North America
Continental AG executive board member, Martien de Louw, will leave the company due to differing views of the business stategy. The decisions is reported to have been made by mutual agreement. Mr de Louw had been responsible for the corporation’s Passenger and Light Truck Tyre division since 1 February 2003. Manfred Wennemer will take over as head of the Passenger and Light Truck Tires division with immediate effect, in addition to his function as chairman.
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America’s launch of its PAX System run-flat tyres on Honda Odyssey minivans last year earned it the Silver Award for outstanding achievement in a new product launch from the Automotive Public Relations Council.
The nationwide media PAX/Honda launch reached more than 30 million Americans via television, radio, newspaper, magazine and Internet reports, according to Michelin, as well as live driving demonstrations in New York, Detroit and Los Angeles.
(Akron/Tire Review) Alcoa Wheel Products said it has been granted a US patent on its Dura-Flange aluminum wheel surface treatment, a product that the company said: “Guards against excessive rim flange wear on commercial vehicle wheels.” Alcoa said it developed the treatment “trucking applications where loads are heavy and prone to shifting, such as logging, tanker and heavy hauling.
(Akron/Tire Review) Wherever the market for new truck tyres decides it is headed, the retreading industry is hot on its heels.
Of course, that job is a bit easier for Bridgestone/Firestone, Goodyear and Michelin, because they are involved in both. But even their allocation of time and money must be measured carefully. For companies like Bandag Inc. and Oliver Rubber Co. – despite its connection with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. – the task is a bit more daunting. But they, too, are highly skilled at knowing what to do and when.
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co continued posting positive results as its first quarter 2005, earning $68 million in profit against record first quarter sales of $4.8 billion.
The Akron Beacon Journal described the results as a “financial home run,” adding they greatly exceeded estimates from Wall Street analysts. The market watchers had thought Goodyear would earn 1 to 3 cents a share for the quarter ending 31 March. Analysts’ high estimate was 10 cents a share, with the lowest a loss of 2 cents. In fact the profits equated to 35 cents a share.
(Akron/Tire Review) Four more tyre companies jumped on the price hike bandwagon yesterday, following up on increases announced recently by Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, Michelin North America, Pirelli Tire North America and Continental Tire North America.
Innovative Tread Replacement Inc (ITR) will host a grand opening of its new location at Eastgate Industrial Park in Jackonsville, Illinois, on 6 and 7 May. Over 700 guests are expected to attend the event. The open house and plant tours will be the first public showing of the ITR’s retread process, recognised worldwide for reliability and efficiency in truck tyre tread replacement, according to the company.
Carlos Ghosn, former chief operating officer of Michelin North America, has been appointed as chief executive of Renault. The well-known executive, also known as “the cost killer,” is a celebrity in Japan due to the radical turnaround he led at Nissan.
Pirelli Tire North America is putting a little fun into its tyre testing programme this week as it participates in the One Lap of America event. Presented by Car and Driver and the Tire Rack, the event starts on 30 April at the Tire Rack headquarters in South Bend, Indiana. The 22nd running of the One Lap covers approximately 3200 miles and passes through many different states on the East coast of the US. The Pirelli team consisting of Jeff Dinges (R&D) and Gianluca Grioni (marketing) will participate in 11 different timed events at tracks such as Virginia International Raceway and New Hampshire International Speedway and finish the event on 7 May back at the Tire Rack.
Pirelli Tire North America will increase prices for its passenger and light truck tyres by 5 per cent. The price increase with be effective from 1 June in the US and Canada. Pirelli is the latest in a string of price increases from major manufacturers in the US.
Michelin has released fist quarter results that show the company’s net sales have “stabilised” in value terms. The weakening dollar is said to have contributed to the 0.2 per cent drop in sales to 3.61 billion euros against the same period last year.
The last year has been eventful for Cooper Tire & Rubber. First the company sold its Cooper Standard business, then it bought an 11 per cent stake in Korean manufacturer Kumho Tire, now the company’s management is optimistic that it is “in the middle of a transformation.” Tire Review’s Jim Smith met Cooper president and CEO, Tom Dattilo, and found out his thoughts on the diverse diverse subjects of emerging markets, run-flat technology and how Cooper can enhance its position as a global player.
This year Trelleborg is 100 years young. The company’s name is fairly well recognised in the UK market but there is still room for improvement. Ask where the company comes from, what it’s up to on the UK market, or how Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) fits into the picture and the response is often vague. However the manufacturer is addressing these brand awareness issues and is beginning to focus more and more on its agricultural division as well as marketing itself as a specialist in agricultural tyres. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Ian Gillespie, managing director of Trelleborg Wheel Systems UK, to discern its UK market approach.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America (CTNA) has become the latest tyre company to announce a price increase. As of 1 June, CTNA is raising prices on all of its commercial tyres – Continental, General and Semperit and private brand lines it produces in a range of four to six per cent.
(Akron/Tire Review) Carl Casalbore, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co’s vice president of marketing and retail sales, abruptly left the company 11 April. The former Pirelli high performance sales and marketing manager left to pursue other interests. Cooper has not yet named a replacement.
Casalbore joined Cooper in 1999 after more than 20 years with Pirelli Tire North America, and was initially director of Pirelli sales for Cooper when the two companies worked together on sales and distribution. He later helped spearhead Cooper’s push into the high performance market and with development and launch of Cooper’s Zeon line.
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