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Conti to Focus on Debt Reduction

Continental AG reports the company is drawing what it calls ‘further necessary consequences for the closing fiscal year 2008’ following an extensive analysis of the substantial negative development that has taken place in the automotive industry in the six weeks to December 10. At the same time, the company is adapting operational measures for 2009 to the industry’s predictably poor economic environment. A cost-cutting programme, said by Conti to be in the ‘high three-digit millions range’ has been initiated; this programme includes the postponement of investments as well as the stretching of expenditures in the area of research and development.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Tyres to Attend Motorcycle Expo Show

Avon Tyres has announced its attendance at the 2009 Motorcycle Trade Expo. The company says it will make a large presence at Britain’s biggest motorcycle trade show, to be held at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on January 18 to 20, in order to demonstrate the importance it places in communicating the potential of the newly unveiled VP2 range to existing and potential new dealers.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Board Refuses to Sell Rubber Business

Continental AG stood up to its major shareholder and takeover suitor, Schaeffler Group, on Wednesday (10 December) by refusing to sell the group’s tyre and rubber products business. Sources told the Financial Times that Conti’s supervisory board unanimously decided not to sell the company’s “rubber” unit, apparently rebuffing Schaeffer’s demands. Instead Conti’s board announced plans for a three-digit million euro cost cutting programme and said it is considering axing its dividend payment. FT’s source was also reportedly keen to stress that Continental should be in the driving seat of any industrial cooperation between the two companies: “We want to make it clear that, if David and Goliath go together, Goliath has to be in the drivers seat.”

Schaeffler Group’s 12.1 billion euro hostile takeover bid, launched earlier this year, cooled down slightly when former CEO Manfred stepped down and Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann took over in September. However, while FT reports that Neumann was Schaeffler’s preferred candidate, the newspaper also points out that “he has acted solely in the interests of Continental.”

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Back in Indian Four Wheel Market

Continental has launched several products on the Indian market to cater for four-wheel vehicles and is hoping to secure OE agreements with Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, The Hindu’s Business Line news source reports. The website quotes Andrea Esser, the company’s executive vice president (replacement Asia), saying, “We are in discussion with Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra for their domestic as well as export vehicles.”

Esser commented on the launch, saying that it represents, “part of our overall growth strategy and commitment to the Asia Pacific region. With the growth in auto industry here, we believe that we should actively take part in India. We plan to develop a significant market share in India.” Questioned about where the tyres would be coming from, Esser maintained that they would all be imported and that there are no plans as yet to produce domestically: “Currently we will be importing tyres only as sales are very low. Once it attains a good volume, then we may think of locally producing our tyres.”

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bike Tyrestore Again Tops With Customers

Customer service may not be the only factor a business must consider if it wants to be successful, but it certainly carries a lot of weight. Therefore Bike Tyrestore asks its customers every year what they think of the company. In October the Birmingham based wholesaler sent out its 2008 Customer Survey, asking dealers to rate all aspects of the service it provides on a scale of one to ten, one being ‘abysmal’ and ten ‘brilliant’. As an extra incentive to complete the survey, each survey received went into the draw to win a Fortnum and Mason Christmas Hamper (this was won by Daniel and the team at Just Motorcycles in Basingstoke). Bike Tyrestore managing director Peter Smith can proudly report that this year the company again received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with ratings of nine or ten the norm.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Production Resumes at Amtel-Vredestein’s Kirov Factory

Production at the Amtel-Povolzhye factory in Kirov, Russia has resumed as of December 8. Operations at the Amtel-Vredestein subsidiary facility had been suspended due to a lack of working capital following the foundering of merger talks between its parent company and Sibur-Russian Tyres. This pause in production was reported to have been scheduled only for the period between October 11 and 20, however the resumption of work was repeatedly postponed.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Expands Environmental Efforts

Continental Tire North America launched a new environmental program tied to reduction in tyre rolling resistance and reduced production emissions. The program – Continental Tire Responsibility – extends the company’s efforts at improving tyre-related fuel efficiency and cuts its use of resources while cutting CO2 emissions. According to Andreas Gerstenberger, CTNA executive vice president of sales and marketing, by 2012, the company is committed to reducing energy consumption by 18 per cent from 2007 levels; water usage by 17 per cent; waste by 16.3 per cent and CO2 emissions by 15.5 per cent.

