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CRI: Chinese Tyre Exports ‘Not Very Promising in 2009’

In April 2009 tyre yields in China increased 13.7 per cent, compared with the same period of last year, to 58.15 million units. According to new data released today by China Research and Intelligence (CRI), between January and April 2009 the tyre yields totalled 185.6 million units in China, up 0.2 per cent year-on-year. In light of the major difficulties facing automotive suppliers in general and tyre manufacturers the past year, flat growth is really quite positive. However according to CRI, “exports are not very promising” by comparison.

Between January and April 2009 China exported 81.31 million tyres, valued at US$2.01 billion (down 23.3 per cent and 21 per cent respectively compared with the same period in 2008). Exports in April amounted to 23.16 million tyres, down by 19.2 per cent and valued at $580 million (down 16.1 per cent).

22nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Autocar Survey: Tailgaters Most Irritating

A survey involving 14,500 AA members has indicated that the most irritating habit of road users is that of tailgating. 36 per cent of the sample group told Populus, in conjunction with the AA, that “close following” was the worst of the idiotic pieces of driving seen on Britain’s roads. The survey heralds the arrival of the latest drive to improve the standard of driving in the UK, the Autocar/AA Drive Better Campaign.

The AA’s president told Autocar that tailgating was also a very dangerous bad habit: “Survey respondents were spot on to highlight their irritation with tailgaters. Data reveals that leaving pure human error aside tailgaters fall just behind ‘loss of control’ as the major cause of crashes. It’s a problem not only on motorways but also on dual carriageways, country lanes and in road works. Some tailgate to bully drivers out of the way, others because they just don’t think of the potentially tragic consequences of their actions.”

17th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Smithers Promotes REACH Seminars

With the 30 November 2010 deadline fast approaching, Smithers is promoting its series of compliance seminars. According to the testing and research organisation, for many months attention has been focussed on the submission of lead registration dossiers to ECHA. However a new harmonised system for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) has brought with it equally demanding deadlines.

15th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Release Microchipped “Intelligent” Tyre

The Energy Harvesting Journal has reported that Pirelli is close to releasing its latest innovative tyre technology – a microchip to supply tyre and road condition information to the car’s electronic control system. It is designed to increase safety. The new product is expected to become available in the company’s Cyber Tyre Lean and Cyber Tyre in early 2010.

The Cyber Lean will register tyre pressure and temperature data, noting too the average load of the vehicle. It is attached to the inner lining and can store information such as the tyre’s production date and site. It derives the energy necessary to work from vibrations, further enhancing its environmentally friendly credentials.

The Cyber Tyre, which will be released later, will have the electronic sensor inserted directly into the tyre structure. A triaxial accelerometer will, according to the Journal, “give data on the actual and potential friction coefficients, the force of the contact between tyre and road, and on the load, instantaneously.” It supersedes current tyre sensor technology by being able to “correct wrong behaviour in advance.”

9th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Truck Orders See a Rebound

FTR Associates said that preliminary data shows Class 8 truck orders for June increased 9.7 per cent from the month prior. All told, FTR said, 8,101 units were ordered in June, the first improvement in three months. The figure includes orders for the US, Canada, Mexico and exports.

At the same time, June 2009 orders were down 52.7 per cent compared to the same month in 2008. Orders were placed at an annualized rate of 97,212, an improvement over the past three-month annualized rate of 94,872 units, FTR said. (Tire Review/Akron)

8th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Workers Strike Against Noyelles-les-Seclin Plant Closure

Michelin’s Noyelles-les-Seclin factory in northern France was reportedly brought to a standstill on June 29 by striking workers protesting against plans to close the site next year. This news was published by the AFP press service based upon information provided by Force Ouvrière union delegate Gilles Cocquerez; according to Cocquerez, ninety per cent of staff at the plant near Lille went out on strike, and between 150 and 200 people staged a march through the town centre. A spokeswoman for Michelin confirmed that the factory’s production had indeed come to a halt.

29th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

EMI+ “Helps Businesses Improve Their Bottom Line”

MAM Software has announced a brand new release of EMI+, a powerful business intelligence module that helps business managers develop a deeper understanding of their business. In today’s competitive and congested aftermarket, MAM believes that EMI+ version 2.1 can deliver the reliable, up-to-date information that managers need to respond to challenging conditions and make informed decisions.

