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Lockout Declared at Factory Outsourced to Apollo Tyres

Apollo Tyres gave word on December 6 that a plant owned by PTL Enterprises that produces tyres exclusively for Apollo entered a lockout situation as of 2am December 6. Tension between workers and employers at the Kalamassery based factory, in India’s Kerala state, has been uneasy for some time. According to Apollo, for the past few months “workmen have been resisting management efforts to increase efficiency and bring down costs, during these times of economic stress and demand slowdown.”

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

US Government Likely to Support Automaker Rescue

Outgoing president George Bush’s administration has reportedly reached a tentative agreement with democratic leaders to help carmakers GM and Chrysler stay afloat. The announcement follows the news that 533,000 jobs were lost in November and president-elect Obama’s announcement of the US’s biggest infrastructure investment since the US highway system in the 1950s. Obama has not to put a full cost on his plan advisers estimate it will be over $700 billion (£477 billion) and could even top to $1 trillion.

Deutsche Bank analysts suggested the LTFVUSA Act (Long term Financial Viability of US Automakers) would be comprised of two rounds of financing: “Short term bridge financing that would carry the automakers through 31 March and longer term funding that would be predicated on the plans for long term viability, which will be assessed by an auto industry financial viability advisor.” The effect the latest plans will have on declining OE tyre orders is far from clear.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alliance Tire USA Names Two Key Positions

Alliance Tire USA has appointed James Tuschner to the role of marketing director and Michael Aguon territory manager for the company’s eastern region.

“He (Tuschner) is helping us establish a new warehouse in the United States, create new strategies with innovative dealers, and distributors and broaden Alliance’s footprint in North America,” said Alliance Tire USA president Manny Cicero. Prior to joining Alliance Tuschner held a marketing role with Denman Tire Corporation.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Returns to Autosport

As 2008 draws to a close, Tyres & Accessories is looking forward to who will be exhibiting what at the 2009 Aftermarket/Autosport show. Arguably the biggest news is that Toyo is returning to the 2009 show, which will run from 8 – 11 January at the NEC in Birmingham, after having stepped back from it in 2008. Toyo Tire has booked a 120 square metre stand at Autosport 2009, and will be exhibiting road going, track day, slick and drag tyres.

According to the company Toyo will be showcasing a “fantastic range of tyres” in front of over 84,000 visitors, including over 28,000 trade buyers and over 800 companies involved in the business of motorsport and related industries. Toyo’s thinking is that, with this number and range of participants, the “it just wouldn’t be the same” without them. Visitors will also have the chance to win a set of the renowned Proxes R888 road legal track tyres.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Reiterates Long-Term Strategic Approach

In preparation for the its Capital Markets Day, held in early December, Trelleborg reiterated the company’s long-term strategic approach, which it says is currently focused on cash flow and adjustments to the prevailing market situation. “We have an increasingly focused and profitable operation within large segments of our business, and we are convinced that we will emerge strengthened from the slowdown that we are currently experiencing in many markets,” said Trelleborg CEO Peter Nilsson.”

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Biogas-Powered World Record Set on Dunlop Rubber

Achieving speeds of 327.5 km/h (204.7 mph), the Hohenester-tuned biogas Audi A4 Quattro equipped with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT tyres has set a new world speed record. The TÜV Rheinland-organized record attempt took place at the proving ground in Papenburg, Germany, and demonstrates the performance abilities of climate neutral fuels.

In breaking high-speed record Hohenester used biogas extracted from field grass. With an octane number between 120 and 140 ROZ the alternative fuel offers higher numbers than conventional fuels. “High speed tuning and ecological aspects don’t have to exclude each other,” believes the record-breaking driver, Jürgen Hohenester. “This Audi A4 is a prototype, which proves how powerful these new fuel technologies can be already today.”

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Man Steals Police Car to Sell Tyres

A Mexican man’s risky venture to secure a set of tyres has landed him in a spot of trouble, reports the Agence France-Presse news agency. Alejandro Juarez spotted a police car sitting tantalisingly unoccupied in the town of Aguascalientes….and once Mr. Juarez’ eyes locked onto the car, it didn’t remain unoccupied for very long. “When I found the car and I saw it had the key in the ignition, well, I just got in,” Juarez admitted.