“We are continually aligning the production, quality and performance of our products with environmental soundness, and we strive to conduct all of our activities in an environmentally conscious manner,” he said. “Going forward, each and every employee is obligated to protect the environment, and we will continue to avoid harmful emissions and waste. Continental is not just focused on a green message but a responsibility message which encompasses community, environment and fuel efficiency.” (Tire Review/Akron)

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan International Announces Q4 Cash Dividend

The Board of Directors of Titan International has approved a quarterly cash dividend of US$.005 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2008. The cash dividend is payable January 15, 2009, to stockholders of record on December 31, 2008

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Government Regulates Retreading

In 2008 the Chinese government launched a series of new industrial tyre retreading standards in a bid ot improve the sector’s reputation. The government hopes that the new regulations will open the floodgates for enterprises to make the most of the retreading opportunities available to them. China introduced two national mandatory standards Truck Retread (GB9037 – 2007) and Passenger Car Retread (GB14646 – 2007) on 1 April 2008. Two more state standards of Reclaimed Rubber (GB/T13460 – 2008) and Sulfurated Rubber Powder (GB/T19208 – 2008) were implemented on 1 October 2008.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Faulty Tyre Stem Valve Warning Issued in US

International News, Product News

A US importer warned consumers on December 9 that they should check the stem valves on their vehicle’s tyres, after it became apparent that 1.8 million Chinese made tyre stem valves sold in the country may prematurely weather and crack, resulting in a loss of tyre pressure. According to North Carolina based Dill Air Controls Products, the problem is with two batches of valves totalling about 198,000 units, but because the valve stems are not traceable by lot number after installation, the recall involves all valves sold between November 2006 and July 2007.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sebastien Loeb wins a dramatic rally Great Britain

The very first World Rally Championship of the Pirelli era drew to a close in Wales on December 7, with the recently-crowned five-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb breaking his own record by claiming his 11th win in one season. Citroen-Pirelli has now taken the 2008 World Championship for Manufacturers, thanks also to a strong third place for Loeb’s teammate Dani Sordo.

Ice and frost was once again the order of the day for the final day of the Wales Rally Great Britain, which marked the end of the first World Championship held under the single tyre rule with Pirelli as the exclusive supplier. Despite the wintry conditions, Pirelli reports that its soft-compound Scorpion tyres worked well in the tricky weather, contributing to a dramatic finish. The factory Ford Focus-Pirelli of Jari-Matti Latvala led from the opening day, but Loeb overcame the deficit on the final stage to win the rally by only 12.7 seconds and give Citroen its third manufacturers’ title.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Offers US Splash-Reducing XZA3

The newest Michelin XZA3 features the Michelin’s Antisplash deflectors on both sidewalls. First offered in 2006, Michelin’s Antisplash feature lowers the trajectory of water spray off of the tyres, reducing the amount of water hitting the windshields of nearby cars or other trucks.

“Customers have come to love the XZA3 tire for its performance on the highway,” said Marc Laferriere, vice president of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “Now, with Antisplash technology, we have significantly increased visibility for both truckers and those motorists driving by trucks in wet conditions, especially during a rainstorm.” The new XZA3 Antisplash, available in size 275/80R22.5 LRH, carries Michelin’s seven year, 70,000-mile, three-retread warranty. (Tire Review/Akron)

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Raises Prices in Mexico

Continental Tire North America said it will raise truck tyre prices in Mexico at the start of the new year.Its unit there, Continental Tire de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., will raise medium truck tyre prices by up to 8 per cent beginning 1 January, 2009. (Tire Review/Akron)

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Using Russian Capacity in Difficult Market Conditions

Nokian’s decision to reduce its Finland-based tyre production output from 6 million to 4.5 million tyres will be coupled with increased Russian capacity, financial analysts have reported. According to a recent Deutsche Bank report, “[Although] current demand is smaller than Nokian’s capacity…Nokian is reacting quickly by reducing capacity in order to maintain a high proportion of high priced products.”

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Names BMTR as Top Dealership

Birmingham Motor Tyres (BMTR) has been named as the overall winner of Bridgestone’s First Stop Business Development Programme, which recognises outstanding achievement by First Stop dealerships across the UK.

The dealership, which has two retail outlets in the Midlands, was judged on a number of criteria including performance in tyre safety checks, the appearance of staff, workshop and reception areas, alongside staff expertise and training. The dealership scored particularly highly on customer service and was announced as the overall ‘Centre of Excellence’ title winner, receiving a complete refurbishment of the Coleshill site’s reception area and gift vouchers for the employees.

10th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors