What would we do without the European Union? Not only has our politico-economic union overseen the removal of national borders and thus paved the way for uninterrupted long-distance continental motoring, the European Commission reports that the EU is working hard so that we “never waste another minute” looking for a parking space.
The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of the steel tyre cord business of the Italian company Pirelli by its Belgian-based rival NV Bekaert SA under the EU Merger Regulation. According to an official statement dated 31 July, the commission concluded that the acquisition “would not raise competition concerns as the merged entity’s customers, which are large, multinational tyre companies, have countervailing buyer power which is further strengthened by over-capacity in the steel tyre cord market.”
Freight forwarding company Maritime Cargo Services has recently been made an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) in the UK by the European Union. The AEO certificate is an internationally recognised quality mark indicating the security of a company’s role in the international supply chain, with “efficient and compliant” customs controls and procedures.
The European Commission says reports that UK motorists will be monitored by ‘black box’ technology are “not true”, however although draft legislation for the eCall system has been approved, the commission may find convincing motorists of its purpose harder than it thinks.
The IAAF is asking suppliers and motor factors to give their views and experiences on accessing vehicle assemblers’ parts data. Research group Ricardo has issued its questionnaire for parts suppliers and wholesalers, having been appointed by the European Commission to collect and assess market experience in obtaining repair & maintenance information data for repairing and servicing vehicles.
The European Commission says it will initiate a “legally binding solution” to improve relations between car dealers and manufacturers unless an acceptable industry code of good conduct can be agreed between the two parties.
The warning comes after what has been referred to as 18 months of reluctance and resistance from manufacturers and its European trade body ACEA in the face of consistent lobbying on the part of dealer representative bodies.
Pirelli & C. S.p.A states that it will appeal the European Commission’s decision regarding cable cartel activity. While the Commission does not directly name Pirelli as a participant in an alleged cartel in the underground and submarine power cable market, it deems the Italian company “jointly and severally liable” as Pirelli owned alleged cartel protagonist Prysmian Cables and Systems (formerly Pirelli’s Cables and Systems division) until 2005, and therefore “exercised a decisive influence” over the business for the first six years of the decade-long cartel. The European Commission has imposed a shared fine of €67.31 million on Pirelli and Prysmian.
Motor Wheel Service Distribution’s (MWSD) commercial vehicle wheel safety campaign has been successfully incorporated in the new European Union (EU) Roadworthiness Package, which will become law in May 2014. The new law, adopted by both the European Parliament and European Council, states: “compatibility between parts and components, such as between wheels and wheel hubs, should be treated as a critical safety item and should be checked during roadworthiness testing.”
Only days after five companies were fined a total of €953 million for participating in a cartel within the automotive bearing market, the European Commission has reported its concerns that a number of companies in the automotive exhaust systems segment may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels, restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant market position. On 25 March, officials from the European Commission undertook unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in this sector. The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.
Continental AG majority shareholder Schaeffler AG is one of five companies that have been handed substantial fines for operating a cartel in the automotive bearing market. The European Commission fined the companies a total of more than €953 million, with the largest single fine given to Schaeffler. The German manufacturer must pay €370.5 million, almost 40 per cent of the total penalty.
The European Commission has authorised €57.9 million of regional investment aid for Hankook Tire Hungary Manufacturing and Trading Ltd. This will be used to erect a second greenfield facility alongside Hankook’s plant in Rácalmás, which entered production in 2007. The new consumer tyre facility will produce ultra-high performance tyres, sealant and run-flat tyres, and these products will be sold globally.
Infinity has announced the addition of the Enviro – a new line designed especially for high-performance SUV applications. Enviro model tyres join the INF200 all-terrain in Infinity’s wider 4×4 range.
“It is extremely concerning that access to manufacturers technical information is still limited for independent garages” said Stuart James, Independent Garage Association (IGA) Director. A new study by BOVAG, The IGA’s European counterpart, has found that only six of 13 manufacturer websites examined in the study allowed the researchers to successfully establish a connection between the vehicle and the manufacturer’s website.
The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) have elected Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat S.p.A., as the association's President for 2013 – his second consecutive term heading the association.
On August 5 the European Commission gave its approval for Belgium-based chemical company Solvay’s acquisition of Rhodia. Following this approval, the French Financial Markets Authority AMF has set the closing date of the friendly public takeover bid as Wednesday 24 August 2011. Solvay is offering 31.60 euros per Rhodia share and 52.30 euros for Oceane convertible bonds. As all prerequisite authorisations for the offer have been obtained, execution of the offer is now solely subject to a minimum acceptance level of 50 per cent plus one share on a fully diluted basis.
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