Pirelli Archives - Page 166 of 212 - Tyrepress

Known for its style, speed and performance marketing values, Pirelli & C. S.p.A. is a multinational company based in Milan, Italy, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange since 1922, with a temporary privatization period by the consortium led by the Chinese state-owned enterprise ChemChina.

Tag Archive for: Pirelli

Rubber Workers Strike in Turkey

4,000 tyre manufacturing workers have responded to ICEM’s (International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions) Turkish trade union call to strike, after last-minute proposals by the employers’ association failed to avoid the action taking place.

The four manufacturing works affected by the strike action, in the Turkish cities of Izmit and Adapazari, are operated by Goodyear, Bridgestone and Pirelli. News sources state that the companies are resisting demands for three bi-yearly salary increases at the rate of Turkish inflation, following an initial wage increase of 12%.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Launches the Winter Sottozero Serie II

The latest evolution of Pirelli’s performance winter tyre has been unveiled at the Swiss ski resort town of Zermatt. The Winter Sottozero Serie II, a tyre the Italian manufacturer states will meet the needs of the most demanding drivers by adapting to conditions typically encountered during the autumn and winter months, has been released in two distinct performance versions: the W210/W240 for high performance cars, and the even more extreme W270 for super sports models. Pirelli reports that Porsche, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW, Bentley, Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo have already homologated the new Sottozero as original equipment.

“Despite global warming, winter is still here,” commented Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori at the Sottozero Serie II launch in Zermatt. Mr. Gori however emphasised that a change in thinking has taken place at Pirelli in response to recent climatic trends, along with changes in automotive technology and European regulations. The new tyre was thus designed not just for regions receiving significant winter snowfall; rather it is a tyre for low temperature conditions. Today’s more unpredictable weather conditions, says Pirelli, with dry spells when snow is traditionally expected, and sudden heavy rainfall in the late winter or at the beginning of autumn, means a need has arisen for the development of versatile tyres guaranteeing safety not only on snow and ice, but also on wet or slushy surfaces when temperatures fall below 7 degrees, a temperature that alters both the road surface and the behaviour of a tyre.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Report No Contact Over Truck Tyres

Continental has responded to claims from German news sources that Italian rival Pirelli are interested in buying the German manufacturer’s truck tyre business, stating that they have yet to be contacted. A spokeswoman for Continental said that “There are no sales talks whatsoever”.

The speculation follows reports in Germany’s leading commercial economy newspaper Handelsblatt that Pirelli’s Chairman, Marco Tronchetti Provera, has declared definitively the company’s interest in truck tyres. Coupled with the attention devoted to Continental’s truck tyre business by the German company’s management in April this year, conjecture continues to develop as to the fate of the department.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Start Russian Tyre Plant Negotiations

Pirelli & C. SpA and has signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations for the construction of a car, light truck and heavy truck tyre plant in Russia. The letter was sent to the Russian State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product (also known as Russian Technologies). The new facility will also produce steel cord tyre reinforcements and automotive filters.

Russian Technologies and Pirelli have agreed on an exclusivity period for the negotiation of the final agreements, until 30 September 2008. Upon its establishment, the two partners would jointly control the Joint Venture, while Pirelli would be responsible for the development of the business strategy and running operations of the Joint Venture, which would be carried out under the Pirelli brand name.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Exclusive for Pirelli-Alfa Collaboration

Alfa Romeo’s new special edition Brera S – the latest model of the Italian coupe – will be fitted exclusively with Pirelli P Zero Nero 235/40 R 19 96 Y tyres. Pirelli join Prodrive, a leading motorsport specialist who provide the car’s suspension system, in collaborating with Alfa.

The Brera S was placed on sale on 2nd June after its initial presentation on 19th May, and is limited to 500 numbered vehicles.

3rd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Interested in Continental Truck Tyre Unit

Pirelli is said to be interested in buying the truck tyre division of Germany’s Continental AG, German news sources have reported. “We are looking at all attractive targets. Truck tyres are definitely interesting for us,” Pirelli Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera told the Handelsblatt newspaper.

Continental’s management recently scrutinised the truck tyre department’s first-quarter figures after its pre-tax earnings (EBIT) margin of 3.8 per cent came in below the company’ target of 10 per cent for all divisions by 2010. The announcement lends credence to suggestions that Pirelli is aiming to expand its tyre business through acquisitions.

3rd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli: German Tyre Manufacturing Base Still Strong

45 years since Pirelli took over the German Veith Group, the German branch of the Italian tyre manufacturer last year reported sales of 850 million euros. Now, in the words of Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera, the German operation is on course to break through the billion euro barrier by 2010. Thanks to investments in the order of 190 million euros over the last four years, income has increased 30 per cent.

During a press conference held at its factory in Breuberg, Germany, the Pirelli Group outlined its industrial activities and plans for tyre business expansion in this particular market, one the company sees as key for its growth strategies. The May 26 press conference was attended by numerous company representatives, including Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori and the CEO of Pirelli Deutschland, Guglielmo Fiocchi.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Luxury Wheels Improves Your ‘Lex Appeal’

While Bristol based Luxury wheels is carving a name for itself as a source of quality aftermarket wheels, many people don’t realise the company also offers an extensive range of styling lines in its product portfolio.

