For Infinity Tyres, 2013 has brought with it the introduction of the Ecomax range, a new high performance tyre with an ecological and economical twist – presented under the “performance delivered” strapline.
Autopromotec 2013 saw Infinity Tyres, which has been a regular part of the Italian show during the last decade, officially launch its brand new passenger tyres – the Ecopioneer, Enviro and Ecovantage.
Triangle and TYM International have jointly announced the Chinese tyre manufacturer’s purchase of a 10 per cent share of its UK distributor’s business. TYM International general manager, Steve Eke and Triangle Group board chairman, Ding Yuhua exchanged documents during the Triangle Group’s 2013 Global Business Summit at the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel, Shanghai on 18 May. The purchase is currently subject to ratification by the Commerce Department of the Chinese Government, though both parties are confident that the deal will proceed smoothly. This year marks the tenth anniversary of TYM’s distribution of Triangle passenger car, truck and bus, and off-the-road products and Eke told Tyrepress.com that he was very pleased to have converted “the customer-supplier relationship into a partner relationship.”
Apollo Tyres’ Chennai facility in southern India has won the Platinum prize in the large size category of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) Quality Systems Awards for Manufacturing 2012. This highest-level award was presented to Apollo Tyres by Saurabh Chandra, secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India.
Following Kumho Tire USA’s second recall of thousands of tyres in the US, Liberty Tire Recycling released a statement claiming it was unaware the tyres it received from Kumho had previously been recalled in August 2012 and were slated for destruction. “We were not made aware of any NHTSA safety recall that applied to these tyres when we received them last summer,” the company said, adding that the tyres were “not properly incapacitated by Kumho and were not under a 'destroy-only' contractual agreement.”
Increased affluence and the rise of car ownership is creating demand for passenger car tyres in Malaysia’s booming central region. The latest GfK retail audit report shows that sales of passenger car tyres in the high traffic states of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have been rising consecutively in the last two years, with the first quarter of this year reporting a surge of 14.6 per cent over the same period in 2012.
US transportation body the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall on almost 12,000 tyres. What makes this recall stand out from the crowd is that the tyres in question were previously recalled – and then resold.
A common theme while talking with wholesalers this year has been the need for flexibility. Various companies are approaching this in different ways, and Danish wholesaler Nordisk Dæk Import, better known as NDI, has chosen a path not yet taken by any other European wholesaler. In order to offer customers the double advantage of flexible ordering and competitive prices, the company has established a new warehouse in Qingdao, China, near where its Nordexx private brand is manufactured. From this warehouse, NDI will directly supply Nordexx-brand and other products to its European and international customers; in early March the first shipment of Nordexx tyres arrived in the new Qingdao warehouse, and by April the full Nordexx range was in stock.
Shortly before Tyres & Accessories visited Van den Ban in late March, the Netherlands-based wholesaler announced plans to enter the truck tyre market. A truck specialist, Hans Bakker, has been appointed to assist Van den Ban in growing this business; Bakker, along with commercial manager Cyril Versteeg, discussed the wholesaler’s plans in relation to truck tyres.
Less then five decades after starting out as a one-man tyre business in western Holland, Heuver Tyrewholesale has grown into a major commercial segment wholesaler. Today the company is headquartered in Hardenberg, near the Dutch border with Germany, and specialises in supplying truck, OTR and agricultural tyres to customers throughout Europe. Tyres and Accessories recently spoke with director Bertus Heuver about Heuver Tyrewholesale’s current activities and focus; he shared that during 2013 the wholesaler is introducing an entirely new brand and intends to grow in at least two key regions.
It’s reassuring to know that British motorists hold no monopoly when it comes to tyre cluelessness. Michelin Nordic recently commissioned a survey into the average Dane’s level of tyre knowledge – and the results were, to be honest, not very good.
As of this month, Yokohama rubber’s tyre factories in Japan will begin using a newly developed inner liner technology that is said to “substantially” improve the retention of air pressure in truck and bus tyres. The tyre maker says it can reduce natural air leakage by approximately 30 per cent compared with conventional liners. Not only does this help maintain air pressure, Yokohama says it also permits the design and manufacture of lighter tyres. Following the technology’s adoption in Japan, Yokohama Rubber will gradually introduce it at truck tyre factories in other parts of the world.
US-based retreading advocate the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, or TRIB, has released the results of its passenger car tyre retreading survey. TRIB asked its members around the world several questions on the matter, and the replies it gained indicate that passenger car tyre retreading is viewed as a relatively stagnant business.
In its most recent report on market trends, Pirelli’s figures showed car and light commercial vehicle volumes in Europe to be down 13 per cent year-to-date in the OE segment and 10 per cent in the replacement business. While separate information for premium tyres is not given, on 5 April Pirelli stated that in response to the economic crisis in Europe and its impact on demand for premium tyres, it is “carrying out a significant review of its commercial structures” in the European market. The Italian tyre maker says this review entails, among other things, more closely integrating its high-end tyre production capacity in Europe with those markets where demand for premium products in highest. These markets are presumably the US and rapidly developing markets – areas where Pirelli says demand is growing approximately three times faster than overall global demand for passenger car tyres.
When it comes to making cost savings in Europe, Michelin’s management is not ruling anything out. In a clear sign of the pressure tyre manufacturers are under in Europe, Michelin is said to be considering headcounts and manufacturing capacities. The fact that such things are being discussed so openly could also be interpreted as a sign that the company is trying to allay investor questions related to what action it is taking to address the tough conditions the market has found itself in.
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