Japan Archives - Page 36 of 57 - Tyrepress

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Renault-Nissan And Elektromotive Join Forces

The Renault-Nissan Alliance and UK company Elektromotive, a pioneer in zero emission transport infrastructure, have announced they are collaborating in the Partnership for Zero-Emission-Mobility, with the aim of accelerating the installation of charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs) in cities.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the two companies ahead of an imminent and dramatic rise in the number of EVs on Europe’s roads, with the Renault-Nissan Alliance starting sales of purpose-designed EVs in Japan and the US from next year and globally by 2012.

2nd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Sustains 52% Operating Income Decrease

Bridgestone has announced its consolidated business and financial results for the fiscal year ended 31 December, 2008. The company commented in its report on the “challenging operating environment,” with its major markets in Asia, the USA and Europe declining over the course of the fourth quarter. This environment is illustrated by the worldwide 5 per cent decrease in tyre segment sales, down from 2,756 billion yen (20.54 billion pounds sterling; 1 GBP: 134 JPY) in 2007, to 2,629 billion yen (£20.05 billion), an effect in part, the company says, of the exchange impact of the stronger Japanese yen and a decline in unit sale. However, bottom line increases also hit hard, as Bridgestone tyre lost 52 per cent of its operating income; down to 92.7 billion yen in 2008 from 195 billion in 2007.

Bridgestone’s statement said that it “worked to maximise its sales momentum by introducing appealing new products worldwide, while at the same time improving and expanding strategic production sites around the world in support of respective product domains, particularly those that have been identified as strategic and important to the company’s future growth.” The fourth quarter’s decline in global automotive production and sluggish demand in the replacement market went some way to affecting the drop in sales in all three major markets.

20th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Rhodia/Dow Corning Silica for NR Undergoing European Road Tests

When Tyres & Accessories met with representatives of Rhodia and Dow Corning at Tire Technology Expo 2008, they revealed that the fruit of their alliance to develop a silica/silane for use with natural rubber has already reached an advanced stage. The details of the project will be reported by T&A at length at a later date, however Rhodia’s global business director Peter Browning confirmed that two customers are already, somewhere in Europe, trialling truck tyres made with the silica/silane in a natural rubber compound.

19th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Reviewing Global Creative Account

Kumho Tire is conducting a review of its creative business in eight key global markets. The account under review is said to cover all markets outside of Korea and Japan, and is believed to be worth between US$5 million and $10 million. Submissions from interested agencies will be evaluated following the late February close date.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Releases First Green Guide Japan

With its manga, animated films, video games and sushi, Japan is, after the US, the world’s second largest exporter of cultural goods and is increasingly present in day-to-day life, especially in youth culture. Since the launch in 2003 of the “Visit Japan Campaign,” which set a target of 10 million visitors to the country in 2010, Japan has seen a rise in tourism. In 2008, Japan hosted 8,351,600 visitors.

9th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Top of PCR, 4×4 Segments in JD Power Japan Survey

Michelin has top the list in the passenger car and SUV segments of the J.D. Power survey into Japanese original equipment tyre customers. The French marque achieved the highest scores for all five factors assessed: traction, quality and durability, design, driving comfort and fuel efficiency.

“Michelin is very pleased to have been ranked as number one for the passenger car and SUV segments in customer satisfaction survey for OE tyres,” said Bernard Delmas, president of Nihon Michelin Tire Co., Ltd. “Michelin has always been endeavouring to offer the highest quality products and been listening to voice of the customers. Long concerned with enhancing mobility for people and goods in Japan, Michelin continue to make customer satisfaction top priorities in the future.”

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Forever Forest Tree Planting Carried Out in Thailand

Work on Yokohama Rubber’s “Yokohama Forever Forest” project, started in 2007, is ongoing, and last December the company staged a tree-planting ceremony at its Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. facility. This is the third location outside of Japan to receive the Forever Forest treatment, following the Philippines and China in August and November 2008 respectively.

20th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

American Tire Acquires Am-Pac

North Carolina, US based company American Tire Distributors has purchased California based Am-Pac Tire Distributors through a stock purchase deal. The acquisition, announced in December, is said to bring together two former competitors in a way that strengthens American Tire’s geographical distribution and builds upon its existing marketing through Am-Pac’s ‘Tire Pros’ franchise programme.

American Tire bought Am-Pac from Itochu Corporation. The Tokyo, Japan-based conglomerate had owned Am-Pac since 1999. Itochu also owns leading UK tyre distribution business, Stapleton’s.

7th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Operating Profit Anticipated to Drop 15%

According to Japan’s Nikkei financial daily, Bridgestone expects its operating profit to decrease by 15 per cent to 100 billion yen (£742.7 million) in the 2009 calendar year. The Japanese tyre major anticipates sales will fall about 10 per cent from their 2008 level, to around 2.85 trillion yen (£21.2 billion), reported the newspaper.

On December 22 the company reported an expected 2008 operating profit of 118 billion yen (£876.4 million), significantly down on the 249.96 billion achieved in 2007.

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Names Three US Promotions

Toyo Tire & Rubber has promoted three members of its US corporate team, effective January 1. New in the position of chairman at Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. is Carlos Kibata, who has worked for Toyo for more than 37 years. Before accepting this latest post, Kibata served as president of subsidiary Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation, president of Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. and most recently, president and CEO of Toyo Tire Holdings.

5th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Japanese Tyre Production to Fall 5%

Reuters reports published online today suggest that Japanese production is to fall 5 per cent in 2009. The story cites a Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association forecast that in terms of rubber usage tyre manufacturing would take a considerable hit in the following year.

Despite Japan’s status as the world’s third biggest rubber consumer (following China and the USA), tyre output may fall to 1.28 million tonnes, representing a year-on-year decrease of 5 per cent from 1.35 million in 2008 according to JATMA. Domestic auto sales are likely to drop 7 per cent with expected sales of 4.7 million vehicles next year.

17th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Butadiene Technology Ready for Commercial Development

A new technology for manufacturing butadiene from butenes has been developed and tested by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). Production in a pilot plant at the company’s Mizushima facility in Japan has already begun, and MCC states it is proceeding with plans to industrialise the new production technology within the coming year.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Proxes to Use Recycled Polyester Tyre Cord Technology

A new tyre launched onto the Japanese market on December 11 utilises the world’s first recycled polyester tyre cord product. The Toyo Proxes Ne features tyre cord manufactured using a substance produced by Teijin Fibers Limited, part of Japan’s Teijin Group. The chemically recycled Ecopet Plus polyester fibres are manufactured through a Teijin developed closed-loop recycling system known as ‘Eco Circle’, and are used in carcass of the environmentally oriented tyre. This is, comments Teijin Fibers, the first time a recycled material has been able to meet the strict requirements necessary for tyre carcass fabric.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Advan Sport Chosen as OE for Nissan 370Z

Yokohama Rubber has announced its flagship Advan tyre has been selected as OE for the Nissan 370Z in various world markets. The Advan Sport in size 225/50R18 95W for the front and 245/45R18 96W for the rear will be fitted; vehicles equipped with the tyres were released in Japan on December 1, 2008, and will be gradually introduced into the global market. For the North American market, however, the car will be supplied with Bridgestone Potenza RE50A tyres, Bridgestone announced in November.

9th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Confirmed as OE for European Spec Nissan GT-R

In December production of the European specification Nissan GT-R gets underway at the company’s Tochigi factory in Japan, and the manufacturer reports a number of small but significant changes have been made to the car. Furthermore the Dunlop SP Sport 600 DSST tyre, previously available as an option on the GT-R, will be standard fitment on the performance Nissan when it arrives in European showrooms.

The tyre, comments Nissan, was developed specifically for the GT-R and it combines grip and durability, as demonstrated during its ‘time-attack’ lap of the Nürburgring, which yielded a time of 7 minutes 29 seconds. And the manufacturer adds that, just to improve the ride performance even further, a modification has been carried out to the suspension spring rate settings. The Dunlop tyres are matched with a gun metal grey coloured Rays seven-spoke alloy wheel design for the standard and Premium Edition GT-Rs, while the Black Edition will be fitted with the same design but, appropriately, in black.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors