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.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co reported net income of $142 million, the company’s best quarterly result since the third quarter of 1998 and up substantially from its 2004 third quarter profit of $38 million. The profit came against record quarterly net sales and strong results from its tyre operations, Goodyear said. Goodyear recorded sales of $5 billion for the quarter, up 7 per cent from $4.7 billion during the same period last year. 2004 period. Third quarter tyre unit volume increased to 58.4 million units, up 1.8 per cent from last year.
Dunlop’s treadheads are to return to the SEMA show, with 200 buzz cuts expected to take place at the event. The manufacturer reports that Chicago barber, Nate “Scissorhands” Hoops, is sharpening his haircutting tools, and Dunlop Direzza DZ101 tread designs are dancing in the heads of the throngs visiting the automotive aftermarket show. Hoops is expected to reach a clipping rate of 50 heads-per-day clip.
Andy Traicoff, director of Dunlop marketing in North America, said: “Dunlop’s booth is all about performance – from sleek treadheads to sideways drifting cars to the annual ‘Maxxed Out’ Awards. There also will be plenty of surprises. Because the SEMA Show emphasises tuner-style automotive accessories, the venue is a perfect fit for Dunlop.”
North American tyre marketers have taken the comical approach to promoting winter tyre use. A recent press release published from Goodyear’s Akron, Ohio HQ asks: “Waiting for Groundhog Day before deciding on winter tyres for the family vehicle?” Instead Dunlop representatives urge drives not to wait until the
”furry prognosticators make their predictions.”
Cheshire-based Tyreguard systems will soon be selling its tyre sealent products on the other side of the Atlantic after striking a deal with Harvey Westbury Corporation. The agreement will see Harvey Westbury exclusively distribute Tyreguard’s new tyre safety system to the Marine, RV and Industrial sectors in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Under terms of the agreement Harvey Westbury will also be able to market Tyreguard to the automotive industry.
Dunlop Tyres, Zimbabwe’s only tyre manufacturing firm could soon reopen following the intervention of Industry and International Trade Minister, Obert Mpofu. Dunlop shut down three weeks ago, sending 820 workers home after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) failed to pay the firm its foreign currency allocations under an exclusive agreement. The government is now expected to pump up to US$350,000 into Dunlop towards imports for raw materials. “It is envisaged that Dunlop will have a three-day working week until foreign currency inflows normalise,” newzimbabwe.com reported.
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