Over the next three months, Czech Republic based agricultural, industrial and off-highway tyre manufacturer MITAS a.s. intends to change the corporate names of all its sales subsidiaries in order to bring their names in line with that of the company’s core tyre brand. The changes will be applied to all 13 of the company’s sales subsidiaries, the bulk of which are located in Europe.
In the July 2011 edition of ‘Truck’, Pirelli’s in-house magazine for the commercial vehicle sector, the Italian tyre maker comments that the winter of 2010-11 was one of the most severe in recent memory. The UK experienced snowfalls as early as November, it notes, causing such traffic disruptions that the Automobile Association describes the period as the most active in its 100-year history – the motoring association answered 200,000 calls for assistance on November 29 alone. In December the lowest temperatures since 1890 were reached.
On July 13 the General Court of the European Union reduced the fines imposed on a number of companies involved in a synthetic rubber price fixing cartel. The 13 companies participating in the butadiene rubber and emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (substances primarily used in tyre production) cartel between 1996 and 2002 were given fines totalling more than 519 million euros by the European Commission in November 2006. The companies appealed this decision; all, excepting Shell group companies, succeeded in gaining an annulment or reduction in their fines from Europe’s second highest court.
Now an integral part of the Kal Tire Mining Tyre Group, OTR is close to completing the systematic ‘rebranding’ of its corporate image to the new global Kal Tire corporate brand. As part of this, the traditional green/black/white OTR identity is in the process of being replaced by the orange/blue/white of Kal Tire, and all new company trucks now hit the road branded in the Kal Tire ‘all white’ livery.
Nexen has announced plans to introduce its new environmentally-friendly N’Blue ECO and HD tyre ranges into the European markets during the third quarter of 2011. According to the company, the name is comprised of `N`, for `Nexen` as well as the descriptive `Blue`, a colour symbolising refreshing coolness. `ECO` of course stands for `ecology` and `HD` for `handling`.
Following the demonstration its new tyre pressure monitoring system at the Vienna-based ‘e-Safety Challenge 2011’ event on May 31, Bridgestone Europe has announced plans to roll out its commercial vehicle system across Europe during the course of this year. The system is being rolled out as a tool within Bridgestone’s Total Fleet Management package.
Cooper has refused to comment on multiple Serbian news reports quoting Serbian finance secretary Miodrag Djidic as saying that Cooper Tire is interested in acquiring Trayal’s automobile tyre plant. When questioned on the subject, a Cooper Tire Europe spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that’ the company’s “corporate policy is not to comment on rumour or speculation.”
With a huge contingency of auto- and tyre manufacturers and a crowd estimated to be close to a quarter of a million, this year’s ADAC Nürburgring 24 hour race was won by Manthey-Racing – the works team’s fifth in the last six years – as Marc Lieb, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Lucas Luhr drove the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR to victory, completing a record 156 laps (3958.968km) of the Nordschleife. Tyre manufacturer and main sponsor of the event, Falken Tyre Europe – a company inaugurated in 2009 to distribute the Sumitomo-manufactured brand in the continent – also ran a highly competitive Porsche 911 GT3 R with its own team in the event, and while a change of engine and gearbox made for ultimate disappointment in terms of its finishing position, persistent top ten lap times meant the team occupied positions between 176 and 14 during the course of the 24 hours, eventually finishing 48th. Falken also supplied specially developed tyres to its eponymously named team.
The heads of the various national point S organisations throughout Europe regularly meet together to further define their progress as a group within the region. This week the point S managers met at Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan, Italy; amongst other items on the agenda was the annual point S Award – and this year the honours go the United Kingdom.
Campaign groups are warning that Government plans to allow longer lorries on UK roads could lead to more road deaths and put small hauliers out of business. But not everyone agrees. Campaign for Better Transport and Freight on Rail – backed by Campaign to Protect Rural England, CTC – the national cyclists' organisation, Friends of the Earth, Living Streets, RoadPeace and Sustrans – warn that contrary to Government claims, plans to increase lorry lengths could lead to six extra road deaths a year, result in more road congestion and lose small and medium sized hauliers up to £1.8 billion over five years. On the other side of the argument, the Freight Transport Association has called on the Government to take a level headed view on longer semi-trailers and asked it not be swayed by "emotive language and unsubstantiated claims" by stakeholders wanting to derail the proposals.
Renault Sport has chosen Bridgestone’s Potenza RE050A as original equipment for its 265hp Mégane R.S. Trophy, which was released onto the market on June 20. This limited edition of 500 cars is fitted with the Potenza in size 235/35R19; this choice of tyre will, Bridgestone comments, allow the Mégane R.S. Trophy “to reveal its sporty spirit, versatility and comfort.”
Voith Industrial Services has appointed Jack Callaghan in a bid to further expand the company’s business in wheel and tyre assembly operations throughout the UK and mainland Europe. Callaghan, who has more than 20 years’ experience in wheel and tyre operations in the automotive sector, has been appointed business development manager based at Voith Industrial Services’ UK headquarters in Warwick.
The Carlyle Group (an asset management firm) has confirmed that it has reached an agreement to acquire RAC Limited from Aviva plc for £1 billion. The deal is subject to regulatory approval, but is expected to complete by the end of the third quarter of 2011. Moving forward Carlyle’s strategic involvement appears to centre on the access to “additional capital for future investment” it can provide for expansion into other areas of motor service amongst other things. And the intention appears to be to expand “in the area of the motor services market.” Aviva bought RAC for £1.1 billion in 2005.
A legal enquiry has been commissioned into access to repair and maintenance information for independent repairers following a decision from the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, which is part of the European Commission. The RMI Independent Garage Association (IGA) along with CECRA, the European organisation which represents 260,000 independent repairers throughout the European Union, were invited, together with FIGEFA which represent the aftermarket through Europe, to give evidence before Gomez-Acebo a firm of lawyers who are conducting the legal enquiry.
Upon the retirement of Michelin North America chairman and president Richard “Dick” Wilkerson later this year, current president of Michelin’s Truck and Bus division, Pete Selleck, will step into the role of heading up the company’s North American operation. Wilkerson will become chairman emeritus of Michelin North America when he retires from his current role.
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