Renault Trucks and Continental Tyres have announced the winner of their joint World Cup Prize Draw, which took place at this year’s CV show in Birmingham. The promotion, held on the Renault Trucks stand in conjunction with Continental Tyres, Official Sponsor of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, attracted over 1500 entries.
Michelin is running a consumer promotion offering a free digital alloy pressure gauge worth £19.99 to anyone purchasing a pair of its Pilot Power tyres from 1 June. Dealers wishing to take part need to buy a minimum of five pairs of Pilot Power tyres and will get their name and contact details on Michelin’s website.
During July and August there will be supporting advertisements in the September issues of Fast Bikes and Superbike Magazine telling readers to visit the website for details of participating stockists.
Following the launch of Firestone’s nationwide publicity campaign, dealers are being urged to be ready to meet consumer demand. ‘Firestone Together’, which went live in tyre dealerships across the country on 1 May, is a consumer reward promotion designed to increase sales of the Firestone brand across the UK.
(Akron/Tire Review) Groupe Michelin launched a new service product in China called Sui Ni Xing or “Drive Without Worry,” according to China Daily. The product, which includes services such as 24-hour roadside assistance, free tyre repair, towing and warranty programs, will be available in China within the next two years.
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK promoted Matthew Bowell to the new role of PR support manager in the company’s corporate communications team. Bowell joined the tyre giant in 2004 as Communications Specialist, after beginning his PR career in a London NHS Trust, before moving to work on the Comic Relief programme in 2002 and 2003.
The impact of new legislation banning tyre shred from landfill sites was the main discussion topic during the second WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) Tyres Stakeholder Forum. Over fifty representatives from organisations involved in both new and recycled tyre markets gathered in London in January to receive updates on WRAP’s progress since the first Forum, held last June, and continue to provide views and guidance to WRAP on its activities under the programme.
Pitching their marketing directly at young drivers looking to upgrade their first hot-hatch, DJ Wheels has released two additions to its 2006 range. With vivid computer game style images on both the literature and point of sale material, Sherbrook is aiming to move ‘First Wheels’ marketing forward in a campaign that breaks new ground in the accessory sector. In total nine designs are available in the 2006 DJ Wheels line-up.
The new DJ388 is said to deliver ‘split-rim’ styling at an affordable price. The five-spoke design comes in either 4 or 5-stud fixing. Size availability is: 7×15 and 7×16 in Sport Silver finish, with 7×17 and 7.5×18 in Hyper Silver.
Kalyani Brakes Ltd, Bosch’s Indian subsidiary has set up a joint venture with Italian brake company Brembo. The two businesses are set to establish a 50:50 joint-venture company for the application engineering, production and sales of motorcycle brakes following an agreement signed on 17 October 2005.
Bridgestone has been granted approval to establish a new $25 million proving ground in China follwoing a period of negotiation with Chinese authorities. Bridgestone aims to use this testing and research facility to develop a system that enables the swift provision of tyres for original equipment and replacement in the Chinese market.
Trade stockists are being offered a £2,000 incentive to participate in Hella’s 2005 Battery Plan, with qualifying orders receiving a Midtronics GR1 Battery Management Centre and printer completely free of charge. The offer is part of an aggressive campaign which also includes a package of extended credit terms, merchandise and display materials, price stability, rebates for high-achieving distributors and an extended and rationalised product offer.
After 16 years working with Sapphire Energy Recovery and Lafarge Cement, Tim Stott (35) has become general manager of the tyre disposal specialists. Previously Mr Stott had been finance manager and then acting general manager. Now, following Jamie Randall’s promotion to alternative resource manager with Lafarge UK, Tim Stott will take over the day-to-day running of the company on a permanent basis. “This is a great opportunity to build on what the business has already achieved,” commented the new general manager.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has made a number of new appointments, including the promotion of Ed Reading to vice president of international sales and marketing, writes Tire Review. In his new role, Mr Reading will be responsible for coordinating sales and marketing strategies for all Cooper products sold outside the US, as well as export sales from the US.
In addition, Cooper named Matthew Moore as manager of programme pricing. Mr Moore will be responsible for determining prices on Cooper tyre brands. Finally, Chris Barbara was named sales training manager, and will be responsible for developing and facilitating training for Cooper’s dealers and sales force.
Kumho Tyre has announced that Steve Tidmarsh has been appointed as managing director and chief operating officer of Kumho Tyre (UK). The appointment became effective on 1 January 2005. Following Mr Tidmarsh’s promotion, YD Yoon, president of Kumho Tire Europe, will assume the role of chief executive officer.
Commenting on the appointment, YD Yoon said: “Under Steve’s leadership I am certain that our team at Kumho Tyre (UK) will be in excellent shape to meet the challenges of the UK and Irish markets. His energy and drive will be invaluable as we move ahead with our strategic plans for Europe.”
Steve Tidmarsh joined Kumho Tyre (UK) in December 2002 as sales director, becoming executive director in 2004.
Just a few days after unveiling its new Direzza DZ101 tyre, Dunlop found a number of volunteers willing to sit in the “chair.” The barber’s chair, that is.
A record number of radio stations are taking part in this year’s Scottish tyre safety campaign. 18 local and national Scottish radio stations are supporting this year’s tyre safety initiative by echoing the TIC’s tyre safety messages as part of a “down the line” radio promotion.
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