China Archives - Page 162 of 240 - Tyrepress

Now one of the largest tyre-producing countries in the world, China has an indisputable influence on the direction of global tyre trade. The home of both fast-growing up-and-coming brands as well as a burgeoning domestic market, this tag chronicles China’s involvement with the tyre business.

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Yantai Produces World’s Largest Solid Tyre

A 1.78 metre diameter two-ton solid tyre produced by China’s Yantai C.S.I. Rubber Co. Ltd is being promoted as the world’s largest. The Chinese language website shm.com.cn reports that the Yantai tyre, produced after three years of research and development, beats the previous world record for diameter by 16 centimetres.

The production process for the tyre is said to have taken 22 hours to complete. These large tyres will reportedly be purchased by Caterpillar for fitment on its equipment.

10th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

VMI Yantai Opens Third Factory

Celebrations were held on May 19 to make the opening of the third factory operated by the Chinese subsidiary of Dutch tyre and rubber industry machinery manufacturer, VMI Holland BV. A contingent of Dutch and Chinese delegates were present at the official opening ceremony, with dignitaries in attendance including Mr. C.Cornielje, governor of Province of Gelderland (where parent company VMI has its headquarters), Mrs. Mrs. Li Shuqin, vice mayor of Yantai and Mr. Jiang Zhonger, governor of Fushan district. Also present were VMI Group chairman Coos Spanjer and Cai Weimin, secretary general of the China Chemical Industry Association Tire Branch.

10th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyre Dealers Voice Opposition to Import Duty

Trouble is brewing between Indian tyre manufacturers and dealers. A duty on passenger car tyres imported from China is expected to be introduced by the end of June, and the two parties hold differing views on the matter.

“We have invited views from all concerned. We will look at all representations before taking a decision. However, on the face of it, there does seem to be a case for application of safeguard duties,” a government official told India’s Economic Times newspaper on condition of anonymity.

9th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

USW Testifies Against Chinese Imports at ITC

The United Steelworkers (USW) reports that its president, Leo W. Gerard, asked the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on June 2 to give the U.S. tyre industry a “fighting chance” against consumer tyres imported from China. According to the USW, Gerard told the ITC that the union has used every tool at its disposal to save the US consumer tyre industry from total collapse, including contract concessions, wage increase deferrals and improved productivity.

“But all of these efforts aren’t worth a dime if the market is being pulled out right from under us,” Gerard said. “With a short period of relief, we can start to build a sustainable foundation for the future of the American tyre industry and its workers.”

3rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Gripen UK Enjoying ‘Month on Month’ Growth

Over on the other side of the North Sea lies the headquarters of one of the largest and fastest growing wholesalers in Scandinavia and Europe, Gripen Wheels. The Swedish based company delivers tyres to more than 20 countries and operates numerous warehouses throughout Europe. Some 18 months ago the UK joined the list of locations where Gripen boasts a presence, and the Cambridge headquartered operation now supplies customers nationwide from its warehouse in Immingham, near Hull. Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with Gripen’s UK director, Ray Coulson, to find out how the company is progressing in our market.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Coalition to Battle USW Over China Tyre Import Scheme

A group of six US tyre importers – including two major private branders – have joined forces to battle efforts by the United Steelworkers to limit the importation of China-made passenger tyres. The group, which calls itself the American Coalition for Free Trade in Tires, includes Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. and Del-Nat Corp., as well as importers American Omni Trading Co., Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc., Orteck Global Supply & Distribution Co., and Foreign Tire Sales Inc.

In 2007, Foreign Tire Sales faced the recall of some 250,000 light truck tyres it imported from China’s Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber. Less than 20,000 of those tyres were recovered in the recall, which threatened to bankrupt the importer. The group has retained Washington, D.C., law firm Jochum Shore & Trossevin to represent it in the matter. (Tire Review/Akron)

28th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

GITI to Construct New Chinese Proving Ground and R&D Centre

Another crucial area of responsibility for ETC’s leadership is the development of new global test facilities, test equipment and methodology. For the time being, at least, this centres on two key multi-million dollar projects – the development of the company’s recently constructed R&D centre alongside its Hefei City, Anhui Province manufacturer facility and the design and construction of a new cutting edge proving ground. The idea here is to bring premium quality tyre testing and development to China in order to enable the entire global company to produce higher order products, with the ultimate aim of competing with the premium manufacturers.

