Trelleborg Wheel Systems, a business area within the Trelleborg Group, has signed a joint-venture agreement with Al Dobowi Ltd regarding the distribution of industrial and agricultural tires in the Middle East and certain parts of Africa. The new company, Trelleborg Wheel Systems Middle East Ltd will be located in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Interstate Europe BV, has appointed Ovethi A/S as the distributor for Sonar tyres in Denmark. Interstate’s Commercial Director, Mr. Theo de Vries, said he was “very satisfied to have an experienced and professional company such as Ovethi as the distributor in Denmark.” Ovethi A/S has been working for a number of years in the Danish tyre market and has its own retail chain throughout Denmark. The Sonar range includes tyres from 13 inch to 20 inch, plus commercial and 4×4 tyres.
(Akron/Tire Review) According to its most recent Securities and Exchange Commission 10-K filings, American Tire Distributors (ATD) has entered into a contract to supply tyres directly to some 3,700 General Motors brand auto dealers in the US.
MOTOR Wheel Service Group, the Manchester-based independent distributor of commercial vehicle wheels, will be launching a full range of forged alloy wheels at this year’s CV Show. According to the company, the new forged alloy wheels are exclusive to the MWS Group and will increase the comprehensive range of wheels already stocked by MWS. The company did not release details of where or which company will produce the wheels.
Yokohama Rubber Co. established Yokohama Tire Korea Co. Ltd., a wholly owned sales subsidiary, which will now handle all marketing and sales efforts in South Korea, Tire Review has reported. Previously, a local distributor represented Yokohama in that country. The subsidiary, established in mid-January, will begin operations this month, according to Yokohama Rubber Co. Yokohama said it hopes to reach $10 million in sales in South Korea within three years.
Although US produced Pro Comp tyres have a good reputation in the states, they are not so well known in the UK. That’s why Midlands based 4×4 distributor, John Craddock Ltd, jumped at the chance to become the brand’s sole importer for the UK & Ireland. Tyres & Accessories spoke to marketing manager, Jamie Stevens.
Lee Hoggett, aka DJ String, was the winner of a £20,000 Hyundai Coupe in a nationwide competition organised by Kumho. Kumho UK managing director, Steve Tidmarsh, presented the prize at the Huntingdon Performance Tyres of Godmanchester – the ECSTA centre where Lee Hoggett originally entered the draw. The car, a top-of-the-range 2.7 litre V6 model was fitted with 18 inch Mille Miglia EV-R alloy wheels.
Sibur-Russian Tyres’ 11-month tyre shipment figures have increased by 14.6 per cent to 10.9 million tyres, Russian news sources have reported. In the first 11 months of 2003 the company shipped more than a million less (9.514 million). The value of the company’s shipments increased by a healthy 20.1 per cent from 10.342 billion rubles (£192 million) a year ago to 12.419 billion rubles (£230.3 million) a year ago.
Overall shipments stood at 13.767 million (£255.8 million). Here the deliveries to Russian and CIS companies as well as orders from the Ministry of Defence were also taken into account. In total, Sibur produced 17.9 million tyres last year. Although the majority of these are distributed through the company main distributor, Sibur Russian Tyres, approximately 3.3 million are distributed through other avenues.
SmarTire Systems Inc has published first quarter results, which show a quarterly net loss of $2.38 million, or $0.02 per share. This compares with a net loss of $3.26 million $0.06 per share in the same quarter last year. At the same time the announced that its gross revenue has also decreased $126,357 to $301,169.
“As reflected in our recent announcements with Aston Martin, New Flyer and Redmer Industries, the company has focused considerable resources on securing strategic OEM accounts over the past months,” explained Robert Rudman, SmarTire Systems’ president and chief executive officer. “We see these OEM wins and key distributor signings as strengthening our position and revenue base going forward. With the availability of the new high-pressure systems for RVs, buses and commercial vehicles, the company is generating increased activity in these important target markets.”
Russia’s largest tyre manufacturer, Amtel, wants to take over Vredestein’s tyre unit. The Dutch manufacturer’s CEO, Rob Oudshoorn, confirmed with Tyres & Accessories that “detailed discussions” are well underway and an acquisition could take place in early 2005.
MAHA UK has won the distributor of the year award at this year’s MAHA international sales meeting in Haldenwang, Germany. This is the second successive year that MAHA UK has won this award, having last taken the title in 2003.
Birmingham based tyre wholesaler and distributor BMTR Group has announced the appointment of Gary Hickman as director and general manager. Mr Hickman will be based at the group’s Perry Barr site.
SmarTire Systems Inc has announced that Redmer Industries has become a distributor of SmarTire’s tyre pressure monitoring system.
Wholesale warehouse distributor, WDS, has added XL and Kilen to its portfolio of aftermarket brands. The trading division of FPS was launched just over a year ago to support FPS’ same-day distress purchase delivery service by offering an overnight stock order service to independent motor factors.
Rondell is to aim at enhancing its market share of luxury and performance brands, the company has announced. The news follows the successful launch of a number of other wheels earlier in the year. According to Rondell’s UK distributor, Sherbrook International, demand for the existing designs has “soared.”
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