pricing Archives - Page 22 of 32 - Tyrepress

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B&J Launches Pro Team Competition

The launch of B&J Rocket’s new B&J Pro Team competition marks the latest step in an extensive realignment of the company. The B&J Pro Team competition, touches base with the users of B&J’s products in retreading shops worldwide. The Pro Team competition focuses on these teams and provides them with an online platform, where they can present themselves by uploading a team photo and participate in a unique contest that will end in May 2008 with the ‘Reifen 2008’ Fair in Essen, Germany.

10th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Makes More Mexico JV Appointments

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has reshuffled its finance team following the recently announced formation of its joint venture company in Mexico. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company de Mexico, is responsible for the marketing, sales and distribution of Cooper and Pneustone brands. Currently, the Pneustone brand is the house brand of Llanti Systems, a division of Grupo Dexel, a Mexico company with entities involved in transportation, energy distribution, auto parts, specialty equipment and tyre production.

The headquarters for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company de Mexico is in Querétaro, Mexico, the site of the headquarters for Grupo Dexel. A management team has been put into place under the leadership of Jim Smith, the newly appointed general director. Smith was formerly Cooper’s plant controller at the Texarkana, Arkansas, tyre manufacturing plant. Chris Barbara, formerly Cooper’s manager of sales training, will assist Smith as director of marketing. These two individuals, along with Hugo Ybarra, director of sales, will lead the core team primarily responsible for all activities associated with the new trading company.

3rd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Exports Increase, Imports Double in India

Despite the increasing strength of the rupee tyre manufacturers in India are still enjoying export growth, reports the Hindu Business Line. According to figures presented in the Indian business daily, exports increased by 19.2 per cent in the current financial year, with approximately 3.1 million units exported during the period. During the same months of the previous fiscal year total exports were in the vicinity of 2.6 million units.

“Exports in 2006-07 had shown a decline, as the demand in the domestic industry was healthy,” said Apollo Tyres COO and joint managing director Neeraj Kanwar. “With serving the domestic industry being a priority, exports seem to have slowed down. But now the industry has added capacity to increase its competitiveness, which would make the export growth come back to earlier levels. We expect exports to remain buoyant.”

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Who Wears the Trousers?

Editorial/Comment, News, UK News

The subject of grey marketing raises the hackles of wholesalers and manufacturers alike, with each blaming the other for its existence. So imagine my surprise when Kumho UK managing director, Steve Tidmarsh tackled the subject head-on, telling delegates at November’s Tyre Wholesaler’s Group (TWG) lunch that it is “the manufacturers who drive the grey market.”

4th December 2007/by Chris

Analysts: German Winter Tyre Pricing Negative

With German winter tyre sales underperforming this year, Deutsche Bank analysts are reporting that prices are falling for the first time in “many years.” Up till the end of October, the German winter tyre market is reportedly down 6 per cent. Around 75 per cent of the winter tyres would normally have been sold by now. Winter tyres represent approx 17 per cent and 6 per cent respectively of Continental and Michelin’s passenger tyre unit sales. According to the analysts, winter tyres represent a high 20 per cent of European tyre replacements (55 million units, of which 50 per cent are sold in Germany).

3rd December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Aim to Encircle Tyre Market

A new market research company is offering custom made insights to the automotive aftermarket and particularly the tyre sector. Birmingham-based Encircle Marketing produces 100 per cent independently researched data that encircles (if you will excuse the pun) the market’s key research areas: mystery shopping, “sell-out” tyre (brand) pricing and selling way (sales augmentation).

The research is produced monthly and captured by both mystery telephone calls (over 5,000 per month) and mystery visits. Local Independent Garages, Regional Garages/ Dealers, Car Dealerships, Autocentres and Fast Fits are all covered. The company reports that it already captures over 3,500 retail “sell-out” tyre prices each month across all the major tyre brands and speed ratings in car, 4×4, and van sizes. This way, they say, 80 per cent of the market is covered.

26th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

CarbonBlack Introduces Australian Tyre Quoting Marketplace

CarbonBlack TyreXchange (CarbonBlack), Australia’s first independent online quoting marketplace for new passenger tyres and related services, outlined on November 12 its plans for a national rollout. Currently operating in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, the company intends to continue its expansion within Australia and further integrate value-added services including consumer and industry data, vehicle servicing, insurance, general car safety and maintenance, driver education and car detailing and accessories to its site. CarbonBlack managing director, Jodi Stanton, said that the launch of Australia’s first independent online quoting marketplace for tyres was a breakthrough for both industry and consumers.

“We only deal in new stock and can compare a vast range of tyres across multiple dealers and manufacturers for our registered users. A major benefit is the seller actually does all the work for consumers,” said Ms. Stanton. “For the passenger tyre industry this is an efficient leverage of existing Internet technology which also solves the issues surrounding traditional ways of marketing.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Reports Q3 Profit & Record Sales

Cooper Tire & Rubber has reported a net income of US$30.2 million or 48 cents per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, a marked contrast with last year’s third quarter loss of just under $25 million. Income from continuing operations increased by more than $41 million from a loss of $23.5 million for the same period last year, resulting in earnings per share of 29 cents from continuing operations. Income from discontinued operations also contributed $12.4 million, or 20 cents per share, for the quarter. The continued growth in earnings was accompanied by a new record of $767.7 million in sales for the quarter, an 11 per cent increase over the same period last year.

