North America Archives - Page 47 of 174 - Tyrepress

North America

Tag Archive for: North America

Bridgestone breaks ground on Vietnam plant

On 2 July Bridgestone celebrated the groundbreaking of its new passenger car tyre facility in Vietnam, the company’s first factory in the country. The ceremony at the chosen plant site in the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone, Hai Phong City, was attended by the Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hoang Trung Hai, along with other government officials and management from Bridgestone’s business partners. Representing the tyre maker at the ceremony were Kazuhisa Nishigai, Bridgestone Corporation COO and Representative Board member, and Susumu Yazaki, president of Bridgestone Tire Manufacturing Vietnam Limited Liability Company.

2nd July 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Market decline 'uneven' across Europe

The latest report from AlixPartners reveals that the decline in vehicle sales is not evenly distributed across Europe, but has distinct focal points.

Belgium, Italy and France have experienced double-digit declines in sales and the outlook remains negative. In the UK, Germany and Spain, by contrast, declines have been relatively moderate (between 0.8 per cent and 2.4 per cent), while the markets in Russia and Poland have grown slightly.

The European automotive industry is severely in need of consolidation, says AlixPartners. In North America, the crisis of 2008/2009 led to "a healthy streamlining" of the automotive industry – by contrast, only three car factories have been closed in Western Europe since 2007, while eight Eastern European plants were opened during the same period.

28th June 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone extends, tweaks American football sponsorship deal

Bridgestone’s high-profile sponsorship of the National Football League in the US, which got underway in 2007, has been extended for a further four years. Under the terms of the new agreement signed between Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and the NFL, sponsorship will continue through to 31 March 2016 and Bridgestone will no longer sponsor the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Instead, the tyre maker says it will focus on “reinforcing the Bridgestone brand performance message” at various games throughout the season, culminating at the Super Bowl. The Bridgestone brand will continue to be the “official tyre” of the NFL.

20th June 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Additional investment for Bridgestone Americas agricultural plant

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has earmarked a further US$74 million for capacity expansion at its Des Moines, Iowa agricultural tyre plant. This latest investment at the tyre maker’s main North American agricultural tyre facility follows a $77 million investment announced in March 2010; Bridgestone says the two projects confirm its “commitment to maintaining its leadership position in the agricultural tyre industry” and will help the plant meet growing demand for tyres that provide better traction and an increased footprint.

18th June 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre volumes still declining

Tyre volumes are still declining around the world despite gains in the North American markets, which reportedly reflect improvements in demand but come from a low base. The news is derived from Michelin’s sell-in market data, which the global tyre giant publishes on a monthly basis.

15th June 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg announces agro/forestry tyre price increase

Trelleborg Wheel Systems has announced that it plans to implement price increases on agricultural and forestry tyres and wheels.

The price hike of up to 5.5 per cent in North America takes effect in July 2012, on all tyres and wheels designed for use in agricultural, forestry and light industrial applications.

30th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Schaeffler: A good start to 2012, despite lower profits

Major Continental shareholder Schaeffler AG has reported a “good start” to 2012. On announcing the company’s January to March results on 29 May, CEO Dr. Juergen M. Geissinger said “we have successfully continued our growth strategy during the first quarter of 2012 despite an increasingly challenging environment. With sales increasing by six per cent, our growth has again outpaced the market. We have managed to stabilise our profitability at a high level.”

30th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho official tyre of US Soccer Federation

Kumho Tire U.S.A. has signed on as the “official tyre sponsor” of the United States Soccer Federation and the men’s and women’s national teams. “Kumho's sponsorship of the U.S.S.F. fits well with our national branding campaign that encourages an active and adventurous lifestyle, further highlighted by our 'Let's Go' motto," said Rick Brennan, vice-president of marketing, Kumho Tire U.S.A. "With the upcoming London Olympics, we are honoured to be an official sponsor of United States Soccer."

29th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV tyre

Following the launch of its award-winning EfficientGrip passenger car tyre, Goodyear chose Portugal to showcase its new EfficientGrip SUV tyre, aimed squarely at the 4×4 and SUV market, from luxury, full-size vehicles through standard, compact and sub-compact ranges. The 4×4/SUV market in Europe is growing and is expected to reach several million vehicles by 2014, meaning increased demand for specialised 4×4/SUV tyres which combine performance and fuel economy.

28th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Fuel economy most important car consideration to Americans

With fuel prices at near-record levels, US consumers are driving less and contemplating a move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to recent survey by Consumer Reports. Tire Review reports that the survey found that 37 per cent said their leading consideration when shopping for their next car will be fuel economy. A distant second was quality (17 per cent) followed by safety (16 per cent), value (14 per cent) and performance (6 per cent).

25th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Iconic US Firestone store may get historic designation

There is a serious effort afoot to have the iconic “Firestone Tire Building” in Los Angeles designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument, Tire Review reports. According to a story on la.curbed.com, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles petitioned the Los Angeles City Council's Planning and Land Use Management committee, which quickly passed a motion approving the designation. The proposal now must go before the entire city council.

25th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone net income up 35% in Q1

For the first quarter of 2012, Bridgestone has reported net sales of ¥726.2 billion (£5.6 billion), a three per cent increase over the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The company’s operating income amounted to ¥63.0 billon (£490.0 million), an increase of 13 per cent, ordinary income was ¥61.7 billion (£479.9 million), an increase of ten per cent, and net income was ¥42.2 billion (£328.2 million), a year-on-year increase of 35 per cent.

14th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

New plant manager for Bridgestone Americas’ Warren County plant

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has appointed Mitch Burke plant manager at its Warren County, Tennessee truck and bus tyre factory. Burke has been with Bridgestone Americas since 1989, starting his career as a junior engineer at the Warren County plant. Subsequently, he served in numerous engineering and management roles of increasing responsibility, including positions as quality coordinator, section manager, operations manager, area business manager, division manager of Truck Bus Radial Technical Services, and, most recently, division manager, Operations.

14th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama 1Q operating income quadruples to 9.3 billion yen

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has reported that first quarter net sales (1 January to 31 March) increased 7.4 per cent over the same period of the previous year to 135.3 billion yen. At the same time operating income increased 403.3 per cent, to 9.3 billion yen; and net income increased 389.7 per cent, to 8.8 billion yen. According to the company, the first-quarter sales growth reflected strong gains in OE sales to Japanese OEMs as well as progress in raising prices for tyres and other products.

11th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Double Coin launches mobile website

Double Coin and the China Manufacturers Alliance have launched a new mobile website aimed at North American customers. The site will complement the existing www.doublecoin-us.com and is designed and formatted for optimal viewing on any web-enabled Smartphone, including iPhone, Android, Blackberry and others. Features accessible through the mobile site include product specifications and warranty information, and visitors can use the dealer locator function to access over 1,000 independent Double Coin tyre dealers across North America. The phone’s GPS automatically redirects to the closest dealer based on the user’s current location.

4th May 2012/by Tyrepress Editors