Michelin Archives - Page 288 of 323 - Tyrepress

Tyre industry pioneers, Michelin has a long history. Having begun in 1889, Michelin is now the second-largest tyre manufacturer in the world after Bridgestone and larger than both Goodyear and Contineantal.

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Michelin North America Announces Price Increases

Michelin North America is increasing U.S. replacement tyre prices on a variety of product lines.
• Passenger and light truck tyres will increase by up to 5 percent on Michelin brand and up to 6 percent on BFGoodrich, Uniroyal and private and associate brands effective March 1, 2005.
• Commercial truck tyres will increase by up to 6 percent on both Michelin and BFGoodrich brands effective March 1, 2005.
• Earthmover tyres will increase by 5 percent effective Jan. 1, 2005.
• Agricultural tyres will increase by up to 6 percent for radial tyres and up to 12 percent for bias tyres effective Jan. 1, 2005
• General aviation tyres will increase 5 percent worldwide effective April 1, 2005.

21st December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

More Than Just Products

Today, every company that wants to be successful in fleet business needs a lot more than just good products, nowadays that is just a prerequisite. Those responsible at Bandag Inc in Muscatine, Iowa, are convinced that the right service and the right network is even more important than the products. Bandag claims that it has both, and is trying to further integrate all of its 220 European dealers into a single global retreading network. In order to promote this policy, the company invited 20 of its dealers from around the UK and Ireland to visit its American headquarters.

16th December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Announces Further Price Increases

Michelin SCA in France admitted yesterday that it wants to make Europe-wide prices increases of five per cent. Michelin justified the repeated round of price increases by the rise of raw material prices, which have added up to 40 per cent in the last five years.

14th December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Names Future Director of Motorsport

Following the news that Pierre Dupasquier will retire in 2006, Michelin has announced that Frédéric Henry-Biabaud, the current deputy director, will replace Mr Dupasquier at the end of the 2005 season. At the same time the tyre manufacturer gave further details of personnel changes within its motorsport group.

The motorsport group is made up of five departments. The leadership of the group’s rallying, motorcycling, endurance racing and rally raids divisions will remain the same. Michelin’s Formula 1 division, however, will have a new head. Following the departure of Pascal Vasselon, bound for a new position in America, Nick Shorrock will take over responsibility from January 2005. Patrick Cohen will assist him as a technical manager.

Commenting on the recent decisions, Motorsport Director Pierre Dupasquier said: “I am very happy to see that we are putting teams into place early enough to whom I can pass the torch, therefore guaranteeing the quality of service that we owe all our partners and the continuity of Michelin in racing.”

10th December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

French MRT Franchise Renews Contract

Robert Bernard TRM, the first Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) franchise in Canada, has renewed its contract with MRT for another five years.

“We are pleased to renew our strong partnership with Robert Bernard TRM,” confirmed Guy Pekle, president of MRT Canada. “As the demand for MRT products strengthen and our growth continues, we remain committed to finding lower cost solutions for customers.” Jocelyn Bernard, vice-president of Robert Bernard TRM Ltée added “our existing structure allows for the sale of high-end MRT products on the road, via our retail distributors and Michelin partners. We are confident that market response will be as good as it has been for the last five years where we have seen consistent, annual growth.”

Michelin says it will continue to focus on the independent dealer and franchises, noting that there are now more than 230 points of sale in North America for Michelin retreads.

8th December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Transfers Formula 1 Boss

Michelin’s Formula 1 boss, Pascal Vasselon, has changed jobs into serial tyre production. The move is an apparent reaction to the fact that Michelin has failed to achieve a world championship in four years of commitment, online news portal F1total.com reports.
It has not yet been decided who will be the 41 year old’s successor. The exact reasons for Mr Vasselon’s displacement also remain unclear, as he was generally regarded as an integral and highly esteemed part of Michelin’s Formula 1 team.

30th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Price Increases Good News for Manufacturers’ Shares

The prices increases announced by a number of leading manufacturers are good news for their share prices, say market analysts Deutsche Bank. Bridgestone/ Firestone announced a 5 per cent across the board price increase for passenger car and light truck tyres in North America, effective 1 January 2005, with heavy truck tyre prices set to increase by 7 per cent. According to the analysts, this news is particularly significant because BFS was one of two companies (along with Michelin) that did not raise prices during the last round of price hikes that were rolled out by Goodyear, Cooper Tire, Continental and others in October. This means that “most tyre companies will elect to raise prices once again in early 2005, and that price increases will mitigate higher raw material costs,” says Deutsche Bank.

30th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Joins the TRA

Five more companies, including Michelin Tyres Plc, have joined the Tyre Recovery (TRA) association. This raises membership to a total of 25 companies.

