Escalating raw material costs have prompted Toyo Tire Europe to raise its tyre prices. As of May 1, prices for tyres in all product categories sold throughout Europe will increase by an average of five per cent. The company states that increases in individual sizes may vary by market, however.
Just a month after Halfords bought Nationwide Autocentres for £73.2 million, the new owners have reported that like-for-like sales have grown 5 per cent since the buyout. According to the company, the integration plan is “progressing well” and the programme of rebranding the centres under the Halfords moniker will be rolled out during 2011.
David Wild, chief executive officer, commented: “Halfords retail performance continues to be robust, with full year earnings now anticipated to grow by approximately 25 per cent. The acquisition of Nationwide Autocentres, completed during the quarter, logically extends our successful service proposition and provides a further opportunity for future growth.”
Avon is looking forward to another season of motorsport, opening on Easter weekend as the title sponsor of the British GT Championship. The brand is the title sponsor and sole tyre supplier of the prestigious Championship for the fifth consecutive season, with cars built by manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lotus and Porsche set to line up on the grid this year.
As of April 1, 2010, prices for aftermarket Continental industrial tyres will increase by up to eight per cent in Europe. The company says this measure has been taken in response to “extremely sharp rises” in the cost of raw materials, especially natural rubber, and pronounced increases in freight costs, dating back to the second half of 2009. The company comments it had previously managed to keep prices for industrial tyres in the aftermarket business stable since April 2009.
Bridgestone reports the reaching of a noteworthy milestone during the past year – the production of the 150 millionth Blizzak studless winter tyre. The brand was introduced in 1988 and the name is applied to passenger car, light commercial vehicle and 4×4 tyre ranges manufactured in Japan, Europe and Turkey. The range was introduced into North America in 1992 and Europe in 1994. The 100 millionth tyre was produced in 2004, and last year more than ten million Blizzaks were produced worldwide.
Hankook is the recipient of more tyre test kudos, this time from Europe’s largest specialist recreational vehicle magazine, Germany’s Promobil. The publication has released the results of its annual tyre test (Issue 4/2010), and has awarded first place to Hankook Radial RA14. The Promobil evaluation examined ten brand-name tyres currently available in the popular 235/65 R16C size, which is suitable for vehicles including the VW Crafter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (the second of these was used as the test vehicle during the comparative evaluation).
On May 1 the cost of Continental’s replacement market commercial vehicle tyres will increase by an average of 5.5 per cent in Europe. Upon making this announcement, Continental stated that by raising prices it is “thus reacting to the massive rise in raw material prices, above all for oil and natural rubber, since the second half of 2009.”
With a March 17 release date and £14.99 price tag (€22.90 in Ireland and on the Continent), Michelin’s Main Cities of Europe 2010 guide covers 44 cities across 20 European countries. This latest edition of the publication includes one newly-added city – Salzburg, Austria – and a total of 3,257 establishments, including 1,542 hotels and 1,715 restaurants. The UK is represented by coverage of London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with 357 restaurants in the four cities included.
Alcoa Auto Wheels has announced that the company is supplying forged aluminium wheel for the V12 Vantage – billed by Aston Martin as its most exhilarating sports car. "The forging technology behind these wheels enables significant weight savings directly benefiting handling performance, ride quality, acceleration and braking,” explained David Yates, marketing manager for Alcoa Europe, adding: “Our forging process results in a superior metal structure that also improves strength and durability, allowing finer wheel detailing and lighter weight.”
Erhart Maegerlein has been appointed as General Manager of B&J Rocket Sales AG based in Baar/Switzerland, effective March 1st. Maegerlein looks back on many years of trade experience; he successfully represented the company in Hong Kong for 28 years. As of now he will be strengthening the Switzerland based management in all concerns of the sales regions in Europe and Asia. In his new function Erhart Maegerlein reports directly to Andreas Müller, Managing Director of the B&J Rocket Group.
A new man is heading up Hankook Tire’s motorsport activities in Europe. Manfred Sandbichler, who has almost 20-years’ tyre industry experience under his belt and joined the company’s German division in 2003, was named manager of Motorsports on March 15.
Our neighbours on the Continent are prone to heed the advice of consumer tests than the average shopper in the UK, and tyre tests there are eagerly awaited and the recommendations often acted upon. Therefore a good result is essential for any manufacturer wishing for strong sales in Europe. Hankook reports that its Ventus S1 evo has performed well in the current summer tyre test published by the German automotive magazine Gute Fahrt (issue 03/2010). The VW and Audi focused magazine rated the Ventus S1 evo as one of only two tyres to be “Very Good”.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced today (12 March) that the government has agreed a €300 million (£270m) loan guarantee with GME Europe. Agreed under the government’s Automotive Assistance Programme, the British loan guarantee will be joined by extra support from GM in the US and other European government. According to the business secretary’s office, the guarantee is designed to help secure the company’s operations in Britain and the rest of Europe and follows “detailed and highly complex talks between the Government and GM.”
Dunlop has been announced as the sole tyre supplier to the new Ducati 848 race series. The leading tyre manufacturer agreed a deal with New Era Motorcycle Club and Ducati UK to ensure all bikes racing in the new championship are shod with Dunlop rubber. The Dunlop control tyre will be the Dunlop D211 GP Racer, which features NTEC and MultiTread Compounds, will harness the 134hp and 70.8lb-ft of torque generated by the Ducati 848s. As part of the deal, Dunlop is offering the winning rider from each round a pair of Dunlop tyres for their race bike. The Ducati 848 Challenge starts at Silverstone on 24 April.
The CRF Institute, an independent research organisation specialised in labour conditions, has certified the Brussels based Bridgestone Europe headquarters a “top employer” in its Top Employers Belgium 2010 ranking. According to CRF, Bridgestone’s most outstanding employer attributes are its internal promotion policy and the training it provides.
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