Maxxis reports its participation as advertiser in the 2012-2013 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) World Cup Qualifications, open to the national teams of these regions. The Maxxis logo was shown on field-boards in 18 games in 2012 and will appear in most matches in 2013.
As of next year, the Bridgestone brand will be title sponsor of the Copa Libertadores, or Libertadores Cup. This annual international football competition, which is arguably the most prestigious club competition in South America, will thus be known as the Bridgestone Libertadores Cup through to 2017.
When teams arrive at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas for the forthcoming US Grand Prix, they will be stepping onto a newly-built track that has never been raced on before. Tyre supplier Pirelli is bringing the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero White medium tyres: a reasonably conservative compound choice for a circuit where there are still a number of unknown factors when it comes to tyre performance.
Membat describes itself as a young brand, but behind this newcomer to the tyre world stands Spanish fast fitting chain Auto Equip. “We’ve been in the tyre business for 25 years and now we’re taking advantage of the industry knowledge we’ve gained and produced the Membat private brand,” shares Natan Banyeres, international trade manager at Membat. Banyeres told Tyres & Accessories that the Auto Equip network consists of 21 outlets, and the company also distributes tyres. “We are proud of our Spanish heritage but now want to export this and develop a global vision,” he adds.
Testing of Pirelli’s Cyber Fleet system began earlier this year in South America, and in the second half of July an evaluation programme also began in Europe. So far, Pirelli’s European tests, conducted mainly in Germany using 15 heavy goods vehicles, have monitored the Cyber Fleet system over more than a million kilometres. Tests will continue until February 2013, and results so far confirm the results obtained in Latin America. Cyber Fleet will go on sale by the end of January 2013.
At its media day in New York, German specialty chemicals company Lanxess announced a new mid-term goal for its leading earnings indicator – EBITDA pre exceptionals. The company projects that its EBITDA pre exceptionals will reach 1.8 billion euros in 2018, and says its previous 2015 EBITDA pre exceptionals goal of 1.4 billion euros will now be reached a year ahead of schedule. This key performance indicator has increased by an average of 20 per cent per annum since 2004, and for 2012 Lanxess reconfirms its guidance for EBITDA pre exceptionals to increase by five to ten per cent year-on-year.
Techking Tires reports the launch of a new mixed service pattern it developed based on input from partners in Australia and Latin America. The TKAM C+, 11R22.5 has been designed for mix road service and uses what Techking calls its ‘Noise Buffer’ design which, as the name suggests, is said to reduce noise. It also features a ‘Stone Shy’ design to prevent stone retention, the tyre maker adds.
Organisers of the recently concluded Latin American & Caribbean Tyre Expo have hailed it as a “great success”. This year more than 3000 tyre dealers are said to have visited from over 80 countries. More than 200 exhibitors from around the world participated in the expo.
Specialty chemicals Group Lanxess reports continued growth in the second quarter of 2012, with EBITDA pre-exceptionals rising 6.8 per cent year-on-year to 362 million euros. Sales increased 8.1 per cent to 2.42 billion euros. Commenting on the results, company CEO Axel C. Heitmann said “we believe these results confirm our view of the seasonal development, and we are therefore adhering to our target of raising EBITDA pre exceptionals by five to ten per cent for the full year. Our focus on megatrends and growth regions, combined with our technological expertise, provide stability in an increasingly challenging environment.”
Following on from the company’s presence as an exhibitor in Africa, UK based tyre wholesaler – Treadsetters (part of the TIA Group) recently took their global promotion of its products and services to the South American continent.
Although overall sales, volumes and operating income all decreased year-on-year, Goodyear Tire & Rubber nevertheless managed to increase its revenue per tyre in the second quarter of 2012. The US tyre maker reports sales of $5.2 billion during the three months to 30 June, eight per cent lower than in the second quarter of 2011 and reflecting weaker economic conditions and unfavourable foreign currency translation. Operating income decreased $46 million year-on-year to $336 million. Tyre unit volumes totalled 39.2 million in the quarter, down nine per cent from 2011 and reflecting weaker replacement sector volumes, most notably in Europe. Revenue per tyre increased eight per cent, while net income amounted to $85 million (33 cents per share), up from $40 million (16 cents per share) in the 2011 quarter.
In its recent second quarter results announcement, Titan International reported the termination of the truck tyre off-take agreement held with Goodyear since its purchase of Goodyear’s Latin America agricultural tyre business last year. Under the terms of the original deal, which was to run for three years, Titan would produce cross-ply light and medium truck tyres for Goodyear at its plant in São Paulo, Brazil and supply these at below market prices.
Cooper Tire & Rubber has entered into a two-year exclusive agreement with US wholesaler Tire Group International (TGI) to distribute Mastercraft brand tyres throughout Central America and the Caribbean. As part of the agreement, which runs until December 2014, TGI will also provide marketing and sales support for Mastercraft in the form of product promotions and dealer training.
Tire Group International and Alliance Tire Group have announced a distribution agreement that gives TGI exclusive distribution rights for Galaxy-brand tyres in Latin America and the Caribbean, with exception of Colombia and Ecuador. The distributor will offer Galaxy’s industrial, agricultural and off-the-road tyre lines as both direct factory shipments and fill-in from its distribution centre in Miami, Florida.
US wholesaler Tire Group International has entered into an agreement with private brand marketing and distribution company Tireco that gives TGI the exclusive right to distribute Geotrac, Geostar and Milestar branded tyres throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. TGI will offer the aforementioned brands on a direct factory basis and also offer a fill-in program from its warehouse in Miami, Florida.
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