Commenting on the company’s association membership a Michelin spokesperson stated: “As members of the BRMA we are encouraged by the response of the Tyre Recovery Association and its members to the challenge of helping Government meet the EU Landfill Directive. Like a number of other BRMA companies we feel we must show more than just financial support and take an active role in the new body. Our own recycling volumes are considerable and will make a significant contribution to the overall audited figures of the group, as well as demonstrating our positive environmental credentials.”

In addition to Michelin, Cardiff Recycling, Creigiau Tyres, Re-Tyre and Western Tyres joined the TRA.

26th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Looks Forward to Next Season

As supplier to both champion and more run-of-the-mill teams, Bridgestone is in an unusual position. The Bridgestone shod Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello may be perpetually on the podium, but Jordan and Minardi ‘s drivers are a long way off. Michelin, on the other hand, seems to supply everybody in between including race contenders.
Bridgestone’s, technical director, Hisao Suganuma, admitted to F1racing.net that only having Ferrari and Jordan and Minardi is disadvantage. “With the new regulations, we have to do a lot of testing. Next year we cannot change tyres in the race anymore, so we have to make a different type of tyre. We need to do a lot of long distance runs and that is difficult. Sauber went to our competitor Michelin, but we have to live with that.”

Meanwhile, Ferrari has a new test driver in Marc Gené who previously worked for Williams and therefore with Michelin tyres. Mr Suganuma is keen to hear about some of Michelin’s secrets. “We really are looking forward to our chat. I am not sure if [Marc Gené] will tell us everything he knows about Michelin, but of course I am hoping he will,” Mr Suganuma told the website.

26th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Europe’s Evanescent Motorsport Culture

Motorsport isn’t just about speedy overtaking manoeuvres and exciting finishes. Instead a major part of its attraction is owed to the people that live for motorsports and who – if missing – would make the event that bit less interesting. Without doubt one of these people is Pierre Dupasquier. For 30 years the Michelin motorsport director has been generally regarded as the driving force behind the French tyre manufacturer’s involvement. In addition, he is one of the few who, although not a driver himself, is allowed to comment on races on TV. Tyres & Accessories had the opportunity to meet the passionate 67 year old Frenchman and talk about the coming season.

To download this article as a PDF file, click here.

26th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin and Sauber Fit Together

Yesterday the Swiss Sauber team tested tyres from its new supplier, Michelin. Driver, Felipe Massa used last season’s C23 and obviously succeeded in finding a good balance between the tyres and wheel suspension, at the first attempt. Bridgestone tyres had previously been fitted to the model.

25th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Capirossi and Checa Have Successful Bridgestone Debuts

Loris Capirossi and Carlo Checa have made successful debuts, testing tyres for Bridgestone. The riders were testing Japanese rubber after Ducati switched suppliers from Michelin to Bridgestone. Capirossi shone with best results followed by Checa. The Aprilia, Proton-KTM and Kawasaki were also testing in Jerez.

25th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Onkar S Kanwar Becomes New FICCI President

Onkar S Kanwar has been named as president-elect of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Mr Kanwar, chairman and managing director of Apollo Tyres, will take over from current president YK Modi at the conclusion of the 77th annual session next month. Closely associated with leading national and international industry chambers and other business organisations, Kanwar is also past president of the International Chamber of Commerce – India (ICCI). As head of Apollo Tyres, Kanwar recently forged alliance with Michelin, the world’s number one tyre manufacturer with operations in over 170 countries.

23rd November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Russia to Treble Production

Jean-Yves Caux, managing director of Michelin’s Russian business has said that the company expects to treble its tyre production capacity by the end of 2005. The expansion plans are due to take place at the company’s Davydovo site, outside Moscow and will increase the plant’s production rate from 2000 to 6000 tyres a day. Speaking to French newspaper La Tribune, Mr Caux said Michelin will invest 18 million euros between 2004 and 2005 on top of the 70 million the company has already invested. The managing director did not rule out further investment in the country. According to the report, Michelin says it will create up to 200 new jobs in order to keep up with demand. The new jobs will be in addition to the company’s existing workforce of 754, of these 650 are presently based at the Davydovo site.

17th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Red Bull Racing Negotiates with Michelin

Tony Purnell, boss of the former Jaguar and soon-to-be-renamed Red Bull Racing, has hinted that the team will use Michelin tyres next season. “The team is in negotiations with Michelin for next year,” confirmed Red Bull Racing team principal Tony Purnell adding, “the 2005 (Jaguar) car was designed around Michelin tyres and we are hoping to continue that relationship.”

Speaking to the officical Formula 1 web site, Mr Purnell insisted that the whole Jaguar sale process had made only minimal impact on development of the team’s 2005 car, with Ford having continued to invest in facilities right up until the sale to Red Bull. “A going concern we have been – it’s been business as usual,” he said.

16th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors