North America
Claudio Zanardo has been named the next chief executive officer of Pirelli Tire North America. He will begin in this role on 1 November, succeeding Pietro Berardi, who is leaving the company to pursue a new professional challenge. Zanardo joins the North American team from Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan, where he has most recently served as senior vice-president Moto and Velo.
Hankook Tire is expanding its Dynapro line-up in North America with the introduction of the new ‘Rugged Terrain’ Hankook Dynapro XT and next-generation Dynapro AT2 Xtreme. It will offer the Dynapro XT is 30 sizes in this market. At launch the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme will cover 32 sizes, however Hankook says it will continue adding new sizes through a phased launch, eventually reaching 98 total sizes by 2022. The tyre maker states that the introduction of the two products will accelerate its penetration into the US market.
Nexen Tire has entered into a three-year partnership as exclusive tyre for the Anaheim Ducks, the California-based ice hockey club founded in 1993 as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The exclusive tyre arrangement also covers Honda Center, the Ducks’ home stadium.
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.’s Advan Sport V105 tyres have been selected by Volkswagen of America for its Atlas Cross Sport GT Concept, which was unveiled in July. The car is fitted with 285/35ZR22 106Y size V105 tyres.
Bridgestone Americas has made a ten per cent minority investment in Wrench, a US-based mobile vehicle services and technology company. According to Bridgestone, the new partnership will accelerate both companies’ ability to meet the needs of car owners with best-in-class technology in the rapidly growing mobile vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance market.
Goodyear Ventures has made another mobility-related investment, becoming one of several parties to inject capital into US-based electric vehicle charging provider AmpUp. This funding, which also includes capital from Foothill Ventures and TechNexus Venture Collaborative, comes less than a year after AmpUp’s initial seed raise.
Hankook Tire America Corporation is recalling up to 7,026 Kinergy GT H436 235/50 R19H tyres manufactured between 30 January 2021 and 6 February 2021. The recall was implemented after the discovery of “a small batch of passenger tyres produced as original equipment tyres for the Chevrolet Equinox and the GMC Terrain were manufactured with sub-tread rubber with an insufficient amount of curative agent”, according to documents filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
With Roy Littlefield soon to retire as chief executive officer, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) is searching for a successor. The US-based association representing the tyre, retreading and repair sectors says it seeks a “dynamic leader in a rapidly changing business environment” to head its work in tyre technician training, government affairs and improving the overall environment for its tyre dealer and industry members.
Bridgestone will serve as the exclusive tyre supplier to the Fisker Ocean. Announcing its selection of Bridgestone yesterday, the US-based carmaker shared that its all-electric SUV will ride on custom-developed Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres featuring Enliten technology in Europe. It will offer the Potenza Sport on selected models sold in North America as well, equipping other models with the all-season Alenza Sport.
The price of certain aftermarket Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal passenger and light truck tyres will rise by up to eight per cent in the USA and Canada from 1 September. Prices for on- and off-road commercial tyres will increase by as much as 14 per cent, while prices for motorcycle tyres will be up to four per cent higher from the start of next month.
Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has reached an agreement with tech-focused private equity firm Sumeru Equity Partners, connected vehicle specialist Danlaw and other shareholders to purchase Azuga Holdings, Inc. (Azuga) and the Azuga fleet management platform for US$391 million. Bridgestone says the acquisition will accelerate its efforts to develop and deploy sustainable mobility solutions as a “central pillar of the company’s advanced mobility strategy.”
Nokian Tyres has added a fourth production shift at its North American factory in Dayton, Tennessee, and is now producing tyres around the clock at its 2019-opened facility. The switch to 24/7 production coincides with the Dayton plant’s ISO 14001 certification.
As of 1 August 2021, Toyo Tire USA is increasing its prices “across all tyre categories” by up to 8.5 per cent.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has introduced a tyre intelligence solution for cargo van fleets. Called Goodyear SightLine, the solution will initially be available in Europe and North America, and later this year Goodyear will also offer it to original equipment customers and emerging fleet and mobility providers.
Bridgestone Corporation reports that its North and Latin American subsidiary is expanding several key leadership positions in order to strengthen its core tyre business and to accelerate the execution of its sustainable mobility solutions strategy. The changes will take effect 1 June.
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VW; Yokohama
NHTSA