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.
Brisa, the company producing Lassa brand tyres in a joint venture between Bridgestone and the Sabanci Group, has announced it will invest US$117.5 million expanding its tyre manufacturing units in Izmit, Turkey. The investment figure exceeds the $110 million of investment that was reported at the start of April.
Goodyear's 2012 annual shareholder meeting was held on 17 April at the company’s headquarters in Akron, and chairman and CEO Rich Kramer told those in attendance that he was “pleased” with the tyre-maker’s 2011 performance, outlining the company’s “strategy roadmap”, Tire Review reports. Pointing to record sales of $22.8 billion and record segment operating income, Kramer said, “What is most gratifying is that our record results across all global businesses were achieved in the midst of continued economic uncertainty around the world through successful execution of our strategy. Our ‘strategy roadmap’ is the foundation for decisions on every aspect of the business, from marketing and product development to investment and team building.”
Bridgestone will offer visitors to its exhibition area free industry seminars at this year’s CV Show. Visitors can get advice, hints and join the debate on wheel security (cost and consequences); the future of fuel efficiency; and how to save money through improving tyre maintenance. The seminars will run daily during the show, held at Birmingham’s NEC, on 24-26 April.
Federal's FZ-201 and FZ-202 semi slick R Spec tyres have been approved for production car racing in Australia by The Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS). Federal Tires Motorsport project manager, Taz Yeh said that to have the Federal brand approved for fitment at national level is “an honour” for a company only recently involved in motorsport. The company believes CAMS approval – linked to the FIA – is key to the brand taking the FZ-201 and FZ-202 to other territories as the brand expands internationally its motorsport involvement.
Pirelli has announced that the number of its UK Performance Centres (PPCs) has increased by 25 per cent over the past two years. Pirelli presented the information at a PPC meeting the headquarters of reigning FIA Formula One Constructors' World Champions Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes last month. In August 2010, there were 66 PPC branches but this figure has “steadily grown over the past 20 months” to reach 83 in the UK and Ireland. PPCs are audited for quality, helping the manufacturer to direct high performance car drivers to the outlets that will best suit their needs.
Tyre retailers will soon have a major new profit opportunity as legislation covering the fitment and testing of TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) comes into force later this year. And suppliers including Apaseal/Tyresure, Autogem and Rema Tip Top will be exhibiting at Brityrex International to demonstrate the technical aspects of the systems and the commercial potential available.
The Intermat construction equipment show got underway in Paris yesterday, and Mitas used the occasion to introduce two new European-made tyres intended for material handling machinery. The new FLR-01 and SC-01 can be fitted on straddle carriers, terminal tractors, container handlers and forklifts used in port terminals and intermodal yards to handle bulk goods and large containers.
Goodyear has shown the puncture resistance of its DuraSeal technology during a demonstration at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Attendees drove 367 nail holes into a Goodyear G394 SST wide-base trailer tyre at the company’s booth, without any impact on its inflation. The tyre manufacturer has previously shown DuraSeal-incorporated tyres at events in Europe, such as Tip-Ex at North Yorkshire’s Harrogate International Centre in 2011, where it displayed its Omnitrac MSS II and MSD II tyres.
Since its formation in Thailand in 2004, Singapore-based Stamford Sport Wheels has evolved into one of South East Asia's leading and most successful alloy wheel manufacturers, exporting products to European and North American markets. Its manufacturing complex is based in the province of Nonthaburi, approximately 60km north of Bangkok and consists of two production facilities spanning around 30,000sqm. The company currently has the capacity to manufacture over 900,000 wheels a year; the current SSW product portfolio includes fitments between 13” and 20”. This allows it to serve the growing demands of Asian markets while continuing to serve global export goals. The company now aims to enhance its image as a producer of quality alloy wheels in particular throughout European markets – including the UK.
Tech Europe, the European arm of Tech International, a producer of tyre repair materials and wheel service solutions, headquartered in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, has launched a new website at www.techeurope.co.uk. The site offers an overview of Tech Europe’s product offering, as well as providing detailed information on the company, its current distribution network, and on-going activities.
Hot on the heels of the news that growing Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen has secured OE supply to Fiat, the firm has revealed details of its plans to expand in the well-known marques domestic Italian market. With a replacement market potential of over 30 million tyres a year in the passenger car segment, Nexen has suggested Italy is one of its key countries for expansion in Europe.
Pirelli will travel to Brands Hatch over Easter weekend, to provide tyres to the MCE British Superbike Championship. Last year’s series provided some of the closest racing in the world, and the tyre supplier believes there is more to come in the 2012 Superbike, Supersport and Ducati 848 Challenge classes. The new Rapid Solicitors National Junior Cup for riders aged 13-18 riding Kawasaki Ninja 250R machines also joins the portfolio of championships run on Pirelli tyres.
Kent-based wheel distributor Wheelwright launched its Calibre Couture range onto the UK market and made substantial upgrades to its website, including an improved e-Commerce platform, in the first quarter of 2012. Tyrepress.com spoke to Wheelwright managing director, Kevin Greer, who presented details on why the Calibre range has been “a real success story” following its introduction. Since its launch the distributor has introduced retro, utility and the Couture prestige ranges to its private wheel range, making Calibre its “umbrella brand”. Greer also talked Tyrepress.com through the upgraded website, which aims to serve modern shopping habits, without treading on the toes of the retail businesses it supplies.
It’s now been about four decades since alloy wheels began winning ground from steel passenger car wheels, and these products really came into their own in the 80s and 90s. Alloy wheels were seen as ‘the best thing since sliced bread’ and sold accordingly. This trend, which started off in the replacement sector, progressed into original equipment; initially only prestige and sport models were equipped with alloys, yet within a few years their use spread to small cars and some entry-level models. The alloy wheel industry boomed and made good money – until a number of thresholds were crossed: Suppliers found themselves with more products than demand justified; fierce competition drove prices down until aftermarket rims were cheaper than their original equipment equivalents. Exquisite accessories became commodities, interchangeable products. Everyday products.
GT Radial’s representatives presented details about the company's new GT Radial WinterPro HP during the dealer visit to its winter testing facility in Ivalo, Finland. A “high performance winter tyre” that was under development in Ivalo this winter, the tyre will be manufactured in Indonesia.
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