govt to Certify Tyre Imports

In a move that echoes events taking place in the US, India’s government has listened to demands from local tyremakers to only permit ‘certified’ tyres to be imported into the country, and is now considering what measures it will introduce. Calls for legislation banning the importation of tyres not meeting this criterion have ostensibly been made in response to a number of vehicle accidents involving reportedly sub-standard Chinese made tyres, however it is also no secret that Chinese tyre imports are hurting the bottom line of Indian tyre manufacturers.

In June representatives of India’s Industrial Policy and Promotion department, Consumer Affairs department and Bureau of India Standards met with those from vehicle and tyre producers to discuss this issue and prepare a case to present to the government. A proposal to introduce a US$135 anti-dumping duty on imported tyres has also been submitted to the government.

23rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Webb Wheel Hires New President

(Akron/Tire Review) Wolfgang Winzer has joined Webb Wheel Products as the new president of its aftermarket business unit. Most recently, Winzer was vice president and general manager of Siemens VDO Automotive’s public transport telematics unit.

Webb Wheel Products manufactures hubs, brake drums, and rotors for medium and heavy-duty trucks, trailers and buses.

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Opens First “Full-Scale” Engineering Centre in Asia

In a move that acknowledges the importance of Asian manufacturers to global vehicle production, Continental AG’s Automotive Systems Division has opened its first full-scale integrated engineering centre in the region. The facility, located in the Japanese city of Yokohama, has been established as part of the Continental Automotive Corporation (formerly known as Continental Teves Corporation) joint venture between Continental AG and brake assembly and component manufacturer Nisshinbo.

Upon the opening of the 11,000 square metre Continental Engineering Center, Continental Automotive Systems reiterated its commitment to Asia, stating that it aims to raise its commitment and investment in the Asia market to the “next level” following decades of successful operation and development in a region Conti says is seen to be “key for the future of the global automotive industry.” Indeed, the very reason for establishing the Engineering Center in Yokohama was to bring the company’s products and services even closer to Japanese and Korean OEMs.

The centre incorporates the company’s engineers and testing equipment from existing company facilities in Yokohama, Chiba, Hamamatsu, and Hiroshima. One of Conti’s first priorities following the establishment of the new centre is to expand the Automotive Systems business by focusing on Advanced Drivers Assistant Systems, its Hybrid and Electronics business, as well as its core business of Electronic and Hydraulic Brake Systems.

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

RFID Solution Fights Counterfeit Tyres

(Akron/Tire Review – RFID Update) A new RFID system by Advanced ID and SkyeTek is being touted as a potential solution to counterfeit and grey market tyres.

SkyeTek’s UHF RFID reader modules used in Advanced ID readers can capture tyre tag identification data for authentication. The readers integrate with the company’s software to provide tyre performance data and other information to help manufacturers, distributors, and fleet operators manage tyre inventories.

“We think maybe one out of five tyres is counterfeit or came from the grey market, and is not manufactured to the standards of the world’s top manufacturers,” Advanced ID CEO Dan Finch. “It’s a big problem that the industry doesn’t talk about a lot, in part because it has traditionally required expensive identification and tracking solutions.”

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Halfway Around the World with Cooper Tire

The ruggedness of Cooper Tire 4×4 tyres is being put to the test with an ambitious 40,000km trek from Cape Town in South Africa to London. Cooper’s products have been selected as the tyre of choice for the “Africa Overland” expedition, a journey being made by Australian couple Ron and Viv Moon. This is their eighth trip through the Continent in 20 years, and by mid-August the couple was already halfway through the mammoth 30-week adventure; Ron and Vic expect to arrive in London in mid-October.

With South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Serengeti and Kenya already visited, the Cooper Discoverer STT-shod, 4.2-litre Nissan Patrol will pass through a total of 16 countries in all. “The tyres have performed fantastically well,” said Ron Moon. “We’ve clocked up some 33,000km and put them through some of the toughest roads in Africa, varying from near non-existent tracks, to sandy Kalahari Desert roads and deep mud hole-dotted trails. They’ve been amazingly good for the areas we’ve been driving in, and the loads we’ve been carrying – our vehicle weighs around four tonnes.”

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors