Petter Solberg’s Rough Road Ahead
Subaru team driver Petter Solberg, has won the Rally of Italy keeping alive his hopes of defending the world rally championship title.
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Goodyear-Butler Technical Training Travels Italy
Product NewsThe third “EMT-DSST Technical Training” organised by Goodyear-Dunlop in co-operation with Butler was held in Carpi Modena at the beginning of September.
More than 70 independent Goodyear dealers from northern-central Italy attended the training session, which the company believes “met several goals.”
Mr Marco Moretti, Goodyear Italy marketing manager, introduced the features of run-flat tyres, whilst Mr Alberto Tadolini, Butler sales manager, focused upon the technical and practical skills associated with handling EMT and DSST tyres. Practical application of the theoretical session was also put into play with the use of different Butler tyre changers and trainers. The next session will be held on 6-7 October in Nola, Naples.
Hayes Lemmerz Ventures to Turkey
Product NewsHayes Lemmerz International has formed an aluminum wheel joint venture in Manisa, Turkey. The new company, Jantas Aliminyum Jant Sanayi ve Ticaret AS (Jantas Aluminum Wheels), will predominantly serve the Turkish market, but will also deal with other European markets. Production is scheduled to begin at the end of 2005 and it is estimated that it will produce up to 1.5 million wheels annually.
Three companies are involved in the business venture; 40 per cent will be owned by Hayes Lemmerz, 35 per cent by Cromodora Wheels and 25 per cent by Inci Holding A.S. Financial. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
New Passenger Car Registration Statistics
Product NewsNew passenger car registration in Europe reached 1,240,539 units in May this year according to statistics published by the ACEA today. These figures represent a rise of 1.2% in comparison with 1,226,000 units produced in May 2003. This marginal increase has been put down to fewer working days in most EU countries but also to declining consumer confidence in some countries. Cumulative figures for the first five months of this year show an increase of 2.8% in line with most predictions.
National figures for the month of May show increases in a majority of countries. Among the five main markets Italy (+12%) was the best performer, ahead of Spain (+8.9%) and France (+4.8%), while Germany (-7.3%) and the U.K. (-2.8%) posted decreases. Cumulative figures show increases in 11 countries with +2.7% in the U.K.
Registrations in the new EU Member States were down 5.6% with the Czech republic and Poland posting significant decreases, while Lithuania was the best performer.
Goodyear Sues Over Price Fixing
Product NewsGoodyear has filed lawsuits against 12 chemical companies, accusing them of price fixing and overcharging for the synthetic rubber EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) during the period from 1994 to 2002. EPDM is used in tyres and hoses as a strengthening agent and to provide resistance to ozone and ageing. The 12 companies are based in the USA, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands and one – Crompton Corp. of Connecticut – is reported to have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to fix prices of rubber chemicals and is to pay a $50 million fine.
Titan Europe admitted to trading on London’s AIM Exchange
Product NewsTitan Europe Plc, previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of Titan International, has been admitted to trading on the AIM market in London. The placing shares have been priced at 125 pence, with 26,775,000 shares offered.
The 4×4 tyre market: still growing
NewsBack in 1990 or thereabouts Pirelli had just bought Armstrong and were busy launching their own 4×4 range and relaunching the Armstrong Tredloc Kevlar belted tyre for the 4×4 market.
The motoring press was busy telling the world that the 4×4 sector had peaked and would be on the decline by the following year. So much for the crystal ball gazing of the motoring press.
Today the 4×4 sector holds some 5 per cent of the UK market share – it may seem more as most 4×4 vehicles have a longer shelf life that their conventional counterparts, so probably hold a slightly larger share of the overall car parc. It would be interesting to know what the DVLA figures would be on that enquiry.
Throughout Europe there is no let up in the demand for 4×4 vehicles – even in markets where an off-road excursion could find the driver in serious trouble with the law. The 4×4 has developed from a serious tool for the military and agricultural sectors to a plaything and fashion symbol for the wealthy and the aspirational. Figures from Goodyear show that the utility sector of the market, the pick up and hard core 4×4 enthusiast has hardly shown any movement over the past four years, nor is it expected to in the coming years. The value market has dropped to a steady level at 90,000 units per year across Europe, the middle market too is stable. However, the luxury and crossover sectors of the SUV market are starting to show tremendous growth with the luxury sector doubling its volume from the 2000 figure of 101,000 units by 2007 whilst crossover vehicles will quadruple their volume in the same period it is these two sectors almost alone that will take the 4×4/SUV market from its current 706,000 units per annum to 840,000 units per annum by 2007.
In tyre terms this reads as growth in every sector – winter, S and T, and H and V rated, the market volume jumping from a total of 2,089,000 units in 1997 to 7,885,000 in 2007.
The two largest markets in Europe for 4×4 tyres are the UK and Germany, followed by Spain, Italy and France each having in excess of 10 per cent of the market. Scandinavia, Benelux, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal and Austria each have shares between 2 and 7 per cent of the market. With the whole of Eastern Europe taking only 4 per cent of the sector.
That 4 per cent for Eastern Europe suggests that, as with other sectors of the tyre market, the developing markets in Eastern Europe offer a phenomenal capacity for growth in this sector. In fact, if the move to car ownership in the East matches that ion the west, then the ultimate volume of the market could make Goodyear’s figures appear conservative.
Vice President For Pirelli Canada
Product NewsAnthony Ensor is returning to Pirelli Tire Inc. of Canada, where he began his career in 1985, as Vice President and General Manager. He has spent the past decade with Pirelli’s European operations in Italy, Germany and the UK. Ensor replaces Nicola Ruccolo, who has spent 28 years with Pirelli in Canada and North America, and who is leaving the company to pursue other interests.
EU car registrations down 1.6 per cent
Product NewsNew passenger car registrations in Europe (EU-15 + EFTA) for January 2004 amounted to 1,173,273 units, representing a decrease of 1.6 per cent (-1.6 per cent in the EU-15) with respect to January 2003. The figures for the first month of the year show a contrasting picture from country to country: in some of them, there are clear signs of recovery, while in others uncertain economic conditions continue to prevail. This is well illustrated by the figures in the five main markets. While Germany (-12.4 per cent) and France (-11.9 per cent) posted decreases, Spain (+9.2 per cent), the United Kingdom (+5.8 per cent) and Italy (+5.6 per cent) showed a positive start of the year. Overall passenger car registrations in the eight main markets among future EU Member States grew 3.5 per cent. The two main markets, Poland and Hungary, both posted an increase of 5 per cent, while the Czech Republic saw a decrease of 9.8 per cent.
Michelin XeoBib Wins Golden Ear at the Agribex Fair
Product NewsThe Agribex 2004 panel has awarded a Golden Ear to Michelin for XeoBib, a new tire concept that optimizes driving in fields and on the road, thanks to the ability to roll at constant pressure. The Golden Ear is awarded for innovations, with emphasis on practicability as well as engineering excellence.
Homologation for the Pirelli P 7 on the Volvo V50
Product NewsThe Volvo V50 making its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show is the most recent testimonial to the fourth generation of the high performance Pirelli P7 range. This latest version of the tyre is designed to provide luxury saloons and station wagons with a perfect blend of performance and driving comfort.
Ellerbrock after the fire: We are still alive
Product NewsAfter the fire that completely destroyed the production plant at Marangoni’s German subsidiary Ellerbrock, North of Hamburg three weeks ago, the well known retread technology producer has stopped worrying about the past. Rather, Ellerbrock is occupied with plans for the future. The immediate goal is to reconstruct the plant by the end of next year, company officials told T&A. They didn’t reveal the total investment but will ensure that the new plant will process at least as much rubber as the old one, i.e. 15,000 tons per year. According to the plans, Ellerbrock’s new plant will become the most modern in Europe. In the meantime, 20 employees have been posted to two Marangoni plants in Italy in order to prevent the company from encountering delivery difficulties. For the first few weeks after the fire, Ellerbrock has been doing business from the stock.
Western European car sales down
Product NewsWestern Europe new passenger car registrations for October 2003 amounted to 1.179.024 units, representing a decrease of 0.3 per cent with respect to October 2002. The number of working days in October 2003 was the same as in October 2002. This basically flat result seems to point towards a stabilisation of the market, in line with most economic indicators. National figures show increases in 7 out of 15 EU countries, ranging from +5.4 per cent in Luxembourg to +33.9 per cent in Finland. Spain was the best performer among the 5 bigger markets. Decreases ranged from -0.3 per cent in Italy to -11.6 per cent in the Netherlands and Denmark. Cumulative figures for the first ten months of the year show a closing up of the overall decrease, now -1.3 per cent. Five countries post positive figures, ranging from +0.3 per cent in the U.K. to +25 per cent in Finland. All other countries report decreases, ranging from -0.6 per cent in Luxembourg to -20.2 per cent in Portugal.
Brembo and DaimlerChrysler to establish joint venture
Product NewsBrembo and DaimlerChrysler are to set up a joint venture to manufacture ceramic brake discs. Each company will hold a 50 per cent share in the JV, which will be called Brembo Ceramic Brake Systems SpA and will be located at a new Science and Technology Park in Stezzano, Italy.
Fire at Ellerbrock
Product NewsEarly this morning fire broke out at Ellerbrock Tread in Henstedt-Ulzburg. The 6,500 square metre production hall has fallen victim to the flames. There are approximately 200 fire-fighters on site fighting the fire and it is expected that it will take the whole weekend to bring the fire under control. According to the local radio station in Schleswig-Holstein damage is estimated to run to approximately 15 million Euro. Marketing and sales director Dirk Rohmann stated at the factory gates in Hamburg that it was too early to state the extent of the damage. The fire had damaged the production facility but only after the fire is completely extinguished will the full extent of the damage be assessed. The cause of the fire is not known at present.
