UK Team Selected for Arctic Challenge
The 2005 UK Fulda Challenge team has been selected following a gruelling final elimination event held in Sulden, Italy.
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.
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R H Claydon to Distribute Dunlop
Product NewsR H Claydon has announced that it has been appointed the sole distributor of Dunlop’s Agricultural, Industrial and MPT tyres in mainland UK and Northern Ireland, from the beginning of October.
Stapletons Extends Jupiter/Nexen Distribution
Product NewsStapletons has announced that it will extend the distribution of Jupiter/Nexen tyres. The company exclusively distributes the South Korean ultra-high performance tyres, which are available in more than .”
New Ferrari to use Goodyear Run Flats
Product NewsThis year’s Paris Motor Show saw the unveiling of Ferrari’s new F430, the successor to the 360 Modena.
Return of the Unipart Calender
Product NewsUnipart Automotive has announced the launch of a new marketing programme, designed to reposition Unipart’s place as an aftermarket brand.
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.
Alliance reports Growth
Product NewsAlliance has released its second quarter financial results, showing a second straight profitable quarter after a succession of 11 negative quarters. Net income amounted to $1.2 million, compared to a $1.1 million net loss in the parallel quarter of 2003. The figures also showed a 30 per cent growth in sales in the first half of 2004 to $ 63.7 million.
Bridgestone and Conti Join Forces to Advance TPMS
Product NewsBridgestone has teamed up with competitor Continental to develop an advanced tyre pressure monitoring system for commercial vehicles. The two companies will join forces to mass produce the system which is expected to be released into the market in 2007. The companies are aiming to position the product as a “global standard.”
Michelin Tops Customer Satisfaction Survey
Product NewsThe JD Power and Associates 2004 Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Survey has placed Michelin at the top of three of its four Categories.
Jaguar Pulls Out of F1
MotorsportJaguar is to pull out of Formula One at the end of 2004 and Ford’s engine maker Cosworth is also up for sale. F1 representatives believe this decision will have huge affects on the sport, which is under threat from carmakers seeking to establish a rival championship. The news certainly won’t be received well by Michelin, Jaguar’s F1 tyre supplier.
Joe Greenwell, chairman and CEO Jaguar and Land Rover said: Jaguar’s presence in Formula One has been a valuable marketing and brand awareness platform particularly outside our main markets of the US and the UK. However it was our collective view that it is time for Jaguar Cars to focus 100 per cent on our core business.”
It is thought that the company could no longer financially compete with rivals BMW and Mercedes, partners to Williams and McLaren. World champions Ferrari and new arrivals Toyota have estimated budgets in excess of $200 million a year. “It is so expensive to be successful in Formula One,” said Ford vice-president Richard Parry-Jones. “The money the sport generates is not distributed equitably to the various stakeholders,” he continued.
SmarTire’s High Pressure European Launch
Product NewsSmarTire Systems Inc has announced it will make its tyre pressure monitoring system for high pressure tyres available in Europe. According to the company, the system is designed to work in high pressure environments of between 150 and 200 psi.
SmarTire chose the Automechanika show in Frankfurt as the venue for its high pressure product’s European debut. Commenting on the news John Taylor-Wilson, VP sales and marketing, said: “The impact of TPMS on large vehicles translates into solid and demonstrable cost savings and benefits to the owners and operators of these vehicles. Combined with the safety aspect of our products, these benefits have already generated considerable market interest in TPMS. SmarTire for high-pressure tyres such as buses, recreational and commercial vehicle applications will be aggressively introduced in the respective European markets.
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Goodyear and Dunlop to Launch New Products at IAA Show
Product NewsThe 60th International Motor Show (IAA) Commercial Vehicle Show will provide the platform for the launch of a number of new Goodyear and Dunlop products and services. As well as exhibiting a range of tyres for trucks, buses and coaches the Goodyear Dunlop stand will highlight the latest news and services from the Europe-wide TruckForce customer support network.
