Infinity Tyres Europe has announced a new distribution partnership covering Greece and several other southern European markets with the Athens-based Saracakis Group. The deal covers PCR, TBR, OTR and agricultural product lines. Saracakis has almost 100 years’ experience in the automotive business and today supports long-standing distribution agreements with Honda, Mitsubishi, Volvo and Komatsu amongst many other world-class brands.
At Continental’s annual press conference on 7 March, CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart described the company’s 2012 performance as “the best results in Continental’s 124 year history.” He reiterated that last year’s annual profit of almost 1.9 billion euros equals 9.24 euros a share, compared with 6.21 euros in 2011. Therefore, Dr. Degenhart shared, Continental’s management intends to propose to the company’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on 15 May that a dividend of 2.25 euros per share be paid out for fiscal 2012. “As in the previous year, out intention here is for our shareholders to participate directly in the company’s success,” he added. “In addition to the dividend, our shareholders also benefit from the extremely positive share price performance – with an increase of 82 per cent in fiscal 2012 alone. As such, our shares displayed the highest price increase of any of the DAX companies. It is fair to say that an investment in Continental shares paid off handsomely in 2012.”
The Geneva Motor Show has served as a backdrop for the official European debut of Bridgestone’s Potenza Adrenalin RE002. The premium sport tyre was first introduced last year, and Bridgestone says the aftermarket-only tyre was launched across Europe in February. The range focuses on 15 to 18-inch rim diameters and 60 to 40 series; the manufacturer describes the Potenza Adrenalin RE002 as an “urban sporty, offering car enthusiasts a daily driving sensation with sharp steering response and exhilarating sporty handling.”
Michelin reports its Pilot Sport Cup 2 will premiere on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Black Series. All versions of this particular car will be fitted with the new tyre, which Michelin says was developed together with Mercedes-AMG.
Franchised vehicle dealers believe there has been an overall improvement in the day to day relationship with their manufacturer. Sales incentive programmes and improved profitability boosted partnerships, according to the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) Dealer Attitude Survey Winter 2012/2013 results.
On 1 March, Titan International announced its intention to offer through a private placement, subject to market and other conditions, US$275 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.875 per cent Senior Secured Notes due 2017. The tyre maker says it intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the existing indebtedness of certain of its indirect subsidiaries under the European credit facilities assumed as part of its acquisition of Titan Europe Plc in the fourth quarter of 2012. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include financing potential future acquisitions and the repayment of other existing obligations.
Demand for new heavy trucks (over 16 tonnes, excluding buses and coaches) declined the most sharply across segments in January (-18.4 per cent), totalling 15,510 vehicles. All major markets contracted, from -9.3 per cent in Italy to -11.1 per cent in Spain, -15.4 per cent in France and -22.0 per cent in Germany and the UK.
The HGV Road User Levy Act became law today (28 February) paving the way for a fairer deal for UK hauliers. Most EU states already charge lorries for using their roads which means that British vehicles have to pay to drive in Europe, while foreign lorries can drive in the UK without paying for the wear and tear they cause on the roads.
Micheldever Tyres Service’s latest quarterly tread depth analysis shows that between March 2012 and March 2013 between 50 and 60 per cent of tyres taken off in depots were already below the 1.6 millimetre legal limit. A further 40 per cent were on or just above it and only around three per cent were above 2 millimetres. Flicking back to when the research began in June 2008 it is clear to see that that the situation has deteriorated markedly over the last four or five years. Back then only around 15 per cent of tyres brought into depots were already illegal. Now it is more than triple that.
Firestone has announced details of its first tyre for the agricultural sprayer market, the Performer Row Crop. Displayed for the first time at SIMA 2013 in size 270/95R48, Firestone will expand the Performer Row Crop tyre size line up to include 85, 90 and 95 series in the near future. “Firestone concentrates on solutions that give farmers a more efficient and sustainable way of working, through savings in fuel consumption and working time” says Harald Van Ooteghem, senior manager marketing planning, Bridgestone Europe.
Maurice Taylor may not be cut out for a high level diplomatic posting, but the man certainly knows how to run a profitable company. In the 2012 financial year Titan International increased its sales 22.4 per cent US$1,820.7 million – a record for the company. Gross profit for the year grew 26.7 per cent $294.1 million, or 16.2 per cent of net sales, as compared to $232.1 million, or 15.6 per cent of net sales in 2011. Income from operations in the current year was $174.7 million, compared to $132.2 million in 2011, an increase of 32.2 percent, while net income for year-end 2012 was $95.6 million, compared to $58.2 million in 2011, an increase of 64.3 per cent.
Proxes R35A have been chosen by Toyota for original equipment fitment on the new Prius+. The first full hybrid seven-seater in Europe has been equipped with Toyo 215/50 R17 91V Proxes R35A from launch.
Toyo Proxes R35A tyres reportedly help the Prius+ to offer the lowest emissions of any seven-seater on the market.
Organisers of the Michelin Clio Cup Series with Protyre, the newly established saloon car category that is intended to provide a highly cost-effective first step into competitive car racing in the UK, are pleased to reveal the latest technical details and pricing for the road-to-race conversion kit.
Germany’s largest officially recognised inspection organisation the Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung (GTÜ) and Autoclub Europa (ACE) have conducted extensive summer tyre testing, giving the Dunlop BluResponse its highest recommendation, with the Vredestein Sportrac 5 in second place. One tyre receiving a “recommended” rating at a lower price point was the Falken ZIEX ZE914 Ecorun. The summer tyre received the rating by achieving an above-average environmental score at a low price to performance ratio.
GT Radial has announced that it will debut its first all position urban city-bus tyre at its CV Show stand (A60) in Hall Five on 9-11 April at the Birmingham NEC. The GAU861 has a reinforced sidewall to improve curbing and impact damage resistance, the manufacturer says, while the new tyre will start with a 20.2mm tread depth. As well as promoting the new product, GT Radial says it will be presenting its commercial vehicle roadside service assistance programme, GT Assist, launched in December 2012.
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