Detroit is not a city normally associated with high fashion, but this week designers have flocked to the city to show off their latest accessories. Cameras have greedily snapped glamorous models strutting their stuff for the first time, and no expense has been spared in making this year’s new fashions look as desirable as possible.
Police in Colbert County, Alabama look set to become much better acquainted with their local tyre supplier after vandals destroyed the tyres on all but one of their patrol cars. A total of ten tyres were slashed on three of the department’s four vehicles, rendering the department unable to carry out its regular duties.
Kwik-Fit has named Chris Bosworth as business development and marketing director. Reporting to CEO Ian Fraser, in this newly created role Chris Bosworth will be responsible for all Kwik-Fit’s brand development strategy as well as all external and internal communications, including its high profile TV advertising campaigns. Prior to joining Kwik-Fit Bosworth was customer delivery planning director at Orange UK. Reporting directly to the COO, he was responsible for a £600 million subscriber acquisition and retention budget as well as channel strategy and web-channel development.
Britain’s largest and fastest-growing contract hire and leasing company, Lex, has extended its solus fast-fit contract with Kwik-Fit Fleet for a further three years. Lex now operates a fleet of more than 180,000 company cars and light commercial vehicles, which means the contract involves fitting more than 2 million tyres over the next three years.
Viking International has realigned its pricing structure for the Tigar economy brand in response to strong demand. With trade prices starting from as little as £10 the tyre is certainly a competitive choice. The sales support package includes information leaflets for your customers, stickers and reception/window posters. Viking has also reduced the prices it is charging for the Goodride budget tyre brand. Again trade prices start at just £10 and there are said to be a variety of sizes available.
Following detailed analysis of sales trends for the top selling DJ Wheels range, Sherbrook international has found that seemingly size really is important. Explained CEO Peter Whitehouse, “Until recently the most popular wheel size was 15 inch, but increasingly drivers are requesting the ‘Big Wheels’ look and are demanding a 17 inch option. We have responded by ensuring that all nine stunning 2006 DJ Wheels designs are available in the larger size, delivering real choice combined with attention-getting looks.”
The Bulgarian government has pledged to build an additional 900 kilometres of road infrastructure over the next six years. The Government has outlined highway construction programme that will include motorways in: Trakia, Lyulin, Maritsa, Struma and Black Sea regions. The projects have been costed at more than 3.3 billion euros and the works will be funded under the EU Cohesion Fund, the state budget and through Public-Private Partnership.Maritsa Highway (114 km) is scheduled to be constructed in 2009 at a cost of 360 million euros. Nearly 600 million will be allocated for the construction of Struma Highway, which is expected to be finalised by 2012.
Michelin’s budget for raw material costs is expected to increase by 11 per cent year-on-year in 2006. However, Deutsche Bank analysts report that natural rubber is up 15 per cent so far this year. “Natural rubber (RSS3) represents 25 per cent of raw material (24 per cent of sales or 4 billion euros), therefore should the natural rubber stay at these levels this would imply a discrepancy of around. 75 million euros on budgeted margins,” the analysts explained.
UK chancellor of the exchequer, Gordon Brown has raised vehicle excise duty on the most polluting vehicles to £210. Media sources have widely touted the increase as a tax on 4x4s and SUVs. However, according to the government only 1 per cent of vehicles will be affected and therefore the impact on the thriving 4×4/SUV sector (187,000 sold in 2005) will perhaps not be too severe. In an attempt to encourage cleaner vehicles Gordon Brown used his 10th budget speech to announce that the “cleanest” cars would pay no duty and that low emissions vehicles would see duty reduced from £75 to £40.
Former Budget Tyres and Exhausts managing director, Brian Kidd is to take over the running of Sir Tom Farmer’s Farmer Autocare chain. As the new managing director, he is expected to draw up a strategy to raise Farmer Autocare’s growth rate. Currently Farmer Autocare has 13 outlets despite predicting that it would have 20 by spring 2004. Rather than working as Farmer employees, managers are encouraged to invest alongside the tycoon in up to three local branches with a total capital of £100,000 each.
(Akron/Tire Review) Wilson County, North Carolina, commissioners have approved a $364,324 economic incentive package for Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) on 6 March, funds earmarked to help the tyremaker expand its passenger/light truck tyre plant in that area.
96.98 per cent of the shares in the Azershin tyre factory in Azerbaijan are for sale. Commissioned in 1959, the Azershin plant is located in Baku, Azerbaijan and covers an area of 17.9 hectares. The plant produces 1.5 million tyres per year. The enterprise, with the charter capital of 8.9 billion manats ($1.87 million), employs 69 people and has 894,314 shares with a value of 10,000 manats each. Azershin has arrears amounting to 26.5 billion manats ($5.6 million).
WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) is to allocate “a large part” of the first year’s budget to developing existing processes and exploring “novel applications.” In a statement WRAP reports that it has begun work on developing the UK used tyre market. The aim of the programme, which is part of Defra’s new Business Resource Efficiency and Waste initiative (BREW), is to increase the inherent value of recycled tyres by stimulating market demand for higher value products.
Toyo Tyre UK has appointed Engine, a cross-media design agency, to handle the first phase of its new UK marketing communications programme. This will involve the creation of brand new press advertising campaign with a total budget of £600,000.
The growth of high performance tyres in the UK is outpacing the rest of Europe. V-Z rated tyres have grown 15-20 per cent in the last year. However the sector has, in the past, been largely led by OE fitment and reserved for the main players. How well are second line and budget brands competing in the aftermarket? Tyres & Accessories looks at how tyre manufacturers are extending the boundaries and what exactly is possible when it comes to upgrading tyres.
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