Nokian Tyres
The next generation of Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded winter tyres will come to market in time for winter 2017-18. Nokian writes that these new flagship products, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 car tyre and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV ranges, feature new stud technology.
Nokian Tyres is introducing a new range for the coming winter. It describes this addition to its product portfolio, the Nokian WR A4, as a “premium winter tyre” and “the ultimate weather master.” The WR A4 carries the 3PMSF ‘snowflake’ marking and will be available in 51 sizes for 16 to 21-inch rim diameters and speed ratings from H up to W, including XL load capacity and run-flat versions.
Nokian Tyres’ president and CEO Ari Lehtoranta has resigned in order to “pursue new opportunities outside of Nokian Tyres”. According to the company, Lehtoranta will continue in his present position until the end of 2016. Lehtoranta only joined Nokian in May 2014 and will be remembered for his decision to own up to company’s magazine tyre test manipulation in February 2016.
The Spanish municipality of Santa Cruz de la Zarza, some 50 miles southeast of Madrid, has been selected as the location of Nokian Tyres’ new technology centre for the testing of summer and winter tyres. The Finnish tyre maker will invest approximately €16 million to build the facility on a site of some 300 hectares. Construction work will begin early in 2017, and while the facility will not be finished until 2019 the first project stage is expected to be completed next year.
Nokian Tyres has introduced a new off-road tyre for light trucks and SUVs, the Rockproof, and says it “offers extreme durability for professional driving and off-road enthusiasts. The tyre maker singles out quarries, forests and mines as environments in which the Nokian Rockproof is a “fearless performer,” and states that “this sturdy new tyre is a tireless workhorse with a thoroughbred mining compound that can handle even unexpected impacts during demanding off-road use.” Eight Nokian Rockproof sizes will introduced in Europe early next year.
Nokian Tyres has released its second quarter and first half 2016 figures, the numbers are also the first full quarter figures published since Nokian admitted it had been involved in tyre test irregularities in a series of press articles during the first quarter of the year. Forex issues and other problems in the Russian market are no-doubt connected to Nokian’s performance. Indeed, Russian sales declined by almost 30 per cent and mild winter weather is said to have left inventories in Russia and North America (see below for further details on this).
Tarja Kaipio has been appointed Nokian Tyres’ vice-president of human resources and a member of the company’s management team. She begins in her new position on 8 August and, reporting to president and chief executive officer Ari Lehtoranta, will be responsible for human resources functions at Nokian Tyres.
In order to increase the proportion of green energy used in the manufacture of its products, Nokian Tyres has entered into a joint venture to construct a biomass power plant. The Finnish tyre maker shares that the Nokianvirran Energia HK 16 facility, which is 32.3 per cent owned by Nokian Tyres, was commissioned yesterday. Nokian’s partners in the joint venture are Sähkö Oy, which holds a 40.3 per cent share, and Oy SCA Hygiene Products Ab, which is a 27.4 per cent shareholder.
Timo Tervolin has been appointed as vice president, strategy and corporate development and a member of Nokian Tyres’ management team. According to the company, his responsibilities will include leading Nokian’s strategy process and strategic programmes, mergers and acquisitions, and monitoring markets and competition.
Finnish tyre maker Nokian Tyres has signed a €100 million revolving credit facility for five years with an international bank syndicate. The company reports that the facility will be used to refinance the existing €100 million multicurrency revolving credit facility that was signed 31 March 2011, and also for “general corporate purposes.”
Nokian Tyres describes its new skidder tyre, the Logger King LS-2, as the “ultimate workhorse for full-tree forestry work.” The all-new range is available in five sizes – 23.1-26, 28L-26, 24.5-32, 30.5L-32 and 35.5L-32 – with an ‘Extreme’ version available for extra demanding forestry applications at times when, as Nokian says, “normal is just not enough.”
“I didn’t have any choice.” – Ari Lehtoranta, president and CEO of Nokian Tyres, is convinced his decision to go public about the Finnish manufacturer’s manipulation of tyre tests in Europe over decades was the right decision. Lehtoranta, who has led the company since October 2014, wonders why Nokian Tyres went to the effort of supplying specially-made test tyres – particularly as the company’s non-manipulated products have always gained good results in tyre tests.
In an interview with Tyres & Accessories, Lehtoranta explains why it is now important to take part in the current public discussions on the subject and, through these talks, develop new industry-wide transparency rules.
Last week, the world learned that Nokian Tyres may have supplied bespoke products to tyre testers in past years in order to win or perform better in their tests. In the wake of the publication of such allegations, Michelin has issued a statement regarding its own approach to tyre testing. The tyre maker affirms that it has “never designed or manufactured tyres specifically for tests conducted by the media, automobile associations or any other organisations.”
Two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Häkkinen is to become a brand ambassador of Nokian Tyres after Häkkinen signed a “multi-year partnership contract”. Häkkinen will take part in various projects including promoting safe driving during the coming years.
While Nokian Tyres was unable to maintain its turnover and operating profit in 2014, the company achieved a sizable increase in net profit. The Finnish company’s turnover declined 2.1 per cent to €1.36 billion. Operating profit declined 4.1 per cent to €296 million, however net profit rose 15.5 per cent to €240.7 million.
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.