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Continental Opens Thai Automotive Factory

A new facility belonging to Continental AG subsidiary Continental Automotive (Thailand) has opened in Amata City. The 11,500 square metre factory, built with an investment of approximately five billion baht (£90.2 million), will produce powertrain diesel injectors, high pressure pumps and common rail assemblies. The production of interior electronics is also planned.

While around 70 per cent of total output will ultimately go to domestic vehicle manufacturers – the factory will start supplying the Thai market next year – the first exports to Europe, China and India are expected to get underway before the end of June.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli P Zero OE on New Lotus Evora

Lotus Cars Limited has selected Pirelli as the principal supplier of tyres for the new Lotus Evora, with the company’s P Zero tyre the product of choice. The homologated size on the Evora is the 225/40ZR18 Y XL on the front and 255/35ZR19 Y XL on the rear. The Evora is the first all new Lotus to be released since the iconic Elise roadster in 1995.

Mathew Becker, executive engineer of vehicle dynamics for Lotus believes that the Pirelli P Zero enhances the dynamic performance of the Evora: “The Lotus Evora has been developed to deliver class-leading steering and handling performance whilst maintaining excellent ride quality. The exceptional abilities of Pirelli’s P Zeros enhances these vital elements and we have been impressed with the excellent steering linearity and consistent grip levels that this particular tyre provides in all conditions.”

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

First Stop Network Hosts Charity F1 Event

A week before the Formula One roadshow hit Silverstone, Carson Tyre & Autocare – part of the
First Stop network of tyre dealerships, hosted the event at department store Leekes, in Melksham, where they showcased a stunning replica F1 car and simulator to help raise money for charity. Visitors to the Saturday, 13 June event had the chance to have their picture taken by the F1 car and test their driving skills on the simulator – both for a small charity donation. Bridgestone has declared the event “a huge success”, raising £200 for the British Heart Foundation.

All visitors were presented with Bridgestone merchandise and given the chance to enter a prize draw to win an exclusive F1 factory tour of the Williams facility in Grove, Oxfordshire. First Stop representatives and Carson Tyre & Autocare staff, who were on hand during the day, also used the event to give out safety and product advice.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Win MotoGP Tickets and Prizes with National

Motorcycle Grand Prix fans take note – National Tyres and Autocare is giving visitors to its national.co.uk website the opportunity to win. Up for grabs are tickets to the paddock at Donnington on July 25 and 26 plus limited edition autographed prints of some of the biggest names in MotoGP.

National is running the free prize draw in conjunction with Bridgestone who donated the motorcycle prizes. For a chance to win tickets, visit the website before July 6, 2009. The autographed print draw will be separately held on August 28. No purchase is necessary in order to enter, assures National.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Delays Pay to Meet Loan Terms

Continental AG has reportedly opted to put payroll payments on hold for “a few days” in June to so it can honour its loan commitments. According to a report published by Bloomberg, all of Continental’s 45,000 workers in Germany as well as some in France and the US will be affected. Bloomberg quoted Continental’s headquarters as saying that Employees will receive their wages by July 3 at the latest. However, Continental Tyre Group representatives confirmed the news won’t affect UK employees.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Production Figures Show Benefit of Scrappage Schemes

Car production in the UK dropped 43.0 per cent to 67,754 units during May, the smallest year on year decline during 2009 so far. And while the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders comments that the outlook remains difficult, the trade association believes positive signs are evident as manufacturers restart production following the implementation of scrappage schemes. Commercial vehicle production, on the other hand, plummeted 73.5 per cent to 4,692 units – the largest monthly drop this year.

“Prompt action by manufacturers to realign supply with demand has been painful, but was necessary,” stated SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. “There is now a direct link between demand in the marketplace and production volumes,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. “The scrappage schemes in place across Europe are now beginning to have a positive impact, although the full benefits will take a little longer to flow down to companies at all levels in the supply chain.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Art Contest Receives Record Entries

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Using this yardstick, Bridgestone has no less than fifty five and a half million safety and environment related words on its hands: the company reports that at least 55,676 European primary school children participated in its “dreams at heArt” children’s drawing contest during 2009, more than 35 per cent more than last year. Children from twenty-five countries – including for the first time the Baltic States, Slovakia and Romania – sent in drawings of their thoughts and aspirations on the theme “Safe Travel in a Greener World”.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyres & Accessories’ Julie Wilshaw Completes Charity Midnight Walk

Circulations and Admin manager at Tyres & Accessories’ Stoke-on-Trent base Julie Wilshaw completed the annual Midnight to Sunrise Walk in the city on Friday 19 June to raise funds for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice in North Staffordshire. The hospice provides palliative care – care of patients whose disease no longer responds to curative treatment, and for whom the aim must be the best quality of life for them and their families according to the World Health Organisation – to those with cancer and other life-limiting diseases. She says that she wanted to complete the walk in memory of her mother and father and that the effects of cancer on friends had inspired her interest in the evening’s charity. Many others agreed, with the walk being completed by 1,500 area women.

