Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has said that it will impose a ban on imports of used tyres from 29th July in a bid to prevent any negative impact on the environment and human health. The ban covers imports of used tyres for passenger cars, buses, trucks, bicycles and motorcycles, including parts of tyres for these vehicles, the statement said. The ban won’t cover tyres which are attached to imported vehicles or those imported for research purposes.
The Morgan Motor Company in the UK has chosen Yokohama A539 high performance tyres as OE fitment for its 4/4 and +8 sports cars. Tyre sizes are 195/60 R15 88H for the 4/4 and 205/60 R15 95V and 205/55 R16 93W for the +8. The design of the 4/4 has not been radically changed since its launch in 1936, featuring wooden frames, hand-made metal parts and a 1.8 litre engine. The +8 is a more powerful version, with a 3.9 litre engine.
Cars are getting faster and the high performance tyre sector is one of the fastest-growing parts of the market. Seemingly most of the tyre manufacturers are concentrating their efforts on this sector and reviewing their product mix accordingly. Once only a few manufacturers were active in the hp and uhp segment, now seemingly everybody boasts a performance offering. We take a look at what’s available.
Automotive supplier Montupet SA has completed a 75 million Euro investment at its Chateauroux plant in France. Montupet is one of the biggest suppliers of aluminium motor parts and produces for many car makers, especially the Ford group. The investment has given the plant the ability to produce 2.5 million cast aluminium wheels each year, making it the second largest facility in Europe. The company’s next project will be to invest in its wheel plant near Belfast to increase capacity from 700,000 to about 2.5 million units annually within the next three years. Montupet is the biggest aluminium wheel supplier to the PSA group (Peugeot and Citroen), one of three dominating suppliers at Renault and has recently begun supplying Nissan UK and Seat.
A faulty ignition coil has caused VW to recall 850,000 vehicles, built from 2001 onwards. Those models affected are equipped with 1.8L turbo, V5, V6 and W8 petrol engines. Industry experts estimate the cost of parts and labour to be around 100 Euros per vehicle, or 85 million Euros in total. Over 60 per cent of the affected vehicles are in the USA.
After lengthy negotiations The Harvey Brodsky Group has decided to withdraw its offer to purchase 51% of the stock of Alliance Tire, Israel.
Visteon Corporation and SmarTire Systems Inc. have established a partnership agreement bringing to market a “best-in-class” solution in automotive tyre monitoring technology. The two companies have agreed to combine their technical capabilities in working with automobile manufacturers to design and manufacture the latest in tyre monitoring systems. The partnership merges Visteon’s vehicle integration expertise, global design and manufacturing capability with SmarTire’s patented, wireless, tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system. The demand for these systems is growing significantly from global automobile manufacturers. ”This agreement is exactly the type of agreement we need to make,” said John Kill, Visteon Vice President of Product Development. “It combines the strengths of companies to cost effectively deliver the technologies our customers want and need.” The agreement places SmarTire in partnership with a Tier 1 automotive parts supplier. “Original equipment manufacturers rely on Tier 1 suppliers to provide the products, quality and scheduled deliveries required by the automotive industry,” reports Robert Rudman, SmarTire’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This relationship with Visteon opens the door for SmarTire to the original equipment marketplace. Together, the two companies will market high quality, low-cost SmarTire solutions to automotive manufacturers globally.” The agreement also allows Visteon manufacturing rights for certain SmarTire products and establishes provisions that will enable SmarTire and Visteon to jointly explore other opportunities such as the commercial vehicle market.
More than half of garages across the UK deliver low standards of service to customers, according to new research published recently. Key car industry figures have met with Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson and Industry Minister Alan Johnson to discuss the problem. The Ministers welcomed a pledge from the industry to sign up in principle to develop a ‘Good Garage’ scheme to tackle the low standards. A recent government-sponsored mystery shopping survey found that 51 per cent of garages missed one or more safety-related defects in cars or items that should have been picked up in a regular servicing. The survey also revealed that, only five per cent of garages sampled carried out a thorough service against the manufacturer’s schedule and were judged to be ‘very good’, · 86 per cent of garages missed at least one introduced fault · 40 per cent of garages missed at least one service item; 51 per cent if the customer was female, 33 per cent if the customer was male; and · 27 per cent of fast fit centres recommended unnecessary replacement of parts.
The automotive parts division of TRW is to be sold to investment firm Blackstone Group for $4.7 billion, once TRW’s merger with Northrop Grumman is finalised. TRW recently sold its aeronautical systems business to Goodrich for $1.5 billion. TRW makes seat belt systems, air bag systems and other components, with annual sales over $10 billion. Blackstone has raised a private equity fund worth $6.45 billion and the TRW purchase will be the first through the fund.
The shares of US auto parts retailers fell sharply this week on the news that hundreds of companies, including the Big 3 car manufacturers, are facing lawsuits from plaintiffs who have been exposed to asbestos, which was once widely used in brake manufacturing. An argument is on-going whether those outlets that performed repairs should face greater liability than the manufacturers of the products.
The US Military is a large consumer of retread tyres but a new development may see them also utilising recycled tyres. The Denlin Corporation is to demonstrate a new helicopter landing pad made from the company’s Treadoles(R) recycled tyres. “This product is of great interest to the military, industrial, commercial and retail markets,” said Dennis Martin, president. Besides helicopter landing pads, Martin said Denlin is using it in ballistic armour shields for military vehicles and ground troops. Both products are weeks away from first commercial use, he claimed. Denlin’s helicopter landing pad, custom made for desert fighting and field combat installation, helps eliminate sand blasting of critical helicopter parts, including rotors and engines. The manufacturing process uses “an unique, innovative cutting process,” according to Martin. Recycled vehicle tyres are used without the need for further processing of the rubber material. Other applications include flooring, roofs and roadways for third world countries.
Hyundai, DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi are said to have held talks exploring ways to jointly develop and purchase parts. The procurement talks were held in Hyundai’s Seoul HQ and covered parts purchased in the US, Japan and Europe in addition to South Korea.
Government sponsored mystery shopping in the UK revealed that 51 per cent of garages missed one or more safety related defects and that the standards of servicing varied widely and that 86 per cent of garages missed an introduced fault on test vehicles. Some 27 per cent of fast fit centres recommended unnecessary replacement of parts. The government and industry are to work together to promote the “Good garage” scheme to deliver a better deal for consumers.
Three Daewoo factories have been idle for two days after Korea Delphi Automotive Systems shut off component supplies in a row over payment. KDAS is Daewoo’s largest parts supplier and is said to be owed US$ 109 million by the car manufacturer. 200 other suppliers are also said to be considering cutting off supplies.
Johnson Controls, one of the leading automotive parts suppliers to the vehicle manufacturers is set to buy Varta for 312.5 million Euro. Johnson expect the deal to raise annual battery sales by 33 percent and increase its strength in the European market. The deal will give Johnson total control of Varta Automotive and an 80 per cent stake in VB Autobatterie, the remaining 20 per cent being held by Robert Bosch.
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