And the reason for this unlikely theft? “I was thinking about taking off the tyres so I could sell them,” he said. “But then I was thinking first I would take it for a spin – and then bam, I got a bit distracted and crashed.” Following the car’s sudden stop – against a rubbish dumpsters – Mr. Juarez was taken into police custody.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Wins “Best New Tyre” at MCN Awards

Dunlop’s Sportmax Roadsmart tyre was named Best New Tyre at the annual Motorcycle News Awards. The new Roadsmart tyre has been highly acclaimed by MCN over the past year and was praised for both its wet and dry performance; picking up first place in the Best New Tyre Category.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Bandag Announces Redundancies

An announcement made by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) on December 3 signals the end of the line for its Oncor Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) plant in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, redundancies are being made at other US sites. Approximately 60 jobs will be lost in total; Bridgestone says the closure and redundancies are occurring in response to reduced demand for its truck tyres and retreads, as well as an alignment of operations under the Bandag name.

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Remog Expands Product Range in 2008

This year has been an important one for Remog S.p.a., the company reports. During 2008 it has achieved numerous set objectives, including the introduction of a new high tech facility. As well as expanding its range of wheel balancing weights, Remog has established a new plant in which epoxy powder coating treatments are applied to weights. This facility will supplement operations the company has conducted since 2000, producing products with a 100 per cent coating, certified to 500 hours in salt fog tests.

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Obituary: Frank Welton

Frank Sidney Welton, born 4 December 1931 died 24 October 2008 after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Frank Welton was born in Coventry in 1931. He used the springboard of an academic scholarship to Bablake grammar school, where he became captain of the school for two years running, to propel himself into Magdelen College, Oxford. There he captained the college rugby XV and gained a master’s degree in modern languages with which, after first fulfilling his commitment to National Service, he launched himself with typical dedication into the executive training scheme of Goodyear Tyres.

http://www.lewybody.org/

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

UK New Car Sales Drop More than 35% in November

Sales of new cars in the UK plummeted in November to 100,333 units, a decrease of 36.8 per cent on last year’s figures. These dismal results, released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), represent the greatest monthly drop since June 1980. During the year to November, car sales totalled 2,023,104 units, down 10.7 per cent on the first 11 months of 2007.

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

BARC Saloon Car Champion Wins on Toyo Tyres

Toyo Tyres is congratulating Richard Brent for becoming class champion and overall champion in the 2008 BARC Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship. The championship takes place at some of Britain’s most renowned race tracks including: Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Castle Combe and Lydden Hill.

Brent competed on Toyo tyres throughout the 2008 season and has had a 100 per cent record, with class wins in all 18 rounds of the championship using the Proxes RS1 (slick), Proxes RR1 (wet) and also the Proxes R888, the semi-slick, in intermediate weather conditions.

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

China Exported 140 Million Tyres in 2007 – Report

A newly released report into China’s tyre industry – states that the country, the world’s largest tyre producer since 2004, manufactured a total of 330 million tyres in 2007; of this number, 70 per cent were radials. Some 40 to 45 per cent of total output is exported, with 140 million units leaving China in 2007.

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Former Michelin Man Carlos Ghosn Elected 2009 ACEA President

The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), has elected Carlos Ghosn as its new president. Ghosn, CEO of Renault, will take over from Christian Streiff, CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroën, on 1 January 2009. Ghosn, whose extensive experience in the industry includes some two decades with Michelin, has held in current position as president and CEO of Renault since 2005.

“The global automotive industry is facing two significant challenges with a severe financial meltdown twinned with an economic recession, and a major transition to low-emission vehicles. In this context, an effective dialogue with EU institutions and governments is more important than ever”, said Ghosn, reflecting on the expected priorities of his term as ACEA president. He reiterated the automotive industry’s call for normalisation of credits markets, financial support to strategic investments and a range of national incentives to boost the market. “It is vital that our industry can keep fulfilling its key role in Europe in terms of growth, investments, employment and technological leadership.”

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors