Schaeffler terminates Conti investment agreement
On 13 May, the Schaeffler Group gave notice of its intention to terminate the mutual investment agreement it has held with Continental AG since 2008. The agreement will terminate in May 2014.
Hannover-based Continental AG is a leading automotive supplier and – according to the company – is “the choice of leading car manufacturers, offering award-winning tyres that deliver responsive braking in all weather conditions.”
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Conti begins new football partnership in US
NewsIn addition to continuing its partnership with top North American football league Major League Soccer (MLS) and extending its agreement with the sporting body’s commercial arm Soccer United Marketing (SUM), on 6 May Continental Tire announced a new partnership with U.S. Soccer.
BKT USA names new president
NewsCarl Casalbore has been appointed president of BKT Tires USA, effective 6 May. He replaces Rami Bitran. He is based at the company’s US headquarters in Akron, Ohio and joins BKT from Zafco/ZTI Tires, where he served as vice-president of sales. Casalbore has worked in the tyre industry for more than 30 years and also has sales executive posts with Armstrong Tire, Pirelli Tire North America, Cooper Tire & Rubber and Continental Tire the Americas.
Conti confirms 2013 guidance after weaker Q1
NewsAlthough admitting that difficulties were encountered in the first quarter of 2013, Continental says it “held its ground” during this period and has confirmed its guidance for the full year.
Angel GT outstrips rivals’ mileage, says Pirelli
NewsThe latest sport touring tyre from Pirelli, the Angel GT, has hit the streets – and the Italian tyre maker claims it is number one for mileage within its segment. This weighty statement is based upon testing carried out by Motorrad TestCenter in Germany. Tyres & Accessories has yet to read the test report, however Pirelli indicates that the Angel GT was certified by Motorrad TestCenter as delivering better mileage than the Michelin Pilot Road 3, Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart II, Bridgestone Battlax BT 023, Continental RoadAttack2 and Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interact M/O.
Conti test facility named ‘development tool of the year’
NewsThe 29-person international jury presiding over this year’s Vehicle Dynamics Innovation Awards have named Continental’s new weather-independent AIBA tyre testing facility winner of the awards’ “Development Tool of the Year” category.
Continental TPMS wins product award
NewsContinental AG has been named as the 2013 Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award for its tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) with patented LocSync software.
The tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) from Continental is designed to provide the driver with the current inflation pressures individual tyres. If a particular tyre’s pressure is too low, the instrument alerts the driver. According to the company, the new tyres and sensors are detected automatically without the need for any additional electronic equipment by using the LocSync software to combine the data from the wheel speed sensors and tyre sensors.
Pointons teams with Potteries Tyres for Conti tyre management
NewsLeading UK food waste recycling and animal by-product transporter, John Pointon & Sons has put into place a structured tyre management process. The firm will work closely with Staffordshire tyre supplier, Potteries Tyres of Stoke-on-Trent and Continental Tyres to minimise tyre costs and unplanned downtime, while ensuring the tyres meet the varied demands and working conditions of Pointon’s fleet of 68 trucks and 216 trailers.
Vredestein partnering with Mansory
NewsEagle-eyed Geneva motor show attendees may has spotted a 22-inch version of Vredestein’s new Ultrac Vorti fitted to the Bentley Continental GT-based Mansory Sanguis. This pairing, Vredestein states, doubled as an announcement of a new partnership between Mansory and the tyre maker.
Confirmation of Pirelli Angel GT mileage still pending
NewsPirelli describes its new Angel GT sport touring tyre as being “100 per cent Italian Gran Turismo.” Compared with its predecessor it is said to not only offer improved grip and wet performance – as recently demonstrated on the deck of an Italian aircraft carrier – but also to give significantly higher mileage than the Angel ST. During last autumn’s unveiling of Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 S Granturismo, which has the Angel GT as an original equipment fitment, the Italian tyre maker reported a 15 per cent increase in mileage – now, in spring, this figure has doubled to 30 per cent. The editors at Neue ReifenZeitung, Tyres & Accessories’ German affiliate, asked Pirelli to explain why the reported improvement in mileage is suddenly much higher.
Conti showing underground portfolio at Bauma
NewsContinental’s underground mining products are engineered at the company’s Research and Development Center in Hanover, Germany and production is based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa – close to many customers’ gold, copper, and platinum mines. Two key products in this segment are the General Tire brand Power Slick and Semi Slick, and the tyre maker is displaying both of these at the Bauma 2013 show.
Conti ProViu 360 – ‘second sight’ for construction vehicles
NewsParking assistance technology is a nice feature to have in your hatchback, but electronic parking aids really come into their own when fitted to larger vehicles. Continental has developed a camera-based all-round system for some of the largest vehicles available, and the company is presenting it at this week’s Bauma 2013 show. Called ProViu 360, the system is designed with construction and other large commercial vehicles in mind and is intended to offer risk free manoeuvring and the elimination of the driver’s blind spot. Continental claims that in addition to increasing safety for both the driver and other road/site users, the reduction in time taken to position a vehicle and a minimised risk of vehicle damage can lead to lower operating costs.
Larger sizes a UHP segment highlight
NewsBig appears to be beautiful when it comes to ultra high performance tyres. Continental shares that falling European demand for 18-inch rim diameter and lower UHP tyres over the last couple of years has been compensated for by growing demand in the larger sizes.
Reports: Continental 1Q may be worse than expected
NewsIn an interview with German Euro am Sonntag news source, Continental AG CFO Wolfgang Schaefer said he expected the company to report first quarter results "slightly worse" than anticipated. In March, the company said it estimates first-quarter sales to decline by between 1 and 3 per cent on the year, with roughly flat margin. However, during the interview Schaefer admitted missing the 1 to 3 per cent mark.
Conti to boost pcr production in Slovakia by almost 50%
NewsOn 10 April the head of Continental’s Tire division, Nikolai Setzer, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Continental’s consumer tyre factory in Púchov. The signing of the MoU at Continental’s headquarters in Hannover, Germany paves the way for an expansion project that will see passenger and light truck tyre capacity in Púchov rising by more than 5 million pieces a year.