At present, Wilshaw says she has raised £144, and while this represents a good initial figure, she has targeted £500 as a final amount. Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/juliewilshaw. Tyres & Accessories congratulates Julie for her achievements and wishes her the best of luck for her future charitable endeavours.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres Appoints New Creative Partner

Capital Advertising is to replace M&C Saatchi as Apollo Tyres’ passenger vehicle business creative partner, a role that will see it handle media related duties for the Indian manufacturer’s entire passenger car tyre range. Speaking to televisionpoint.com, Capital Advertising director Sunil Sachdeva director said Apollo Tyres has recently become a global player and has “very ambitious plans for the road ahead, it is the right time for us to partner them in this preposition.”

The advertising agency previously represented Apollo Tyres through its involvement in the launch of the manufacturer’s two wheeler tyre range almost a decade ago.

22nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Gets Dealers Rugby Ready

When you hear the word ‘lion’ do your thoughts turn to the carnivorous big cat? No? Then Goodyear won’t have much trouble making you “Rugby Ready”. The company is helping its dealers catch the 15 a side fever with a new promotion it hopes will “get customers off the rugby pitch and into the forecourts.” In celebration of the brand’s partnership with the Rugby Football Union and the International Rugby Board’s Rugby Ready programme, Goodyear is offering rugby paraphernalia to dealers who buy direct from the company during June and July.

19th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Retreads Deliver 30% Lower Carbon Footprint – Study

An independent study commissioned by the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse has shown that the process required to manufacture and retreaded tyres produces around 30 per cent less carbon emissions that that required to produce a new tyre.

Testing for the study was carried out by carbon footprint specialists Best Foot Forward and involved the use of new and retreaded 17.5-inch light commercial vehicle tyres. According to the results obtained, the manufacture of a new 17.5-inch tyre produces 86.9 kilograms (191.6 pounds) of CO2 emissions compared to 60.5 kilograms (133.4 pounds) CO2 for an equivalent retreaded tyre; a difference of 30.4 per cent.

19th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Further US Reaction to ITC Ruling: Wait and See

While no one appeared to be surprised by the US International Trade Commission ruling yesterday on the USW’s petition to limit the importation of “Made in China” tyres, most took a wait and see attitude about the ruling.

The ITC voted 4-2 in favor of the union petition, saying that the growth in passenger tyre exports from China to the U.S. caused “disruption” in the US market. The ITC will send its specific ruling and suggested remedy on to the president by the end of this month, and the Obama Administration is slated to act by the end of September. “We anticipate that the final decisions on remedies will improve domestic job security, increase production and sales, and allow for investment in capital equipment to better compete in the global market for the long term,” said Tom Conway, USW International vice president. (Tire Review/Akron)

19th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Launches 4×4 Latitude Cross

In the first week of June, Michelin held the dealer launch of its latest 4×4 tyre, the multi-purpose Latitude Cross – a tyre designed for 65 per cent road and 35 per cent off-road use. Over the course of the week, 90 dealers from around the UK and Ireland attended the event which was based at Ansty Hall Hotel near Coventry. Each day started with a presentation on where the new tyre fits into Michelin’s existing Latitude 4×4 range. After that, the dealers were given the chance to experience the new product themselves. A Land Rover Defender 110 and two Freelanders, two Toyota Hi-Lux pick-ups and two Volkswagen Touaregs were utilised to show the full range of the tyre’s on and off-road capabilities.

19th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Passes Scrappage Scheme Bill

The US senate dotted the final “i” on its “Cash for Clunkers” scheme – an answer to the UK’s own scrappage deal dubbed, with equal panache, “Bangers for Cash” – on 19 June. The scrappage bill will allocate $1 billion for vouchers worth between $3,500 and $4,500 when a customer trades in an old vehicle for a new one. However, unlike the British government’s reliance on customers to make the decision to buy more ecologically friendly products, the US programme is contingent on the fact that the traded-in vehicle achieves 18mpg or fewer and the new one supersedes the original figure by 4mpg (car), 2mpg (small truck or SUV) or 1mpg (large truck or van).

Deutsche Bank reports estimate that 28 per cent of the relevant US car parc will qualify for the deal, while it also calls the potential benefits to the US auto industry “relatively modest”. It continues, “Given the fact that most eligible vehicles will be trucks, we believe that a disproportionate benefit will accrue to the US automakers (and to suppliers such as American Axle).”

19th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Falken Dealers Visit Germany

Three dozen Falken customers from all over Europe recently visited the world famous Nurburgring race track in Germany. The Falken customers from the UK were hosted by Micheldever Tyres, Falken’s sole supplier in the UK, at one of the continent’s most prestigious motorsport events, the annual 24 hour ADAC endurance race. Falken tyres were one of the main sponsors of this year’s event with the company’s branding prominently positioned around the 13 kilometre race track, on every car and on in-car television coverage.

The Falken car, a Nissan 350Z eventually finished in 11th place and was the first non-German produced car to complete this arduous event. The customers themselves were treated to five-star hospitality and entertainment throughout the duration of the four-day trip, culminating in a ride with the European Drift car Champions.

19th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors