The Western European car market grew 8 per cent in August despite being down 1 per cent year-to-date. This marks a significant improvement on July which was down 1.5 per cent. According to research produced by Deutsche Bank, August is usually the lowest month of the year with around 750,000 units sold.
If you’re planning a late summer driving trip to France, and your driving companion’s name starts with the ninth letter of the alphabet, then Michelin has perhaps just what you need. Following the success of the ViaMichelin Traffic application for iPad, the company has launched the first iPad map of France. The 2011 Michelin France map is available for download from the iTunes App Store.
Hankook has announced plans to add sponsorship deals with football teams in the UK, France and Sweden to its 2011/2012 marketing strategy. Amongst other things, Hankook will now embark on an advertising campaign utilising hoardings at football stadiums belonging to teams such as Sunderland. This means the tyre firm will be present in the German Bundesliga, the English Premier League, Ligue 1 in France, Serie A in Italy, Primera Division in Spain as well as the Russian Premjer-Liga altogether.
The German trailer industry is undergoing a very rapid revival in its fortunes, according to consulting group Clear. Output of trailers has been boosted by three key demand growth factors, says the firm’s latest report on the subject.
Firstly, the German market itself has recovered from the nadir of 2009 in splendid style: sales of trailers will exceed the combined demand of France, the UK and Italy in 2011 as it did in 2010. Secondly, exports of trailers from Germany increased by 90 per cent in 2010 as markets in both East and West Europe, with a very few exceptions, started to recover. Thirdly, stocks of finished trailers which had accumulated as the recession bit, had been large cleaned out, leaving the industry in a very lean condition. This meant that all new orders went straight into increased production.
As of July 2011, Conti360° Fleet Services has extended its European coverage into Austria. This is the first addition to the German tyre maker’s service portfolio following its launch in eight core European markets – Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain and the Czech Republic – and Continental now has plans to further expand the network into other regions.
Coatings specialist Zircotec supported 10 teams at Formula Student 2011, which was held at Silverstone last weekend. The firm’s ceramic coatings were used by a number of the participants including University of Hertfordshire, Coventry University and Cambridge, the latter adopting Zircotec’s patented carbon composite coating to protect a composite bulkhead. “Zircotec believes that Formula Student is an extremely worthwhile activity, helping participants to understand and implement the technologies of today’s contemporary race cars,” says Zircotec’s managing director Terry Graham.
Pirelli may be top tyre dog in Formula One these days, but Bridgestone’s 14 years as supplier to the championship have not been forgotten. Those wishing to recall the Japanese manufacturer’s Formula One glory days may well be interested in entering into Bridgestone Europe’s F1 Heritage Contest – a celebration of 14 years, 11 Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships, 175 race victories, 168 poles and 170 fastest laps.
On July 12 Compagnie Financière Michelin, a fully-owned Michelin subsidiary, signed a new credit facility to be used for general corporate purposes. This 1.5 billion euro multi-currency revolving credit facility, signed with a group of 21 banks, is intended to replace Michelin’s 2005-2012 1.5 billion euro syndicated line. Michelin states the new facility is “in line with the Group’s debt refinancing strategy.”
A Bridgestone survey derived from 38,000 tyre safety checks carried out by Bridgestone in nine European countries suggests that 71 per cent of motorists are driving on under-inflated tyres. Almost 12 per cent are also worn down below the EU legal minimum of 1.6 mm tread depth. “These figures are particularly alarming at this time of year,” says Des Collins, vice president European Communications Office, Bridgestone Europe, “as families set off on long journeys with heavily-loaded cars. It is important for the safety of motorists that they check their tyres before leaving.”
With temperatures ranging between 39 and 47’C during the week of this year’s Automechanika Middle East, Dubai might seem like a bizarre place to talk about winter tyres, but that’s the position Tyres & Accessories found itself in during a conversation with Deldo Autobanden NV’s international sales and marketing manager, Rutger Veerman. In addition there was also news of a new Deldo private brand tyre.
But first the winter tyres. According to Veerman, 2011 is the first year the well-known Belgian tyre wholesaler has pre-sold winter tyres to distributors in the UK. Sales of the ironically cold weather products are also said to be booming in general with many companies across Europe failing to get enough stock during the last winter season.
Didier Miraton, at 53 years of age nearing the pinnacle of his strength and ability, is leaving the Michelin Group after 29 years. Miraton is taking his golden handshake and leaving quietly. The Michelin Group is also doing what it does so well in cases like this: Keeping quiet. Yet it is becoming increasingly clear that the departure of top-notch manager Miraton – who hoped to step into the leading position within the company following the retirement of Michel Rollier – is linked to a change in direction at Michelin. Managing general partner Rollier, a man known for his financial expertise, shared his power with both managing partners, Jean-Dominique Senard and Didier Marathon; it has been decided that when Rollier leaves Senard alone will take on leadership of the eleven-member Executive Board. It is likely that Miraton considered this measure an affront.
South Lanarkshire’s Whitelaws Coaches has reported that a set of Michelin XDN 2 Grip drive axle tyres have reached their 300,000th kilometre and fifth anniversary. The XDN 2 Grip tyres were fitted as original equipment to a 49-seat Sunsundegui Sideral in 2006 and are still going strong today, with 10mm of tread remaining. Michelin says the set will cover a further 100,000km before needing to be regrooved. Whitelaws director George Whitelaw has now fitted the drive axle tyre across his 42-strong fleet in place of the former Michelin XDA 4 fitment, saying: “We are amazed by the performance of the XDN2 Grip tyres. This set could well be seven years old before they need replacing. When a vehicle is doing long-distance, trans-European journeys, it’s quite remarkable for a tyre to last this long before even needing to be regrooved.”
More than 2,300 visitors recently attended an open day at Bridgestone’s factory in Béthune, France, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the plant’s opening. The event on June 11 included guided tours of the factory, an exhibition on the plant’s history and an official ceremony overseen by Bruno Capron, managing director, Bridgestone France Manufacturing. Also representing Bridgestone at the half-century commemoration were Ryutaro Ishii, senior vice-president Manufacturing and Yoshihiko Fujimoto, vice-president HR Europe & Corporate Affairs.
Lanxess has expressed its pride in receiving one of the inaugural Michelin Supplier Awards. The German specialty chemicals company was one of a number of key suppliers acknowledged by Michelin at an awards ceremony held in France on June 15, and upon receiving the company’s award Dr. Joachim Grub, head of Lanxess’ Performance Butadiene Rubbers business unit stated “we consider it a great honour to be one of the winners of the first Michelin Supplier Award.
Bridgestone will take its medium and hard front and asymmetric rear slick compounds to the Circuit de Catalunya for the 5 June running of the Catalan Grand Prix, MotoGP’s fifth round of the 2011 season. The tyre manufacturer anticipates one of the toughest races of the year for its rear tyres because of the very high tyre temperature generated by the predominantly right-handed layout of the circuit; it has eight right-handers, most of which are fast and flowing. It is specifically turn three and the last three corners that generate the high rear tyre temperature as they are fast and long and the tyres spend a lot of time leant over on their right side. Turn three is also uphill so riders open the throttle earlier to maximise drive on the incline.
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