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Commercial production underway at Ceat’s Halol factory

On March 25 Ceat Ltd informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that the commercial production of passenger car and truck radial tyres had begun that day at its new Halol factory in India’s Gujarat state. The plant, whose foundation stone was laid in January 2009, has been erected with an Rs 5 billion (£68 million) investment and is designed to have an annual output of 4 million tyres in its first phase of operation. Capacity should be increased to 12 million units over the coming decade through a second phase expansion project, which will be made with a further Rs 2 billion investment. Between 25 and 40 per cent of the plant’s output is slated for export, the company said in 2009.

28th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone a GM ‘Supplier of the Year’

Every year for the almost two decades General Motors has acknowledged its best global automotive suppliers at its Supplier of the Year awards. These awards recognise superior performance in four key areas, namely innovative quality, superior quality, outstanding launch support and competitive total enterprise cost. On twelve prior occasions Bridgestone Corporation has been bestowed an award, and at the 19th annual awards ceremony on March 10 thirteen proved to be a lucky number for the tyre maker – Takashi Urano, vice president and senior officer of Bridgestone Corporation, accepted the tyre maker’s thirteenth award on behalf of the company.

24th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Customer feedback is vital, says Hercules Tire International

Hercules boasts a long history in the tyre wholesaling business. First established in the 1950s, today the company sells tyres to more than a hundred countries through its Hercules Tire International division and offers its customers a well-established exclusive private brand. The firm is also active in North America through its own distribution companies there. Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with Rick Dorscht, managing director of Hercules Tire International’s European division, who shared the Hercules approach to long-term strength in the global wholesaling business.

23rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Asia Pacific management changes at Goodyear

Goodyear has announced a number of key personnel changes in the Asia Pacific region. On March 1, Mike Martens took charge of the tyre maker’s Melbourne-based Australia and New Zealand business, replacing Judith Swales, who, according to Goodyear’s Asia Pacific president Pierre Cohade, has “decided to leave Goodyear to pursue her interest of holding non executive board positions in Australia.” The 25-year Goodyear veteran will continue his role as vice president of Asia Pacific OTR.

23rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

BKT aiming for segment leadership

It’s now more than fifteen years since Balkrishna Industries Ltd., or BKT, wound up its two-wheeler, car and truck tyre business in favour of a focus on off-road tyres. This ‘place every egg in one basket’ decision was a major step for the then seven year old company, yet it is one the Indian manufacturer has never regretted. Since the changeover to off-road tyres in 1995, BKT has grown at an enviable rate and produced some 1,900 SKUs of OTR, industrial and agricultural tyres. Recently, Tyres & Accessories was given the opportunity to observe first-hand the result of a decade and a half’s specialisation within the off-road sector and gain a clearer picture of where the company aims to go.

16th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

MIRA to invest £300 million in becoming ‘Europe’s most advanced independent testing facility’

MIRA has announced its intention to become a £100million business within the next 10 years. The well-known independent test centre, which is home to test garages belonging to Dunlop, Continental, Giti and Kumho to name but a few, says the business’ growth will see MIRA become the most advanced independent transport technology facility in Europe. And the operation reports that it is willing to commit £300 million to investment in new infrastructure at its Midlands base.

2nd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear launches Assurance Fuel Max tyre in India

Goodyear India has announced the launch into the market of its Assurance Fuel Max tyre. “In the current environment where the rising fuel costs are a huge concern, Fuel Max technology is designed to improve fuel consumption without compromising on mileage or performance,” said Rajeev Anand, chairman and managing director, Goodyear India.

23rd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear India to study market viability prior to TBR launch

A market study into the viability of selling Goodyear’s truck and bus radial range in India has begun, reports the Hindu Business Line. The managing director of Goodyear India, Rajeev Anand, stated on February 22 that “We are putting our TBRs into the market on a pilot basis for testing. The market study will take around 18 months after which we will launch a new range. At present we only make cross ply tyres for trucks and buses, in which we have a small market share.” As the financial daily notes, radials still account for just 12 per cent of the 950,000 truck and bus tyres sold in India each month, yet sales have more than doubled in the last two years due to growth in the commercial vehicle market.

23rd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

New Apollo factories: First Eastern Europe, then Indonesia

In the last year or so conflicting reports on Apollo Tyres’ plans to set up a factory in Eastern Europe have circulated; in March 2010 it was said plans for a new plant there had been dropped in favour of a focus on expanding the former Vredestein facility in the Netherlands, while later in the year talk from Apollo management turned again to international investments. Recent news from Chennai, India based newspaper the Economic Times indicates a new factory in Eastern Europe is indeed still on the cards.

22nd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

CV market experiencing ‘invasion’ of low cost trucks

The global commercial vehicle market is experiencing a “growing invasion of “low-cost trucks”, according to analysts from Frost & Sullivan. These trucks, mostly from Asian OEMs, are priced approximately 20-25 per cent lower than conventional trucks and are penetrating markets all over the world. In response the analysts are holding a free “European Threats and Opportunities” web conference on 22 February 2011 at 15:00 BST hosted by research analyst, Ryan Carmichael.

16th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Infinity Tyres supports SAATHI initiative

Infinity Tyres was the first supporter this year of the SAATHI social advocacy initiative, which strives to achieve “a better quality of living for individuals with special needs.” In line with Infinity’s mission to give back to the community, the company reports that it is finding “unique ways to make a difference in our local communities.”

15th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

TGI continues expanding its global presence

The maxim “location, location, location” is often quoted in relation to real estate, however it can equally apply to the success of a business. One company aware of this is Tire Group International, Inc. The Miami, Florida based wholesaler is active throughout the world, yet its location gives it particular strength in the Latin America and Caribbean regions. In recent times TGI has increased its focus on developing this geographic advantage to its full potential.

14th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

JK Tyre launches Asian race series

In a move it refers to as the “biggest announcement in Indian motorsport in recent times,” JK Tyre has officially launched the JK Racing Asia Series, a championship sponsored by the tyre maker and managed by Motorsport Asia, the region’s largest promoter and organiser of motorsport events. The series gets underway in April and the 2011 season will consist of 18 races held over six weekend events in Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, China, Singapore and India. On three occasions the JK Racing Asia Series will support the Formula One Grand Prix.

14th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Inauguration ceremony held for Apollo Chennai plant

On February 10, about a year the first tyre emerged from the curing presses at Apollo Tyres’ new Chennai factory, company management, board members and government ministers assembled at the plant to celebrate its official inauguration. Present to mark the occasion were company chairman Onkar S Kanwar, vice chairman and managing director Neeraj Kanwar plus members of the Board of directors and CEOs from Apollo’s operations in India, Europe and South Africa, along with Tamil Nadu state government representatives including labour minister T N Anbarasan and principal secretary of Industries Rajeev Ranjan.

11th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Govt Ready to Divest TCIL

India’s Department of Disinvestment has begun the process of completely divesting the government's stake in the Tyre Corporation of India (TCIL), the first outright sale of a public sector company to take place in India since 2003-04. The Economic Times comments that, should all go to plan, the divestment should be complete this year. Commenting to the financial daily, the chairman of the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises, Dr. Nitish Sengupta, said that TCIL’s balance sheets have now “been cleaned up” and the board has advised the disinvestment department “to proceed with their sale on an ongoing concern basis.” Sengupta added that many bidders may find the tyre enterprise attractive on the basis of its land assets alone.

3rd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors