Millbrook is expanding its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) test facilities. According to the well-known test centre, Millbrook has “the best facilities for testing these cutting-edge technologies in the UK”. In addition to modifications to existing road and test track infrastructure, Millbrook is reportedly making “a significant investment in high-precision instrumentation and soft targets that allow contact without damage”.
Bracing itself for a no-deal Brexit, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) launched a new Brexit Readiness Programme to help the industry, especially small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs in the automotive supply chain, prepare for the UK leaving the EU on 10 October.
While presenting its nine-month 2018 results, Michelin has predicted a significant slowdown in passenger and truck tyre market conditions in the second half of the year. However, the well-known tyre manufacturer also predicted “sustained growth” in the speciality sector, which consists of OTR, two-wheel, aircraft and agricultural tyres.
On Tuesday 25th September France and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding under which France will engage in a know-how transfer relating to tyre production technology with the Islamic Republic.
Schaeffler is to create 350 new jobs by investing 60 million euros in building its new automotive OEM headquarters, following a global surge in the demand for e-mobility products by vehicle producers.
Hankook is suppling tyres for the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo in a development the company sees as completing its luxury OE portfolio. Hankook already provides both UHP summer and winter tyres for the BMW 7 Series. The BMW group’s new Gran Turismo will now also be delivered with Ventus S1 evo 2 ultra-high performance (UHP) run-flat summer tyres. The tyres were developed in Hanover and are produced at the company’s European factory in Hungary. Specifically, the car will be supplied with special 245/45 R19 98Y RSC front and 275/40 R19 101Y RSC rear run-flat sizes.
Hankook has launched its new Ventus S1 Evo 3 tyre at driving event in Slovenia. The UHP market-orientated tyre, which was informally described as a “sporty summer tyre” will be available in 17 to 22-inch sizes in order to supply fitments to vehicles from the Mercedes A series right up to the likes of Lamborghini.
Maxxis is joining forces with German electric carmaker e.GO. The strategic partnership will see Maxxis create tyres for the manufacturer’s future models. The latest e.Go to be launched is the aptly named ‘Life’. Being fully electric, the car will produce more torque than its comparable combustion-powered peers, which will present Maxxis with some very specific development challenges. The brand is set to re-engineer its premium sports tyre, the Victra Sport 5, to fit the ‘Life’, with modifications to include a unique sidewall design to help balance strength, performance and durability on the roads. Being OE on the TX electric taxi means Maxxis has plenty of experience in producing tyres for electric vehicles, making it the perfect partner for e.Go.
Referring to the latest figures from the Motorcycle Industry Association, Stephen Latham, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK, said: “It is encouraging to see that registrations of motorcycles in the UK grew by 9.1 per cent in August from the same month last year”.
In number terms, August registrations are always low due to the volume of customers who prefer to wait until September to obtain the latest registration plate on their new machine. As a result of the monthly increase, the year to date picture shows a steady growth of 2 per cent for the first eight months of this year.
The first STARCO Alptrak released 10 years ago was designed for traction on turf and other terrain. Back then, nobody had foreseen that this pattern would be later tested for the Saudi Arabian market, together with STARCO’s key customer Avant Tecno. Both jointly developed the Alptrak for desert use.
“Our machines are initially not designed for sandy conditions like in Saudi Arabia. However, we have learned that by adjusting the wheel and tyre solution, we can make our multipurpose loaders perform just as well in sandy conditions, as they do in snow, mud or on dry surfaces,” explains Raul Tsili, Purchasing Manager at Avant Tecno.
During a ceremony held at Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan, Italy recentlym VMI received the Supplier Award for high quality and support. Chief purchasing officer Matteo Battaini handed over the Award to Harm Voortman, CEO of VMI Group:
Amazon has launched a developer kit that makes it possible to integrate the company’s Alexa into car infotainment systems. In addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, drivers now have a third option for navigation, streaming songs, making calls and finding restaurants, gas stations and hotels. Alexa as part of the infotainment system eliminates the need to plug a mobile device into the car.
Introduction of the new vehicle emissions and fuel consumption test protocol, the Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) is already having an impact on what wheels and tyres are available in the market. Of course, the size of vehicle wheels and consequently tyres is hugely influential in vehicle carbon dioxide (CO2) and fuel consumption (miles per gallon – MPG) performance and in recent years there has been a trend by motor manufacturers to fit larger wheels to vehicles, including even larger rim sizes as options.
“Following a turbulent few months, it is encouraging to see that the motorcycle market bounced back in June with registrations up 7.8 per cent”, said Stephen Latham, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK, commenting on figures published by the Motor Cycle Industry Association.
Indian tyre manufacturer Ceat is planning to invest around 40 billion rupees (£442.4 million; 499.8 million euros; $482 million) in the construction of a greenfield tyre manufacturing facility near Sriperumbudur, 40 kilometres west of Chennai. The Times of India reports that the Tamil Nadu cabinet met on Wednesday 27 June to “approve the new project and offered a structured incentive package for the unit, which when becomes operational in about a year, will directly employ 1,000 people”.
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