Life has been hard for Dunlop Zimbabwe in recent months, now the company is being targeted for takeover by India’s Apollo Tyres, it has emerged. Dunlop International CEO Mark Hankinson is expected to travel to Harare in the next two weeks, the Zimbabwe Financial Gazette reported. Hankinson, whose group controls 75 per cent of Dunlop Zimbabwe is quoted as saying “We are talking to a number of people.”
Sweeping personnel changes have taken place within Goodyear Dunlop UK’s marketing department which, according to the company, “reflect the progress made to date in developing [our] brand strategies and the future needs of the organisation.”
Lisa Faulkner, previously Goodyear brand manager has been appointed manager motorcycle SBU and Geraldine McGovern, previously Dunlop brand manager, has been appointed E-Business manager. Ron Pike, marketing communications manager, will be responsible for advertising, promotions and sponsorships. All of the new appointments will report to Neil Burrows, marketing director.
Dunlop has been appointed as the sole supplier of bespoke tyres for the 19 and 20-inch fitments of the new Jaguar XK Coupe and Convertible. According to the company, the Dunlop and Jaguar partnership embraces many of the iconic successes in the history of both brands. Six Le Mans victories were shared between the two companies, with the success story spanning the 1951 Jaguar XK120C through the legendary D-Type era to the Jaguar XJR-9LM that won in 1988.
As part of Dunlop’s commitment to a major investment in UK motorsport it has continued to develop its successful partnership with EvoActive, one of the UK’s highest profile trackday operators, into 2006.
(India/Rubber Asia) At long last Dunlop India, a name that is as deeply steeped in history as it is in litigations, is getting the much-awaited kiss of life. After months of apparently tortuous negotiations, the Kolkata-based Pawan Ruia group has finally wrested management control of Dunlop India and also that of Falcon Tyres from the Dubai-based Jumbo Group for 2 billion rupees (about £25 million). The Jumbo group is owned by entrepreneur Manu R Chhabria.
Four Falcon Tyre board members have resigned, only days after the company was bought by the Ruia group. The company informed Bombay Stock Exchange that Vidya Manohar Chhabria, Komal C Wazir, Mohan M Thakur and Deepak Chaudhuri (the former executive director) had all resigned. The resignations took effect on 1 December, it emerged.
The privately owned Ruia Group has closed a deal to buy Dunlop India Ltd and Falcon Tyres Ltd, from the Dubai-based MR Chhabria group for a reported 2 billion rupees (£25 million).
“An agreement has been reached between Mr Pawan Kumar Ruia and the (Chhabria) Jumbo Group to hand over both Dunlop India and Falcon Tyres,” said H Sandu, a Chhabria group spokesman, confirming the development took place at a meeting in Mumbai.
In the last 12 months Goodyear Dunlop UK has embarked on a multi-million pound TV advertising campaign, rejuvenated its Dunlop brand and made a number of key personnel changes. However, the most recent news is that Goodyear Dunlop is planning a “significant investment programme” for its Hi-Q retail network.
Goodyear Dunlop is planning a “significant investment programme” for its Hi-Q chain, managing director Dick Johnson has revealed. “The Hi-Q network is an asset and the majority of stores will remain under Goodyear Dunlop ownership. We are going to invest in people, training, marketing and systems and develop a new franchise programme that will complement our company owned stores to create a strong nationwide network,” he explained.
Dunlop Tyres has been highly commended by marketing magazine, winning recognition in two categories. In the 2005 awards Dunlop has been presented with the marketing design ‘Award’ in the Sport and Leisure category and was ‘Highly Commended’ for Advertising and Sponsorship.
Dunlop has launched a new website for motorcycle and car enthusiasts. Injection.tv aims to support Dunlop’s ‘Drivers Know’ brand strategy and offers features such as driving simulation, screensavers, driving tips, as well as the latest ‘must-have’ accessories.
Jose D’Alessandro, director motorcycle tyres for Dunlop Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “The new Injection.tv online concept has been launched with the objective of providing our key audience of motorcycle and car enthusiasts with both excitement and the possibility to chill out. A proposition thus far absent from the world of online motoring.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co is expanding the Dunlop brand Direzza tyre line by launching two new Direzza race tyres and new sizes of the Direzza DZ101.
Goodyear’s ultra-high performance Eagle F1 GS-D3 has been awarded first place in a test of 11 top competitors conducted by the editors of Car & Driver. The F1 was praised for its strong wet performance and for have dry handling characteristics comparable with the best dry performers. Continental’s ContiSportContact 2 took second place earning compliments for its “very good” performance in the wet. Yokohama’s Advan Neova AD07 took third place and was praised for its grip: “If you’re looking to cut the quickest lap times while using a street tyre, this is the one to have,” the magazine reported.
A Dallas man and his customised 1937 Ford pick-up truck has received the top Dunlop “Maxxed Out” Award at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. John Davis, Emmy Award–winning host, producer and creator of US TV programme, MotorWeek, presented the Dunlop awards. “We were looking for the ultimate in ‘maxxed out’ style and performance,” said Andy Traicoff, director of Dunlop consumer tyre marketing. “Through these awards, Dunlop celebrates the artistry and all-out performance created by the people who personalise their vehicles to reflect their personalities and attitudes.”
Two New York law firms have filed class-action lawsuits against Toyota Motor Corp and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co alleging the two companies sold “defective tyres” to certain buyers of Toyota Sienna minivans.
The suit filed on behalf of Stanley Monk and other buyers of the Sienna, claims “run-flat” tyres produced by Goodyear under the company’s Dunlop brand wear out after approximately 10,000 miles of use, said attorney Roger Bernstein. According to a Dow Jones report, he said the Dunlop tyres need to be replaced on a annual basis, which apparently means they are “defective.”
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