27th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Beijing Auto signals interest in Opel stake

China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Corp (BAIC) has reportedly become the fourth company to express an interest in buying into Opel/General Motors’ European operations. According to the Financial Times, BAIC wrote to Commerzbank’s Dresdner Kleinwort a day after the bidding deadline. However, the report also characterised BAIC’s offer “more an expression of interest rather than a formal bid” quoting sources close to the deal. Italy’s Fiat, Canada’s Magna, and Brussels-listed RHJ International all entered bids for the strategic stake on Wednesday, for which GM is seeking about 650 million euros ($900 million).

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

China Increases Scrappage Subsidy

While flagging Western markets are offering handouts to carmakers in order to lubricate sales, in China – with a car market still widely regarded as booming by comparison – has announced that it is to increase its own scrappage budget from one billion yuan (£95.6 million, $146 million) to six billion yuan (£573.6 million, $876 million). According to a China4Auto.com report, the move follows the success of the incentive program in rural areas.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Corruption Trial Against Former Double Coin Chairman Begins

The corruption trial against former Double Coin chairman Fan Xian began in China on May 25. According to the Shanghai Daily, the 55-year old is charged with corruption involving 17.25 million yuan (£1.59 million), accepting 8.35 million yuan in bribes and embezzling 57 million yuan.

At the first day of proceeding at the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court, Fan denied most of the charges raised by the prosecution. The Shanghai Daily reports that he “tried to avoid key questions.” When the chief judge told him to answer questions directly, he allegedly answered by saying “I can’t remember clearly” or “I don’t know.”

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Opens Expanded China Research Centre

The Lanxess research and development facility in Qingdao, China has undergone a ten million euro expansion programme, a measure the company says will facilitate its strategy of profitable growth in Asia through targeted investments in research and development. Upon announcing the official inauguration of its bigger and better High Performance Rubber R&D Center (RRCQ) on May 22, Lanxess Board of Management member Werner Breuers commented that the upgraded research centre “will give us a competitive edge by developing new products and applications for the growing Chinese rubber market.”

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Kenda Facility Ready for ISO Certification

Cooper Tire reports that Smithers Quality Assessments lead auditor Ricker Zoller recently conducted an ISO 9001:2000 stage one audit at its Cooper Kenda Tire facility in Kunshan, China. This stage one audit, the company adds, is comparable to the pre-certification audits that North American plants underwent in spring 2008 in preparation for their actual certification audits. The certification audit at Cooper Kenda Tire is scheduled for July.

Following the four-day inspection, the auditor commented that he found “no issues that would prevent Cooper Kenda Tire from obtaining its certification.” This positive feedback comes after half a year of preparation for ISO auditing, a time in which department leaders and employees have been engaged in establishing proper procedure documents. Cooper states that employees have developed all the required systems, such as document control, internal audit, corrective and preventive action and calibration systems.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Automechanika Shanghai

Automechanika Shanghai, reputedly Asia’s largest automotive trade fair and the organiser’s second largest Automechanika fair, will take place from 9 – 11 December 2009 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre. This fifth edition of the fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and the China National Automotive Industry International Corporation (CNAICO). In line with the product profile of the global Automechanika brand, the event will encompass a broad spectrum of products and services for the automotive original equipment and aftermarket. Products on offer cover the sectors Parts & Systems, Accessories & Tuning, Repair & Maintenance, IT & Management to Service Station & Car Wash.

In 2008 Automechanika Shanghai had a record number of 1,982 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions showcasing their products in eight halls covering 92,000 square metres. The show attracted more than 30,800 visitors from 104 countries and regions and half of the buyers had full purchasing authority. The number of exhibitors and visitors were up to 59 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Passenger Car Tyre Replacement Sales up 31%

Emerging tyre markets led by China are bucking the downward sales trends encountered in the European and US markets. According to Michelin’s latest market figures, Chinese passenger car replacement tyre sales have grown significantly (up a huge 31 per cent in the circumstances). At the same time Chinese truck tyre replacement market is said to be flat year-on-year, compared with massive falls in the West.

South American tyre sales, on the other hand have not faired so well. In Brazil sales of original equipment truck tyres are 30 per cent lower than last year, according to the data, which also points out that this reflects on the heavy cuts that have been made to new truck tyre production. As far as the Brazilian replacement tyre market is concerned, truck tyre sales are said to have declined approximately 20 per cent year-on-year.

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Truck OE Tyre Sales Down 74%

European truck tyre OE sales reportedly fell an enormous 74 per cent in April, while replacement tyre volumes were down 44 per cent. The figures, which are sourced from leading tyre manufacturer Michelin, show that most global markets are affected (China aside). As far as truck tyre sales are concerned, the good news is that everyone’s best guess is that this segment cannot remain under this “particular pressure” forever and that there is still a good chance of improvement, or at least a slowing in the downward trend in time for the second half of 2009.

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors