When it comes to analysing trends in the comparatively unpredictable UK winter tyre market, November unit sales figures are a key indicator of what is going on in the season. The latest figures aren’t out just yet, but GfK’s Kevin Glynn talked Tyres & Accessories through the thinking behind the leading market research company’s analysis.
Analysts at TechSci Research have published a new report highlighting the growth potential of the South Korean tyre market. According to the report entitled “South Korea Tyre Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018”, the tyre market in South Korea is expected to grow at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 per cent between 2013 and 2018 in terms of sales revenue.
The observation that trends regarding tyre size and speed rating have been tracing an upward trajectory for some time is nothing new, but the clear focus of the world’s largest tyre manufacturers on higher than high performance segments in Europe has perhaps never been so pronounced. Chasing improved profit margins with increased technology is always attractive to those with the capability and the incongruously strong luxury car market has provided an additional reason for migrating business focus from V-rated and 17” tyres into WYZ and 18”-plus territory, according to Automotive market research company GfK.
BKT Europe has announced the appointment of Gabriella Usiello to the role of marketing and communication manager. Usiello joined the BKT Europe team in January and brought with her more than ten years of marketing experience, including with a multinational company active in the off-highway and passenger car tyre segments. This experience was instrumental in the decision to select Usiello for the role, the tyre maker notes. In her new position, the marketing and communication manager will engage in strategic marketing and consolidate BKT’s market position with the help of an effective, interconnected communications plan.
A research report released by market research firm TechSci Research predicts that total turnover for India’s replacement tyre market will surpass Rs 200,000 million (£2.75 billion) by the 2012 financial year. The replacement segment currently accounts for more than 60 per cent of the industry, the report notes, and it has become a key focus area for manufacturers due to the higher margins its offers. In the most recent financial year almost 50 million unit sales took place in India’s replacement segment, with motorcycle tyres and truck/bus tyres the two largest markets.
Market research firm RNCOS is predicting that the Indian passenger car tyre market will grow an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8 per cent 2010 and 2014. According to the “Indian Tyre Industry Analysis”, the Indian tyre industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
As of December 1, 2009 Nenad Tutunovic has taken over as marketing manager at CGS Tyres. In his new role, in which he reports directly to marketing and sales director Andrew Mabin, Prague based Tutunovic heads up the company’s international marketing team. He is also responsible for the further development of an international marketing strategy and communications plan for CGS Tyres.
Goodyear has released a new agricultural tyre for the Indian market, specifically the country’s southern and western markets. Called the Vajra Super, the new tyre is said to address Indian farmers’ everyday tyre problems of wear and tear and punctures in the field.
Tyre pressure monitoring systems will be fitted standard on all new cars from 2012, and according to a study supported by Northern Ireland based remote tyre pressure monitoring systems manufacturer Schrader Electronics, the majority of UK motorists support the use of systems similar to those the company produces. Results indicate the level of public support for TPMS hinges upon how quickly and readily a system notifies drivers of tyre pressure irregularities.
On 1 April Goodyear Dunlop UK introduced its new Goodyear brand manager, Michelle Fisher. She will take over from Ben Crawley, who will now move into the position of business account manager, working on key strategic accounts, including KwikFit, for the company. Crawley has been with the company for seven years, three of which he spent in the brand manager slot. Fisher, formerly Goodyear Dunlop’s market research intelligence manager, moves into the role following her first year with the company.
Before joining the Goodyear Dunlop organisation Fisher, who has a BA Joint Honours degree in French and Business Studies, worked for Schneider Electric followed by the roles of market research executive and prospect relationship marketing executive at Aga Consumer Products.
The Michelin Aircraft Tire Company, a division of Michelin North America, has a new corporate mouthpiece following the appointment of Jackson-Dawson Marketing Solutions to handle marketing communications for the business unit. The South Carolina based marketing firm already handles marketing communications and public relations for Michelin North America’s truck tyre and earthmover tyre divisions, event planning and logistics services for Michelin North America’s passenger car tyre division.
Today’s meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council in Monaco has resulted in the agreement of several new measures, though Max Mosley’s controversial standardised engine policy did not make the final cut. 2009 will see lower cost engines, lasting twice as long, while in 2010 there will be a ban on refuelling and Grand Prix could be made shorter, “subject to market research”. Overall, the FIA believes that the new measures should save teams around 30 per cent of their 2008 budgets.
In terms of tyres, race weekends will now see the teams sharing information, “eliminating the need for ‘spotters’,” says the FIA press release. There will also be the ban on tyre warmers – a measure that was already in place before the meeting – and the mechanical purging of tyres. From 2010, there will also be a ban on “tyre force rigs (other than vertical force rigs).”
In response to market changes, a tighter regulatory environment and pressure on costs, exhaust and after-treatment system suppliers face both opportunities and challenges in the next five years. This growth will occur in part due to the overall increase in the world market for passenger cars, which is expected to grow in volume by 34 per cent from 66 million units in 2006 to around 85 million by 2014. This will create increased demand for more exhaust and after-treatment systems. But on top of this organic increase in sales, other factors will create additional growth, taking exhaust and after-treatment system supplier revenues to an even higher level.
Johnson Controls, parent company of Varta, recently commissioned a survey to test trade awareness of starter battery brands. The survey was carried out by one of Europe’s most respected market research companies and covered eight European markets. 150 garages were selected randomly in each market and there was a 92 per cent response rate.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has announced the appointment of Dipinder “DP” Singh to the position of marketing director for the company’s Asia Pacific region Consumer PBU division. The position will be based at Goodyear’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai.
The native of Mumbai, India joined Goodyear at the beginning of 2002 as director of Global Marketing Intelligence & Strategy, and has held several management positions since that time. Prior to this Singh co-founded the firm adAlive, a developer of Internet access systems for personal digital assistant devices, and served as the company’s executive vice-president, marketing and business development. In total Singh boasts more than 20 years experience in marketing strategy, brand management, advertising, market research and international marketing.
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