Less than ten months after entering commercial production Apollo Tyres’ Chennai facility has produced its millionth passenger car tyre. The milestone tyre, an Acelere in size 185/65 R14, rolled off the production line on the evening of January 17 – one of some 7,000 PCR tyres and 1,300 TBR tyres manufactured that day.
Registrations of new passenger cars throughout the EU27 region of Western and Eastern Europe decreased 5.5 per cent year-on-year during 2010, with a total of 13,360,599 new units registered throughout the year. In releasing the year’s registration statistics, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association commented the depressed 2010 results were “marked by the ending of government fleet renewal schemes in many EU countries.” Registrations in December amounted to 1,009,638 units, 3.2 per cent less than a year earlier.
Specialty chemicals group Lanxess says it intends to intensify communication with political and social leaders on a global level. As a first step towards accomplishing this, the company is expanding its presence in Berlin with the move to a new liaison office in the German capital. This office will open on January 20, prior to the “Lanxess Kick-Off Berlin 2011” event. Lanxess also intends to open an office in Brussels some time in the spring.
Bridgestone has received the 2010 ‘Euskal Makila’ award from the government of Spain’s Basque Autonomous Community in recognition of the company’s long-term contribution to the region’s economy. The award was presented to Bridgestone Spain chief financial officer Joseba Luzarraga by Carlos Aguirre, minister of Economy and Finance for the Basque government, in the presence of Kepa Hernández, manager of Bridgestone’s Bilbao plant and Jesús Blanco, the company’s director of Human Resources, at a gala ceremony in Bilbao.
From 1st January 2011, the Department for Transport introduced individual grants of £5,000 to purchase electric vehicles (EVs). This is part of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles' £400 million fund to reduce emissions from road transport.
Mark Emkes, who in February retired as president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas, has taken on a role with the Tennessee state government. Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Haslam has appointed Emkes to the role of commissioner of finance and administration. In this position Emkes will play a key role in shaping a US$1 billion reduction in state spending when federal stimulus money runs out next year.
While we appreciate tyres getting a mention in the House of Commons yesterday, it is regrettable that our Secretary of State for Transport hadn’t studied up on the subject beforehand. During a speech intended to reassure that last winter’s ‘big freeze’ mayhem would not be repeated this year, no less a person than the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP questioned their suitability for the UK and told parliament that “winter tyres wear out very quickly on normal road surfaces” – a feature that would be a major disadvantage for the cold weather product, were it true.
Every year China’s Shandong Province honours foreigners that add to the region’s social, economic and educational progress with its ‘Qilu Friendship Award’. This year the Shandong Province government has presented the Qilu Friendship Award to 18 foreign professionals and experts in recognition of their contribution. Included within this exclusive group is Pirelli Asia Pacific CEO Giuseppe Cattaneo.
Following a good number of years managing the tyre maker’s in-house vehicle fleet, Michelin’s John Stack recently took the decision to retire. Rather than appointing someone else to take over the role, Michelin chose the outsourcing path and launched a competitive tender process to find a new service provider. This tender was won by Fleet Support Group (FSG), and the Wiltshire based company has now taken over management of Michelin’s 340-strong fleet and begun providing a range of vehicle related services including its occupational road risk management system.
This season’s talking point is shaping up to be winter tyres and what pros and cons are attached to them. In order to provide its customers with some clarity on the issue, Mycompanyfleet, the automotive software division of human resources services provider NorthgateArinso, has outlined the means by which fleet operators can effectively evaluate their need for winter tyres.
The UK's automotive components industry is at a critical "tipping point" and could vanish by the middle of the decade without urgent action, members of the Welsh Automotive Forum were warned. It wouldn't run down gradually but, like a ship sinking, would suddenly vanish, said Prof. Garel Rhys, chairman of WAF. "In 2008 the automotive manufacturing sector employed more than 163,000 people but two years later it was down to 116,000 – that's a 28 per cent cut and an absolute blood letting," he said speaking at WAF's winter networking dinner.
Australian tyre life-cycle management specialist, Brad Bearman of Bear’s Tyres has suggested that his Bear’s Tyre Tracker product could help fleets in the country reduce fuel wastage. “It is an unfortunate fact that the neglect of tyre maintenance is directly attributable to unnecessary fuel wastage, particularly for long haul carriers that spend most of their time of the road," said Bearman.
A further retreader has joined Marangoni Tread North America’s Ringtread dealer network. Arizona based Coyote Tire Retreading, an established firm that services commercial, government and private fleets throughout its home state, has thus added the Italian manufacturer’s splice-less retreading system to its operation. “The Ringtread system will be a top consideration for schools, OTR fleets, and other applications that want superior mileage, improved fuel economy and the reliability that is built into this product” said Coyote Tire Retreading owner Don Woodmansee. “Additionally, the level of support from MTNA is unmatched by any of our previous suppliers.”
Upon announcing Apollo Tyres Ltd’s results for the second quarter and first half of the current Indian financial year, company chairman Onkar S Kanwar commented “it’s been a very difficult six months managing the unprecedented rise in natural rubber prices.” This is perhaps an understatement; Kanwar noted the company’s natural rubber costs have risen 70 per cent in the last year and 150 per cent in the space of two years – a significant amount, considering the commodity accounts for 60 per cent of Apollo’s raw material costs. “This has affected all aspects of our operation.” Kanwar added. “I do hope the Government will look at some measure to check speculation, as well as bring down the unreal duty structure we have.”
Tire Review reports that specialty chemicals firm Lanxess predicts an increase in demand for synthetic rubber in India, a country the company said has a long history in the production and consumption of natural rubber. “Driven by the needs of rapid modernisation, India is currently undergoing a shift toward replacing natural with synthetic rubber in a variety of applications,” the company said.
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