Slovakia’s number one tyremaker has held their “Matador Winter Grip” event for a second year, this time at Tále in the Low Tatra Mountains. Testing on what has been called difficult and snowy terrain in weather not conducive to the event, participants were able to experience driving the company’s tyres on a range of vehicles, including models from Mercedes, Skoda, Seat, Jeep, KIA and Honda.
Matador has released its third generation passenger car winter tyres, the MP59 Nordicca. Designed with an asymmetric tread pattern the company claims to be the optimal shape for meeting the demands of a UHP winter tyre, the MP59 Nordicca has been built with European conditions in mind.
(Akron/Tire Review) The Marangoni Ringnet network is steadily expanding throughout the U.K., Iberian peninsula, Germany, Scandinavia, Benelux and central and eastern Europe, according to Marangoni Retreading Systems. Ringnet is Marangoni’s European network of retreaders and dealers of Marangoni Ringtreads. The network was officially launched in Italy at the Autopromotec exhibition in May 2005.
Bridgestone Corporation expects its profits to increase by almost six per cent this year due to improving sales in the U.S. and Europe. In a media statement, Bridgestone said that it projects net income to increase to 90 billion yen (£384 million) as sales rise 3 per cent, to 3.08 trillion yen (£13.2 billion). Net income in 2006 fell 53% to 85.1 billion yen (£364 million) on sales of 2.99 trillion yen (£12.8 billion), compared to a net income of 180.7 billion yen (£772 million) a year earlier.
The already-close relationship between KYB and Toyota has been further strengthened with the news that KYB is to supply front and rear shock absorbers for the new Auris. This new hatchback is larger than the Corolla, which it replaces, and was designed at Toyota’s European Design Development centre and is one of the first new generation Toyotas to be manufactured in Europe.
Kumho Tires has announced that it has been selected by DaimlerChrysler AG to supply tyres for the second generation of the Mercedes Benz A-Class model. Kumho will supply its Solus KH15 in size 185/65R15 for the new hatchback which is manufactured at DaimlerChrysler’s Rastatt plant in South West Germany.
Hankook Tire Co has stated it is aiming to boost its operating profit margin to 9.4 per cent this year, up from last year’s 8.4 per cent, despite intense competition within the industry. In a company memo, Hankook CEO Cho Choong-Hwan said that although the company had been through a time of oversupply and rising raw material costs, “there are huge opportunities, however, for well positioned and competitive tyre manufacturers as natural rubber prices are stabilising, and consumption in Europe is beginning to recover.”
As part of the strategic and operational action program Trelleborg announced at their Capital Markets Day in November 2006, the company plans to initiate consultations with their Employee Consultative Committee regarding the closure and transfer of Trelleborg’s operations from West Thurrock, in the UK.
Cooper Tires has confirmed that its UK factory in Melksham, Wiltshire, will be the home for a new European Technical Centre (ETC) that will be the hub of the company’s European activities.
The ETC will be responsible for all elements of the design and development of products manufactured at Melksham, primarily high-performance passenger vehicle tyres in both Cooper and Avon brands.
The historic city of Cologne was the venue Bridgestone decided upon for the official release of the two newest additions to its two-wheel range. And these two tyres highlight just how diversified the motorcycle tyre sector has become.
US based RubberNetwork, a consortium of the companies participating in the global tyre and rubber industry, and Brazil based Webb Negocios, a company specialising in consulting, ebusiness and outsourcing Company, announce the formation of a jointly owned enterprise, RubberNetwork-Webb. The newly constituted company builds on a five-year commercial relationship between RubberNetwork and Webb and draws on the strengths of both companies. The venture will offer a range of Supply Chain services aimed at reducing costs and improving efficiency to companies in the community of the tyre and rubber industry.
Following news that it is raising the price of replacement truck and bus tyre prices in Europe, Michelin has announced its intention to raise the price of winter tyres for cars and trucks in Japan as of April 2, in response to company concerns over material costs.
Bridgestone has unveiled its first 4×4 run-flat for luxury sport activity vehicles (SAV). The company claims that their latest run-flat offering, the Dueler H/P Sport RFT, offers the same wet and dry handling, steering precision and comfort as the non-flat version launched at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.
On January 26 Michelin renewed a long-term global contract with the Volvo Group. The initial contract was signed in December 2003, and under the terms of the new contract Michelin will offer truck tyres as OE for vehicles assembled by Volvo in Europe, North America and South America under the brand names Volvo Trucks, Volvo Buses, Renault Trucks and Mack Trucks.
The inclement mid-January weather was just a coincidence, but Avon clearly wanted to attract attention at last month’s Trade Expo when it exhibited the Storm-ST, the successor to the acclaimed Azaro-ST. In fact it was pretty much the only thing on the spacious stand as the company wanted to focus attention squarely on its new flagship Sport Touring offering. Avon’s decision to promote the Storm-ST at Expo runs in parallel to the launch of the Viper Xtreme trackday tyre and follows a 12 per cent increase in Avon motorcycle tyre sales in 2006.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