The company attributes its more positive quarterly results to improved pricing in North America and increased tyre unit sales for its international segment. The improvement was also supported by Cooper’s ongoing cost and profit improvement initiative implemented throughout the year. As a result, operating profit improved to $32.7 million in the third quarter of 2007, compared with an operating loss of $5 million in the third quarter of 2006. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2007, the company’s net income improved to $68.6 million on $2.2 billion of sales. This is a $119 million improvement in net income over the same period a year ago.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Over 100,000 Vehicles on Goodyear FleetOnlineSolutions Contracts

FleetOnlineSolutions, Goodyear’s internet-based truck and bus fleet tyre management system, has hit a significant milestone for the company. The system, which provides fleets with consistent high quality service and agreed pricing across Europe, now has more than 100,000 vehicles on contract – a ten-fold increase in just two years. The business has grown from just 10,000 vehicles in early 2005 to a sector now worth approaching 25 million euros, covering 23 countries and with 280 fleets on contract.

FleetOnlineSolutions integrates with Goodyear’s main computer systems. It works via the internet linking Goodyear, the customer and the service providers. Customers with FleetOnlineSolutions (FOS) contracts have all their vehicle data and contract details on the system. Goodyear TruckForce service providers, whether they are the fleets’ regular workshop or in another country providing roadside assistance, can access the FOS website. This provides information in their own language and enables them to carry out all necessary work, create invoices and update the system.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Viking Online Ordering Up 100 per cent

Viking International’s improved website and online ordering facility appears to be on the up, with number of online orders doubling year-on-year and the number of site visitors increasing “significantly,” according to the company. The site displays products by size, speed rating or price according to the customer’s preference, with special offers highlighted for ease of use.

All the latest stock and pricing information is constantly updated, allowing customers to see what stock is immediately available from their local warehouse. An account management area enables customers to view their order history, statements and invoices to help keep track of their account, and new users need only log on and request a user name and password to begin.

15th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Compass Expands Warehouse 35%

Compass HD Tyres Ltd, part of the Compass Group Ltd, UK and Ireland distributor of GTRadial and Runway-brand tyres, is expanding its warehousing facilities still further. According to company officials a new 35,000 square foot facility will come on stream to add to the current 100,000 square foot of space at the Compass’ Huddersfield base. In addition, a number of extra sales and logistics staff are due to be recruited.

Tim Chesney, managing director of the Compass Group told Tyres & Accessories that the expansion of storage space is directly attributable to the ongoing success story of Giti produced tyres in the UK. The Company launched GT into Europe almost 20 years ago when it imported the first ever containers of the then fledgling car tyre brand with just seven sizes in the radial range. Today the GT Radial car tyre brand has many hundreds of sizes in its range, covering almost every popular size in car, van and 4X4 and it is a market leader in the mid range sector of the market with its development of UHP and other cutting edge tyre designs. Sales into the new car tyre replacement market have increased year-on-year and today, through Compass Group, GT produced tyre brands boast a market share in the UK that leads the market outside the premium sector.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Vauxhall MasterFit Centres Of Excellence Awards

Vauxhall MasterFit is launching a Centre of Excellence Award to recognise the achievements of the top 10 per cent of Vauxhall MasterFit centres across the UK. The awards programme will be an annual event, with the top 40 centres earning the right to display a “Service Centre of Excellence” plaque on their premises.

A set of 10 simplified standards is being introduced by Vauxhall to measure competence in three key areas – convenience, value and expertise. Vauxhall says that these parameters generate customer satisfaction, service retention and business growth.

The Vauxhall MasterFit customer promise aims at ensuring convenience for customers throughout the “MasterFit experience”, professional advice on what work is essential and what is desirable and value for customers assured by a monthly local price check carried out by each centre. Alongside this are transparent pricing and invoicing, the use of the latest diagnostic equipment and free of charge vehicle and software enhancements as they enter the manufacturer’s database.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

China in the firing line

(Rubber Asia) A number of China’s tyre makers are presently having a tough time in the US, but protectionist sentiments may spread to Europe too. While China’s export pricing has much to do with this, China has recently moved to reduce the export incentives that had become such a bone of contention in the West. But the rancour felt particularly in the US goes further and deeper than this.

Some of the current animosities have as much to do with culture as they have with conditioning. The China of today is a young and resourceful economy, whereas its large export markets in North America and Europe are, for the most part, mature economies where the twin burdens of regulation and social protection weigh much more heavily. That is why China’s freebooting ways in particular are causing tensions.

20th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Names Nick Manning as UK Marketing Manager

Toyo Tyre UK Ltd has announced that (as of 3 September) Nick Manning has been appointed as Marketing Manager for the UK. Manning joined Toyo from respected wholesaler Group Tyre. Prior to serving there as director of purchasing for two years, he was General Sales Manager at Continental Car Dealer Business Unit. In fact, Manning progressed through a series of positions at Continental over an impressive 18 years including pricing, strategy and marketing before leaving for Group.

14th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper To Boost Tyre Prices

(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. plans to increase pricing on all of its passenger and light truck/SUV tyres by up to 4 per cent. The increase will take effect on 1 October.

10th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors