The bigger the tyre brand, the more important marketing becomes in order to communicate its values and its worth. With this in mind, the “marketing” tag collates all the latest marketing-related news and analysis into a single place. This reverse-chronological list of thousands of articles is your go-to source of tyre industry, marketing-related news and information.
Goodyear Aviation is to supply tyres and tyre maintenance to Ryanair, under a new five-year contract.
The contract with the low budget airline began on 1 January and includes the delivery of new tyres and the repair and overhaul of aviation tyres that supply the current fleet of 66 Boeing 737-800s. This will extend to a further 96 aircraft, with up to 123 options to be delivered up until 2009.
Bridgestone has implemented a new marketing strategy for its Dueller 683, 4×4 on road luxury tyre. According to news source Strategiy the manufacturer will be hosting a free, test pilot scheme for residents of several Middle Eastern countries including the UAE, KSA, Kuwait Qatar and Bahrain, in a bid to show customers how “quality tyres can assist driving.”
Crypton Technology Group has relaunched the Wheelforce brand with the introduction of a range of high performance wheel balancers and tyre changers. The new range is to be sold exclusively through Unipart Automotive, which includes Partco, Brown Brothers, Serck Intertruck, Plunketts and Express Factors.
After nearly three years of preparation, Weber Hydraulik (UK) recently completed a management buyout becoming a wholly independent company. The business was previously managed by parent company Weber Hydraulik GmbH based in Gϋglingen, Germany. As a stand-alone company, Weber Hydraulik (UK) will continue to be a top supplier of hydraulic equipment to the automotive industry. It is now a stand-alone firm, managing sales, service and marketing from its head office at the Broomhills Industrial Estate in Braintree, Essex.
The company’s new senior management team, travelled to Germany to present Weber Hydraulik GmbH’s chief executive, Dr Haselman, with a “big cheque” to conclude the deal. One of the new directors, Doug Tokley, commented: “We will continue to provide the level of service our customers have come to expect and are now looking forward to a very prosperous future.”
Large-scale Indian tyre manufacturer, Apollo Tyres, is investing 2.5 billion rupees (more than £30 million) in production expansion and is aiming to export more to the European market, Indian news sources are reporting. Company chairman and managing director Onkar S Kanwar told Financial Express: “We are looking at investing [2.5 billion rupees] in the existing facilities in the next fiscal ending March 2006.” Mr Kanwar explained that nearly half of the spending would be pumped into the Gujarat unit alone. “This calendar, we are more aggressively looking at tapping the European market. This can be through direct marketing or even through distribution alliances,” he added. At the moment the company makes between 15 and 20 per cent of its revenues from exports to other countries besides Japan and Europe.
Apollo Tyres also recently entered into a joint venture with Michelin. The joint venture, Michelin Apollo Tyre Pvt Ltd, is focusing on manufacturing, marketing and sales of truck and bus radial tyres. “In the first phase, we will manufacture truck and bus radials and sell under the Michelin and Apollo brand. These products will be sold across the country,” he said.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Findlay/Ohio) has completed the sale of its automotive business, Cooper-Standard Automotive, to an entity formed by The Cypress Group and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners for approximately $1.165 billion in cash, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. As previously announced, $30 million of the purchase price will be held by the buyer until the post-closing working capital adjustments can be finalized.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (President and CEO Yoshio Kataoka) will establish a sales subsidiary in Neuss, Germany on January 1, 2005. The new company, known as Toyo Tire Europe GmbH, is a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation, set up to serve the entire European market.
At a news conference held at the Washington Auto Show Continental presented its roadmap for total vehicle safety that will integrate active and passive safety equipment. The company announced that two leading automakers have commissioned Continental to undertake advanced design work on integrating various elements of its comprehensive safety solution, the Active Passive Integration Approach (APIA) concept. “The industry recognizes Continental’s unique ability to deliver total safety solutions,“ said Joe Gaus, vice president, Continental Automotive Systems who also talked about how electronics are leading the way to safer cars by allowing ongoing development of active safety systems that help drivers avoid crashes and mitigate injuries.
Alcoa Aerospace, Automotive, and Commercial Transportation announced that is Cast Auto Wheels business units and the wheel divisions of Alcoa Wheel Forged Products will merge to create Alcoa Wheel Products, offering both cast and forged aluminum wheels to the commercial vehicle and automotive markets.
Kevin Kramer, who has 21 years of experience gained in global marketing position at Goodyear, will lead the new division. “This reorganisation further drives our focus on markets and customers and allows up to identify and implement best manufacturing practices and process technology across our business,” said Bill Christopher, Alcoa executive vice-president.
Bridgestone Europe (BSEU) has promoted Gunter Unterhauser to the position of vice president, sales and marketing. In his new position Mr Unterhauser will be responsible for pan-European aftermarket sales, while maintaining responsibility for the German market. Minekazu Fujimura, BSEU chairman, CEO and president, will continue to be responsible for the company’s OE business. Mr Unterhauser was previously managing director of Bridgeston Firestone Germany.
Japanese based tyre manufacturer, Yokohama has officially launched its Advan brand. In an effort unify its global image, the company will now adopt one name for its premium products instead of the regional variations that currently exist. According to Yokohama, the newly launched brand reflects the company’s “highest performance” and “highest quality” image. The Advan name will adorn all of the company’s new global high performance products. At the same time as launching this new product concept, the company also released two new Advan branded products, the Advan Sport and Advan ST.
According to the organisers of the 21st Autopromotec, the 2005 show will “close the circle, offering the entire gamut of products and services to the transportation industry.” The exhibition centre where the show is due to be held will undergo renovations and expansion, including the addition of two brand new halls. At the last Autopromotec in 2003, 936 exhibitors presented their products in an area measuring 100,000 square metres, with 83,000 visitors.
At the forthcoming event, the traditional sectors of equipment and tyres will be represented alongside the new categories of spare parts and car services. From the organisers’ point of view, adding the new product categories to the fair is a welcome benefit to Italy’s industry of vehicle spare parts, a sector that recorded revenues of 7.7 billion euros, 68 per cent of which was designated for export. As a result of the new block exemption rules, this industry will be forced to re-examine traditional distribution channels by adapting them to the market. According to those in charge of Autopromotec, this is a good reason to make the most of every opportunity to have contact with professional mechanics, adding that the show also provides the chance for manufacturers to “step up marketing manoeuvres and new product launches.”
By the time Autopromotec opens its gates, the BER, or Block Exemption Regulation, will have gone into effect. That will be followed by the “freedom of establishment” provisions on 1 October 2005, which will allow sales and auto servicing operators carrying out selective distribution to open branches in all EU countries.
Ceat has entered the Indian all-steel truck radial market, with products designed and manufactured for the Indian market by Pirelli, Europe. In the 2004/2005 financial year, the company projects a sales turnover in the region of 19.05 billion rupees (approximately £220 million). Ceat says it is eager to tap into the growing truck radial market hoping that eventually 10-15 per cent of its business will come from steel radials.
Currently the use of truck steel radials in India is about two per cent, the is considerably less than neighbouring Pakistan (35 per cent) and a world apart from Europe (90 per cent). The proportion of steel readial in the Indian truck tyre market is projected to touch 10 per cent by 2007, Ceat’s vice-president, sales and marketing, Kalyan K Paul, said.
According to the company, the use of its truck radial products can increase initial mileage by over 50 per cent, achieve fuel savings off up to 10 per cent and provide better traction and braking.
Subaru has launched a new version of one of its most popular cars – the Legacy. In an attempt to modify its image of being a “sensible family saloon,” the new Legacy range now includes a high-performance version. The Legacy 3.0R spec.B features a new gearbox, suspension system and Bridgestone Potenza tyres – all inspired by the well-known Impreza.
The 3.0R spec.B has a revised Impreza STi 6-speed gearbox, which helps the three litre engine to produce 241bhp. And in keeping with the sporty feel, the new saloon will fit Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres as original equipment.
The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A uses an asymmetrical tread pattern with large blocks on the outer side in order to provide superior lateral rigidity and to increase control in high-speed turning. The company claims that the high-angled grooves on the inner side improve water dispersion and assist in wet-weather driving.
Andy Lane, consumer marketing manager at Bridgestone UK, said: “The Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec.B is a high-performance car that requires high-performance tyres. And with excellent levels of grip in both wet and dry conditions, the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres compliment the Legacy perfectly.”
The Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec.B fits Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres in size 215/45 R18.
Compressed air, pneumatics and process control product supplier, Thorite has launched a new website which brings a host of benefits to online buyers. The redesigned website is easier to navigate, has more features, lists more products and includes a huge range of regularly updated special offers, with savings exclusive to users of Thorite’s new online shopping service “Thorite Direct”.
The website’s main content comprises sections on industrial and workshop products, backed by useful information on services, product news, head office and regional sales and service centre staff and recently published Thorite sales literature. There is also a search facility, details of vacancies within the organisation, a company history and a “FAQ” section.
Referring to the new website, Thorite’s marketing director, Ross Gowler, said: “We were determined to create a colourful and involving on-line presence, which would reflect the vitality and high levels of product choice and service which Thorite now embodies. I’m delighted that our customers will now benefit from both a vastly enlarged content and worthwhile savings when ordering via the web.”
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
