Last year, Apollo Tyres introduced its range into Europe, including several winter tyres. As such, it is the first and to-date only Indian tyre maker to market winter tyres in our region. The brand recently received a boost when its winter tyres were favourably reviewed by VOX TV, a national television network in Germany, Europe’s most significant winter tyre market.
Financial analysts at Morgan Stanley described Nokian's recent third quarter financials as “a good set of results”, with sales and pre-tax profits (EBIT) ahead of consensus. As a result the the consensus is that these provide a positive outlook for the fourth quarter of 2011. However the investor's note also said that growth in order intake is levelling off.
British Gas recently completed a year-round trial of Continental winter tyres on its fleet of car-derived vans. Following the extreme weather conditions experienced in 2009, British Gas took the decision to fit 120 of its Volkswagen Caddy vans with winter tyres to ensure its vehicles stayed on-call and on the road last winter.
Nokian Tyres has announced it will open four new Vianor Industrial outlets in Sweden at the start of next year, and the company says it also plans to expand the concept into Russian and Kazakhstan. At present 34 Vianor Industrial outlets are in operation; Norway is the currently the largest single Vianor Industrial market, with 16 outlets, followed by Sweden, with 12 outlets. The Ukraine and Nokian’s home market of Finland each boast three Vianor Industrial outlets.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is warning that many of Britain’s roads will become more hazardous for motorists as the frosts and local council cuts bite. In spite of the last two winters of severe cold, snow and ice, many councils are planning to cut back on winter road services, including salting. The suggestion is that this could lead to more accidents. Last year there was a 37 per cent increase in the number of cars overturning in snow and ice, according to the IAM.
Nokian’s new WR D3 winter tyre has been awarded victory in German car magazine Sport Auto’s winter tyre test 2011. The Finnish brand scored 99/100 for its snow performance and 68/70 in the dry. “Nokian is clearly ahead of the others with regard to winter properties. In the dry you can rely on it, too,” said Sport Auto. The tyre, priced at 169 euros, was the most economically priced tyre, with the most expensive tyre tested costing 57 euros more. Only premium winter tyres in the dimension 225/45-17 were tested.
A new lap record has been set at the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit – and Nokian Tyres is proud of the role its products played. The Electric RaceAbout (E-RA) vehicle, built by the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and fitted with Nokian Z G2 tyres, zipped around the Nordschleife in 8:42.72, setting a lap record for road legal electric cars. The E-RA averaged more than 142 km/h during its run and cut more than a minute from the previous record.
Nokian Heavy Tyres has introduced a trio of new off-road products, the TRI 2 Extreme Steel, Loader Grip 3 and Nordman Mine All-Steel Radial. The first two of these are intended for earthmoving applications while the Nordman, as its name suggests, is aimed at the mining sector.
Nokian Tyres is widely acknowledged as a winter tyre pioneer, but other companies also played a part in the introduction of season-specific tyres. One such firm is Semperit, who this year celebrates three quarters of a century in the winter tyre business.
A new addition has been made to Nokian Tyres’ Hakka summer tyre range. Called the Hakka Blue, this latest product from the Finnish tyre maker is designed with ‘northern’ roads in mind and thus is intended, in Nokian’s own words, to offer “the best possible traction and precise handling for challenging wet roads.” The Hakka Blue is aimed at high-powered cars and is produced in a total of 21 sizes in V and W speed ratings for 15 to 17-inch rim diameters. All dimensions offered will be XL marked. Retail sales of the new tyre will begin in spring 2012 in Nokian’s most important market areas: the Nordic countries, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as Kazakhstan and Belarus.
While winter conditions in many of our neighbouring European countries are much more severe than here in the UK, Hankook representatives point out that some of these boast lower accident rates. Why? A major factor in this is down to tyre choice. Hankook therefore believes it is essential that “we educate our customers on winter tyres and contribute towards a reduction in motoring accidents during winter.”
Nokian Tyres styles itself as “the only tyre manufacturer in the world that focuses on products and services that facilitate safe transportation in Nordic conditions”, and its 2011 range reflects the company's expertise in the area, developed in variable Central European conditions. The manufacturer says its WR D3 and WR A3 tyres are “designed for different vehicles and drivers but for any winter weather”. The company calls its tyres “environmentally friendly premium products” that feature nanotechnology and canola oil, which helps to improve their reliability in the winter conditions of Central Europe. Nordic Tyres (UK) usually imports Nokian Industrial, Forestry and Agriculture, though increased demand in the last UK winter led to its decision to stock passenger car winter patterns. The UK distributor says it suggests “early contact… in order to meet expected demand before winter really bites”.
Canadian specialist yard management and dock scheduling software solutions provider C3 Solutions reports that Nokian Tyres has adopted its C3 Reservations system in its key European manufacturing facilities and distribution centres. The Finnish manufacturer’s sites in Nokia and in Vsevolozhsk, Russia are two locations named as beneficiaries of the new system, which is intended to optimise the scheduling of raw materials and finished products to, from and between the company’s facilities.
Nokian Tyres reports that the group’s net sales increased by 41.4 per cent to 628.0 million euros during the first six month of 2011 (444.2 million euros in the first half of 2010). Operating profit grew faster still, almost doubling to 165.6 million euros (2010: 82.0 million euros) and earnings per share increased to 1.06 euros (2010: 0.58 euros).
Tyrepac has become the exclusive distributor of Nokian tyres in Singapore. The deal will see Tyrepac retail the tyres exclusively online. According to a statement released by the company, Tyrepac will further promote Nokian tyres via a variety of marketing campaigns. The deal Tyrepac’s brand count to a total of 18 marques for its Singaporean customers.
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