Goodyear Dunlop says that one of its key goals at the IAA show is to help customers evaluate some of the new tyre-related transport solutions that are available. The company believes its can demonstrate how its products and services can reduce costs. The company recently came up with some new concepts. These include maximising the cargo volume in mega-trailers, reducing the risk of overloading axles and increasing trailer brake life by up to 30 per cent. These configurations are said to produce longer tyre life and better fuel consumption in comparison with previous configurations.
On the ‘software’ side, new systems such as FleetOnlineSolutions and RoadsideAssistanceSolutions were both introduced less than a year ago. These internet-based ‘solutions’ will be demonstrated on the stand to show how they can reduce costs and downtime for the fleet operator and to show the latest improvements that have been introduced to the systems.
Key members of Goodyear Dunlop’s European truck tyre marketing and technical management will be present on the stand to meet customers and media on the press and opening days of the show.
The new products and services will be unveiled on Press Day, 22nd September and include tyres which are unique to the industry. The IAA Commercial Vehicle Show runs from the 23 to 29 September in Hanover.
Future of US HP Tyres
Product NewsAccording to the US Tire and Rim Association the number of auto tyre sizes has jumped 120 per cent since 1991 to 249 different sizes. The association claims that 82 per cent of this growth has come in rim sizes of 17 inches or more and it believes the increase is due to the automotive industry’s passion for performance.
Statistics show that about 59 per cent of the increase run in rim diameters of 18 inches or more. However, the total number of tyre sizes actually decreased last year due to a sharp fall in 13 and 14 inch sizes. The number of 15 and 16 inch tyre sizes has also levelled out in that time.
The demand for high performance tyres with their wide, low profile stance is inspired by motorsports, says Warren Croyle, marketing manager for Dunlop tyres in North America. As the industry has increasingly fitted HP tyres as original equipment on everything from the sports coupe, to the family sedan, the effects have had a dramatic impact on the tyre industry and tyre buyer alike, explained the company representative.
As high performance tyres have become increasingly important to consumers so have they to manufacturers. “Dunlop sizing, in particular, enjoys an advantage as the industry trend continues toward lower profile applications,” said Mr Croyle. “We’re well-positioned now, and we plan to introduce even more low profile sizes this year and next. Using technology derived from Dunlop’s experience with low-profile race tyres, engineers are finding new ways to improve the handling capabilities of today’s high performance automotive fleet.”
The tyre manufacturer claims that growth among 17 and 18 inch wheels is slowing. It predicts that by 2008 18 and 20 inch tyre sales will amount to 6 million units; however, 22 and 24 inch sizes are expected to be the fastest growing sizes.
ATS and CV Show on Track for Another Success
Product NewsOrganisers have confirmed that exhibitor space sales for the combined 2005 Automotive Trade Show and the CV Show, are already well ahead of what the 2004 figures were this time last year.
The SOE, RHA and SMMT, which comprise the CV Show Partnership, claim that the combination is attracting a lot of interest following the success of this year’s event and that over 30 per cent of ATS exhibitors have already re-booked for 2005.
Crypton Technology Group is one of those companies, which has chosen to exhibit again next year. Walt Koloska, group sales and marketing director of the company comments: “After so many years of asking for a combination of ATS and the CV Show, this year’s event proved the value of listening to the market. The Crypton Group stand is a healthy 25 per cent larger than this year and will feature technology leading kit for all vehicle types.”
According to organisers, the show, which is effectively two trade exhibitions in one, had its most successful year in 2004, with a combined total of almost 29,000 visitors and 600 exhibitors.
Robin Dickeson, spokesman for the event, added: “The event has grown in recent years, which is testimony to the fact that it is delivering real value to exhibitors and their customers. Visitors can meet and do business with a huge variety of existing and potential suppliers under one roof, in a very short space of time, something that is of enormous value in these busy times.” cma
Concentrating on Catalytic Converters
Product NewsThe widespread introduction of catalytic converters, almost a decade ago, has had a dramatic effect on vehicle pollution. Harmful emissions from petrol cars have been reduced by an average of 75 per cent. The effectiveness of ‘cats’, combined with vast improvements in the quality of fuels, means that today it is estimated that it would take up to approximately 100 new cars to produce the same emissions as just one made 20 years ago. To download this article as a PDF file, click here.