To give an example of the company’s work, the Lexus LS600h pictured here was specced by one of Luxury Wheels’ Norwegian dealers with the full Autocouture styling package. The ‘Progressive Line’ kit consists of front bumper, fog lamps, side skirts (in either short or long wheelbase), rear bumper, two replacement front wings with vents, and a rather saucy dual stacked exhaust. This ensemble is topped off with a rear spoiler and Autocouture boot emblem for that final finishing flourish.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Francesco Gori To Speak At Reifen Opening Press Conference

Francesco Gori, President of the Umbrella Association of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers ETRMA, will be a speaker at the opening press conference for the Reifen 2008 international trade fair at Messe Essen. In his statement, the Director-General of Pirelli’s tyre business will comment, amongst other subjects, on the planned more stringent EU provisions for tyre manufacturers and on the challenges which will thus result for European manufacturers in comparison with Asian tyre producers.

15th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CE Marking to Disappear from Pirelli’s NA Motorcycle Tyres

Motorcycle radials sold by Pirelli in the North American replacement market will, from May 2008 onwards, be manufactured bearing solely the markings required by local legislation, including the DOT markings. Pirelli reports this change is taking place for logistics reasons. Pirelli’s North American market motorcycle tyres will no longer be marked with the European CE sign.

This change, said Pirelli, is intended to protect the consumer, and the company comments that all tyres supplied to any market must be purchased only through the legitimate distribution network.

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Quarter Results Show Net Income Rise

Pirelli & C. Spa reports that its Pirelli Tyre operation “substantially held its position in an unfavourable quarter for the world car market” during the first quarter of the 2008 financial year. Results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 also reflected the company’s decision to further focus upon core businesses, including the repurchase of the 38.9 per cent share in Pirelli Tyre held by shareholders in Speed SpA since August 2006.

Group revenues for the quarter amounted to 1.31 billion euros, up 2.1 per cent on the first quarter of 2007, at constant exchange rates and net of the effect of sales relating to deconsolidation of the real estate assets of DGAG. Taking into account the effect of DGAG, sales as of 31 March 2007 amounted to 1.81 billion euros. EBIT, at 114.6 million euros, was substantially in line with the figure in the first quarter of 2007 (117.5 million euros), net of the result linked to the temporary consolidation of DGAG that had characterised the previous year period. Taking into account the effect of DGAG, EBIT as of 31 March 2007 amounted to 129.5 million euros.

13th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

A Larger Slice of the Cake – high performance tyre market data

Product News, UK News

During the 1990s the US television series ‘The X-Files’ popularised the catchphrase “the truth is out there.” But while the programme focused on little green men and other unexplained phenomena, it could have easily referred to the high performance tyre market. The truth about this market segment is, you see, somewhere out there. Yet it is difficult to place one’s hands with confidence upon a single, authoritative source of data that tells exactly how things are and where they are headed. What can really be said about the high performance tyre market?

12th May 2008/by Chris

Pirelli Earns Fifth RMA Award

Pirelli Tire North America received an industry award for achieving significant improvements in worker health and safety over the last year – its fifth such award in the last five years, according to the company.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association presented its Safety and Health Improvement Program award at the organisation’s annual meeting in St. Augustine, Florida on April 13. The award was created to encourage and reward member companies for safety and health advancements made in the workplace, Pirelli said.

28th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Gori: EC Standards may Agitate Problem of Low Quality Imports

Pirelli chief executive Francesco Gori, in his capacity as president of the ETRMA, has voiced concern that planned European Commission standards will hinder European tyre manufacturers in their competition with Asian rivals. In an April 23 interview reported by Reuters, Gori commented that Asian manufacturers who produce low-cost tyres can easily circumvent the standards, and the costs involved in conforming to them, as the volumes in which such tyres are arriving in European ports makes it difficult to effectively monitor product quality.

“There are not enough resources to control this invasion of products that do not conform to European standards,” said Gori. “It’s very complicated to find a solution.” While Gori does not object to the standards’ aims of improving tyre safety and environmental footprint, his objection lies in the fact that only products made in Europe must conform. “You can use cheaper materials if you make tyres that do not meet the standards. We would want that even the tyres that are imported in Europe met the same standards.”

According to Gori, Asian manufacturers hold between 10 and 20 per cent of Europe’s tyre market, and this figure is increasing by a double-digit figure annually. He added that 20 per cent of replacement tyre sales in Europe were in the budget segment where Asian made products are the strongest.

Should the proposed standards fail to deliver safeguards against tyres that do not conform, Gori said that approaching authorities in major European national markets to discuss potential means of deterring the sale of these tyres was a possible option. He spoke of strong penalties being dished out on offenders as an example to others, and raising consumer awareness of tyre safety and quality.

25th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

As Worn by all the Big Names…

When UK deliveries of the long-awaited replacement for Jaguar’s S-type began in March, much interest was directed towards what many see as a make or break car for the classic British marque. The new Jaguar XF represents a departure from the company’s strategy in recent years, which has seen its efforts directed towards presenting itself as a volume production rival for the established German luxury car manufacturers. The XF, in contrast, has been planned from the outset to be something different – a more exclusive premium sports car for a discerning clientele. As Jaguar design director Ian Callum said: “Jaguars should be perceived as cool cars, and cool cars attract interesting, edgy people.”

Included in this deliberately cool package is Pirelli. The Italian manufacturer’s partnership with Jaguar continues, with homologation for the XF covering sizes for all road and weather conditions. Pirelli tyres approved for the Jaguar XF include the P Zero, P7, Nero M + S and Winter Sottozero in four rim sizes – 17, 18, 19 and 20-inch. At the top of the new Jaguar range is the supercharged XF 4.2 V8, and Pirelli’s 20-inch P Zero is the exclusively supplied tyre for this model.

24th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors