North America
In an analysts report published at the end of last year (17 December) financial analysts surveying the market on behalf of Morgan Stanley found that replacement light vehicle tyre markets were very strong in Europe and North America and grew by 15 per cent and 6 per cent respectively in November last year. The figures were based on research conducted by Michelin, which was published the same day.
Preliminary annual figures released by Kumho Tire show a sizable increase in sales during 2010. The Korean tyre maker reports global sales of US$2.305 billion in its home market and export markets outside North America last year, a 36 per cent year-on-year increase. Sales within the North America region amounted to $770 million, up 29 per cent on 2009. Taken as a whole, Kumho Tire gives a preliminary figure of $3.075 billion for its global 2010 sales, a year-on-year increase of 34 per cent.
Yokohama Tire Canada has reorganised its internal structure by creating separate commercial and consumer business units to manage the sales and marketing of the two respective product lines. This revised structure is intended to better support dealers and assist is sharpening the focus of both the consumer and commercial businesses.
Michelin North America has announced price increases on its OTR and industrial tyres plus its Oliver retreading tread stock. Prices for replacement earthmover and industrial tyres sold in North America will rise by as much as seven per cent as of February 1. Oliver and MegaMile branded tread stock saw increases of up to seven per cent as of January 3.
Yokohama’s Salem facility in the US has reached the highest tier in its home state’s environmental programme. In December the plant was recognised as an Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise (E4) in the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP). Among the 450 participants in VEEP, only about thirty have qualified as E4 members – the highest attainable level.
As of January 17 a new president will be at the helm of Cooper Tire & Rubber’s North America Tire Operations. Responsibility for the US$2 million plus operation, which produces passenger car and light truck tyres, primarily for sale in the US replacement market, will be transferred from Cooper Tire & Rubber chairman, CEO and President Roy Armes to Christopher E. Ostrander. In addition to this new post, Ostrander will also serve on the company's Executive Committee and as an officer of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.
In 2011, Michelin will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Michelin Lifestyle, the company’s division dedicated to the development of licensed consumer products that promote the Michelin brand image. After a decade of operations the UK headquartered fully-owned Michelin subsidiary has seven regional offices around the world and over 75 licensee partners. In 2009, over 12.7 million Michelin licensed products were sold through 30,000 sales outlets in over 85 countries and Michelin was ranked 63 in the list of 125 top licensing companies compiled by the US based magazine ‘License!’
With only six months to go before the 24th Autopromotec, the specialised international exhibition of automotive equipment and aftermarket products (Bologna Exhibition Centre, 25 – 29 May 2011), the organisers have announced strong numbers of foreign exhibitors as well as buyer and dealer delegations for 2011. As a result the next Autopromotec will reportedly have three halls of exhibits from the tyre and ancillary industries.
The European and Latin American agricultural tyre businesses run by Goodyear Tire & Rubber have a new owner following their sale to Titan Tire Corporation. On December 13 the Titan International subsidiary announced its acquisition of the businesses, including a licensing agreement permitting Titan to manufacture and sell Goodyear-brand farm tyres in Europe, Africa, Eastern Europe, Russia, Latin America and North America. The deal is valued at approximately US$130 million, subject to post-closing adjustments.
Mark Emkes, who in February retired as president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas, has taken on a role with the Tennessee state government. Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Haslam has appointed Emkes to the role of commissioner of finance and administration. In this position Emkes will play a key role in shaping a US$1 billion reduction in state spending when federal stimulus money runs out next year.
Continental AG’s automotive components plant in Huntsville, Alabama is preparing to close its doors for the last time. Production ended on November 11 and now only some 250 employees remain at the plant – this is expected to drop to around 100 in January. Continental has already announced Huntsville’s lost production will be absorbed by other plants in the US and Mexico.
This year, notes Yokohama Tire Corporation, has been a good one for Gary Nash. The 45-year tyre industry veteran was promoted to vice president of Yokohama’s OTR department in the US in 2010 and was elected to the Tire Industry Association’s (TIA) Hall of Fame. In an interview released by the tyre maker, Nash discusses the fluctuations that have taken place in the OTR market, why the bottom dropped out in 2009 and how it bounced back strongly in 2010, and what the market will look like in 2011.
French tyre giant Michelin has launched the company’s latest tyre for the ultra high-performance segment, the Pilot Super Sport, at an event in Dubai. Attending the launch alongside Michelin representatives were spokespeople from Porsche and TÜV SÜD; Michelin said it had “worked closely” alongside the auto manufacturer – as well as with BMW M and Ferrari – in developing the Pilot Super Sport, meeting its “challenging original equipment specifications”, while the testing organisation has recently produced a comparative study of the tyre and its competitors, determining it as “the fastest tyre on the market”. The Pilot Super Sport will be available from January 2011. The tyre will go on the market priced at the same level as its predecessor, the Pilot Sport 2, an important point of comparison considering the PS2’s more than 200 OE certifications. The Pilot Super Sport achieved a wet braking distance 3m shorter than its predecessor (80-10kmh) in TÜV SÜD tests.
A man in the US state of Alabama has been contacted by Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s legal department after using the tyre maker’s logo on billboards celebrating the defeat of Democrats around the country in the November 2 election. Tire Review reports that Ronnie Holmes, who is listed on the Alabama secretary of state’s website as the incorporating agent, president and secretary of Tuscaloosa Tire and Service Center – which operates three Goodyear stores in Tuscaloosa and one in Northport – created the signs using the Goodyear logo without permission.
French tyre giant Michelin has launched the company’s latest tyre for the ultra high-performance segment, the Pilot Super Sport, at an event in Dubai. Attending the launch alongside Michelin representatives were spokespeople from Porsche and TÜV SÜD; Michelin said it had “worked closely” alongside the auto manufacturer – as well as with BMW M and Ferrari – in developing the Pilot Super Sport, meeting its “challenging original equipment specifications”, while the testing organisation has recently produced a comparative study of the tyre and its competitors, determining it as “the fastest tyre on the market”. The Pilot Super Sport will be available from January 2011. The tyre will go on the market priced at the same level as its predecessor, the Pilot Sport 2, an important point of comparison considering the PS2’s more than 200 OE certifications. The Pilot Super Sport achieved a wet braking distance 3m shorter than its predecessor (80-10kmh) in TÜV SÜD tests.
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