The tyre business along with the rest of the automotive industry was hit hard by the effects of coronavirus. This tag brings you the latest news as it happens.
Senior management at Indian tyre manufacturer JK Tyre will take a 25 per cent pay cut during the Covid-19 outbreak. Chairman and managing director Raghupati Singhania stated that the board was taking the cut “in a show of solidarity in this critical time,” noting the “unprecedented” impact of the virus on sales and profitability.
Kwik Fit says it is carefully monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak, and at present its centres are open for business as usual “where possible”. It adds that the company’s “overriding priority” is the health and well-bring of its staff and customers.
Yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined strict stay-at-home measures for the whole of the UK. These effectively amount to a country-wide lockdown and will be enforced by the police. As a result, gatherings outside of households are effectively banned and shops have to close. However, reading the small print reveals that automotive garages are within the limited number of retailers that will be allowed to remain open. And therefore tyre centres will be allowed to keep going as well. Motorists looking for information on garages in the Covid-19 lockdown can find more on Tyrepress’s sister site, WhatTyre.
Bridgestone EMIA will either temporarily close or reduce production plants across its European manufacturing network in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its Béthune plant in France and the Bari plant in Italy will be closed until 6 April.
Apollo Vredestein is scaling back production at its European plants in Hungary and the Netherlands in addition to “taking measures to protect our workforce in line with government health advisory and measures” against coronavirus/Covid-19.
Formula 1 teams based in the UK are working with the government and other groups to help address a shortage of respiratory equipment amid the coronavirus crisis. The news follows a government call for businesses to help increase the supply of ventilators to hospitals. According to an official statement, the teams have expert design, technology and production capabilities, and specialise in rapid prototyping and high value manufacturing, which is hoped can be applied to the critical needs set out by Government.
It’s already decided to shutter production at some of its plants in Europe for at least a week, and Michelin has now begun a temporary, phased shutdown of some of its tyre production facilities in the United States and Canada as well. It has also “established appropriate contingency plans” for the weeks to come and will adjust its actions “as the situation evolves.”
On Friday, Pirelli announced it would suspend production at its two tyre plants in the UK in light of the COVID-19 emergency and its effect on the automotive industry. Yesterday it extended the production stop to its Settimo Torinese and Bollate plants in Italy.
Top management at Apollo Tyres have announced they’ve accepted a pay cut during the market difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tyre maker says it is also preparing to implement further measures.
Market demand for tyres in some parts of the world is declining parallel to the spread of the coronavirus, and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has responded by announcing a temporary shutdown of its tyre manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico. In a statement published on Saturday, the tyre maker said it is also “currently assessing plans” for its operations in Europe. Cooper Tires’ plants in China, which reopened several weeks ago and have continued to ramp up production since then, remain in operation.
In addition to pausing production in the UK, Pirelli will first reduce production at its plant in Rome, USA and then close it completely for a week.
A combination of health concerns and a significant slowdown in the automotive sector have prompted Pirelli to temporarily halt production at its factories in Burton on Trent and Carlisle. The stop will begin on 23 March.
While the government has introduced significant social distancing measures including closing schools, and while tyre businesses are offering innovative contactless solutions, garages are still open for business. However, in Italy the country has been on lockdown for a month. We know that truck tyre technicians should be categorised as “key workers”, but what about car tyre retailers and what if movements become more restricted?
Earlier we examined the evidence that truck tyre technicians should be considered key workers in “Are truck tyre technicians key workers?” In answer to the question, NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay suggested “those technicians who hold a REACT, LCTT or LRTT licence may wish to present the cards as evidence of their profession. Naturally, schools can confirm the validity of the licence by contacting the NTDA’s Head Office.”
As the UK increasingly adopts social distancing measures, tyre retailers are reporting increased demand for mobile tyre fitting services. For example, Kwik Fit is introducing social distancing measures for its mobile fleet operators. The company reports that it has seen a 15 per cent increase in enquiries for appointments for tyre fitting at customers’ homes, the majority of which are said to be due to customers self-isolating after being impacted by the government’s latest guidance on the coronavirus. And Halfords has introduced a ‘contactless’ home fitting service.
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(Photo: Malte luk; Pexels)
Michelin
Apollo