“EMI+ is designed to help businesses improve their bottom line” said Mike Jamieson, MAM’s Managing Director. “It enables managers to quickly and easily analyse their business, identify trends and highlight opportunities for improvement. At a glance, they can instantly detect gaps in buying patterns or isolate sales that are affecting margins.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Reports ¥10 Billion Net Loss for Financial Year

Financial data for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 show reduced net sales and a net loss at Toyo Tire & Rubber. The company’s net sales of 328,371 million yen (£2.08 billion) represent an 8.08 per cent decrease on the previous year’s results, while operating income decreased from 13,168 million yen in the year to March 31, 2008 to a 2,964 million yen (£18.81 million) loss in the most recent period. The company recorded a net loss of 10,722 million yen (£68.04 million) in the year ending March 31; the previous year net profit stood at 6,137 million yen.

8th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Motaquip Picks MAM To Replace Paper Catalogues

Motaquip, one of the leading aftermarket parts suppliers in the UK, is to use MAM Software’s latest electronic parts cataloguing solutions in a bid to reduce its reliance on paper parts manuals. As well as recommending Autocat+ to its customers, Motaquip will use MAM’s new Catalogue Data Tool (CDT) to maintain the Motaquip product data that Autocat+ holds.

Motaquip currently produces 54,000 paper catalogues a year, spread over eighteen product categories. By actively encouraging the use of alternative electronic mediums such as Autocat+, Motaquip is aiming to not only save money, but also improve the quality of product information its customers receive.

22nd 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

Consumer Reports Survey: Independent Shops Prefered

A new Consumer Reports’ survey shows US consumers prefer using independent vehicle repair shops over car dealerships for vehicle maintenance. “The magazine’s survey points up something independent shops have known for a long time: independent service is more satisfying,” said Ron Pyle, president and CEO of ASA. “The magazine is to be commended for its work in coming up with good, solid data that verifies that claim. That’s a real service to its readers and today’s motorists.”

According to Consumer Reports, in a story in its June 2009, issue: “Eighty-four per cent of owners reported being satisfied with maintenance performed at independent shops compared with 77 per cent at (car) dealerships.” The magazine based that finding on a survey involving 349,000 vehicles. (Tire Review/Akron)

13th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Scrappage Scheme “May Appeal to 1.5 Million”

With a UK scrappage incentive scheme to help boost the automotive industry to be introduced next month, information and marketing analysts Experian have evaluated its potential impact. Owners of vehicles over ten years old can claim a £2000 cash incentive to trade in their car for a new one. In order to be eligible for the scheme, the driver must have owned the vehicle for at least 12 months. Experian’s analysis of over 34.7 million vehicles currently on the UK roads has found that 7.1 million privately owned used vehicles will be eligible for the scheme. However, the company’s analysis shows that not all the owners of these vehicles would be in a position to take advantage of the scheme as there are number of other factors to consider.

24th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Govt Ponders PCR Duty

India’s government intends to introduce import duties for passenger car radials in an attempt to protect the domestic industry against the growing quantities of the product being shipped into the country. According to an anonymous official, the Directorate General of Safeguards, a section of the national Revenue Department, is examining an industry filed complaint. Tyre manufacturers allege that the sharp increase in imports over the past year is causing them harm. A formal case is likely to be initiated by the Director General of Safeguards.

24th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

First Green Shoots of Recovery in US EM Market

The US earthmover/off-the-road tyre market recently plateaued and is now even registering the first 'green shoots' of low level market increases, according to Luc Minguet, Michelin president earthmover and industrial tyres worldwide. According to Minguet, 2009 got off to a particularly rough start for the OTR business with OE demand plummeting 20 per cent in the first two months of the year and replacement sales down by up to 60 per cent in same period.

23rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Announces Wireless Tyre Diagnostics Solution

RFID specialist Advanced ID Corporation has announced, along with information technology provider Pro SAAMYA, the release of a tyre diagnostics solution incorporating Advanced ID/Pneu-Logic’s truck probe and Pro SAAMYA’s TiMaS, or Tire-data Management System. The complete solution includes a Bluetooth-enabled tyre tread depth/pressure probe and the middleware that wirelessly links the most important data on tyres to the fleet operator’s fleet management database.

TiMaS software works with mobile phones, PDAs, tablets and laptop computers. Benefits of the system include real-time automated tyre data management, reduced operational costs, fewer on the road breakdowns, elimination of paper-based recording and easy integration with existing software systems.

7th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors