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Bridgestone Nominated Peugeot-Citroën Supplier of the Year

PSA Peugeot-Citroën has named Bridgestone Europe as its Supplier of the Year 2005 for quality. On 6 March 2006, BSEU Chairman, CEO and President Minekazu Fujimura accepted the award, based on the company’s achievement of a zero ppm fault rate and zero quality issues for year 2005, at a ceremony held in the automotive manufacturer’s Poissy (France) facilities.

The event, attended by Jean-Martin Folz, Chairman of the PSA Peugeot-Citroën Managing Board, and his fellow board members, was introduced by Jean-Philippe Collin, General Purchasing Director.

14th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

More Women Choosing Cars Over Kids

A generation of women are choosing cars before kids as material possessions overwhelm maternal instincts. Sales of cars to women are booming with the biggest increase reported among those aged 29 to 44 with disposable income – and without children. According to evecars.com, the British car trade will see almost 5 million car purchases by women this year – half the UK’s forecast total sales. The RAC Foundation has stated that women buy almost 50 per cent of new or used cars, but have a deciding influence on 80 per cent of purchases.

13th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Euro Assist Makes 2 Hour Response Pledge

The Michelin Euro Assist service has enhanced its offer to commercial vehicle operators with a pledge to either get to the scene of the tyre-related breakdown in Europe in less than two hours, or reimburse the 70 euro service charge. This applies even if the repair technician arrives just one minute late.

Michelin Euro Assist handles nearly 20,000 tyre-related commercial vehicle breakdowns a year across Europe. The support of its 3,200 tyre-repair specialists means the average vehicle off-road time was just two hours and six minutes in 2005. A satisfaction survey conducted last year also revealed that 90 per cent of Michelin Euro Assist customers would recommend the service to other haulage companies.

8th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Fire at Cooper’s Melksham Plant

Cooper Tire & Rubber Europe suffered a minor fire over the weekend of 4 and 5 March. Five firefighters were taken to hospital as a precaution after the fire at the company’s Melksham production facility. Cooper’s Sarah McRoberts told Tyres & Accessories that the fire was successfully contained by the factory’s sprinkler system. Despite more than 35 firefighters attending there were no serious injuries and business is reported to have been unaffected. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

8th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Supports Motorsport Engineers of the Future

Dunlop is working with young engineers to bring Formula racing car BMM02 into reality. The team consists of 20 postgraduate Automotive and Motorsport engineers from Brunel University West London, with the common goal of designing and manufacturing a formula-style racing car for the Formula Student Competition 2006.

8th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Dana Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

(Akron/Tire Review) Dana Corp and 40 of its subsidiary companies in the US filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 3 March. The move, long expected by auto industry analysts, does not include Dana’s operations in Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico or Asia.

While under reorganisation, Dana secured $1.45 billion in debtor-in-possession financing to fund its continuing operations. The Toledo, Ohio-based firm employs 19,000 in the US and supplies axles, drive shafts, chassis and steering components, brakes and other components to a wide range of automakers, including troubled GM and Ford.

7th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Rösler Group to Become More International

The German Rösler group is aiming to further expand its international operations. The appointment of Klaus Mühlbäck (33) will see the Kraiburg veteran take responsibility for the internationalisation of the company’s business. In his new position he will promoting the Schelkmann brand that is owned by the German group. Currently the Rösler group only has three licensees in Europe for this OTR pre-cure retreading system, one of which is based in the UK. The company’s intention is to expand the number of licensees globally. Before he took on his new position Mühlbäck (33) spent 10 years working for Kraiburg Austria.

6th March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to Raise Europe Tyre Prices

(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG plans to increase tyre prices in Europe by 3 per cent to 6 per cent this spring, although an exact effective date has not been revealed. Continental chief executive Manfred Wennemer told media sources of the price increase plan during the Geneva auto show. Wennemer told AFX that Continental’s troubled US tyre operations could break even in 2006, but that it will depend largely on the outcome of its restructuring plans for its Charlotte, North Carolina plant.

2nd March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Mythos Performs Well in 24 Hour Charity Race

Mythos, the new Ultra High Performance tread pattern from Marangoni, has once again proved its performance attributes in a recent 24hr charity race for Telethon in Adria, Italy, with a wealth of high profile celebrity drivers. Mounted on all 26 participating race cars, Mythos performed at a consistently high level, confirming its outstanding sports performance and reliability under the most demanding conditions.

1st March 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Produces 4 millionth RunOnFlat Tyre in Europe

This week marks the production of the 4 millionth RunOnFlat tyre produced by the Goodyear Dunlop group in Europe. Goodyear RunOnFlat tyres are built at the company’s plant in Fulda, Germany, while Dunlop RunOnFlats are built in Hanau and Furstenwalde, Germany.

28th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Sales Up Slightly in 2005

(Akron/Tire Review) Titan International Inc. saw its total sales drop in 2005 from $510.6 million to $470.1 million, but net profits fell only mildly – from $11.1 million in 2004 to $11 million last year. The company’s net sales in 2004, though, included sales of $49.4 million recorded by Titan Europe, which Titan said was sold in April 2004. Excluding the impact of Titan Europe, Titan saw its 2005 sales up 2 per cent versus 2004.

27th February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Offers Dealer Support Package

With the Marangoni/Group Tyre (UK) Ltd marketing partnership now firmly in place, details of a new retailer support package have been revealed. Building on the ‘Intelligent’ theme of the 2006 Marangoni/Group Tyre marketing campaign, key dealers will be known as ‘Intelligence Centres’ and strongly branded with prominent exterior signage and themed point-of-sale material.

23rd February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Punto Tops Western Sales Chart

For the first time in almost 10 years, Fiat’s Putno has topped the b-segment sales charts in western Europe and been named the most sold car in Western Europe. In January 2006 Fiat sold 37,977 Puntos ahead of Renault’s Clio (36,016) and Ford’s Fiesta 31,470. In the same month, Fiat Auto recorded over 100,000 vehicle sales in Europe, which represents a 17.9 per cent growth over January 2005. Fiat Auto’s European market share stands at 8.4 per cent, which represents a 1.1 per cent increase over the same month a year ago.

22nd February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Heffernan’s – First on the MAP in Ireland

It was back in January 2005 that Michelin launched its Michelin Accreditation Programme (MAP), aimed at recognising excellence in independent tyre dealers and raising standards of professionalism and customer services to the highest possible level. Then in February, MAP crossed the Irish Sea when Heffernan’s Tyres of Kildare became the first Michelin Accredited Centre (MAC) in the Irish Republic. Heffernan’s is a family-run business, founded in 1952 by Joe Heffernan and now run by Thomas Heffernan and his wife Linda.

The road to MAP accreditation is not an easy one – initially the Michelin Account Manager conducts a Gap Analysis, which essentially outlines the gap between the way the centre operates now and the standards required to become a MAC. When the centre believes that it has reached the required standards, a mystery shopper puts it to the test and, if this proves satisfactory, a full audit is carried out. Success in this leads to accreditation, but the story does not end there, as further mystery shops are carried out and, a year after accreditation, another full audit is conducted.

21st February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Good Start to Year for European Vehicle Manufacturers

Figures for European vehicle production rose 8.6 per cent in January. Western Europe posted growth of 1.9 per cent, but production in Central Europe rose by a remarkable 42.4 per cent. There were contrasting performances during the month, with Fiat production up 31 per cent (from a low base) due mainly to the launch of the new Punto. VW production rose 8.6 per cent on the back of Audi, Passat and Golf Plus models. Mercedes output was flat, but Smart production fell 34 per cent. PSA production rose nearly five per cent, but Renault fell 6.4 per cent, despite strong sales of the new Clio.

21st February 2006/by Tyrepress Editors