(Akron/Tire Review) American Tire Distributors Inc. has agreed to purchase Minneapolis-based Samaritan Wholesale Tire Co., which covers eastern Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin. Samaritan co-owner Jay Halvorson will join ATD to help manage the Minneapolis operation.
Amerityre Corporation has announced that it has entered into a manufacturing and distribution license agreement with Joon “James” Won Lee, doing business as Flatfree, Inc., a South Korean corporation (“Flatfree- Korea”). Under the terms of the agreement, Flatfree-Korea will pay an annual license fee, purchase manufacturing equipment and purchase chemical systems.
Jaguar Cars has selected two Dunlop SP Sport performance tyres for its new supercharged XKR, a 420-horsepower sporting Grand Tourer. Dunlop tyres, standard on the 2007 Jaguar XK, have also been specified for the XKR, which delivers 120 more horsepower. The XKR will jet to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds; the car arrives in showrooms by year’s end. The convertible model takes 5 seconds.
Michelin Energy tyres last longer and therefore cost less per mile, according to the French manufacturer. However independent French magazine Auto-Plus has now published comparison test results which Michelin says prove its assertions. The test results show that the Michelin Energy E3A tyres offered 20 per cent more life than the next best brand and 60 per cent more life than the most expensive tyre.
Michelin has admitted that it is pleased a class action case brought against itself, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Formula One was thrown out of court. The case was brought following last June’s now infamous US Grand Prix. “Michelin is very pleased with [US District Judge Sarah Evans Barker’s] decision dismissing the entire class action lawsuit,” pitpass.com quoted Michael Fanning, vice president, corporate affairs Michelin North America as saying.
A big-hearted Dartford tyre dealer is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime in aid of charity. Paul Vanner is joining 99 other people from across the UK in a project called Riders for Health, which aims to provide remote African villages with motorbikes, which are vital to enable them to obtain medical supplies from towns often hundreds of miles away.
Autosport International, Europe’s largest motorsport exhibition, which also comprises The Aftermarket Show, has been shortlisted for three categories in the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO) Excellence Awards. The awards, which will be announced at the end of June, will see the event contest the Trade Show of the Year, Consumer Show of the Year and Most Original Stand for its F1 Feature.
New figures released by The Aftermarket Show event organisers, Haymarket Exhibitions, show that more than 4500 aftermarket trade visitors attended the event in January of this year. In 2006, The Aftermarket Show was monitored closely and this research has brought about a number of changes to the event in 2007, one of which is the new trade two-day exhibitor package.
David Price Food Services Ltd is enjoying an average 27.8 per cent increase in mileage performance from each of the Michelin drive axle tyres on its fleet of 26 commercial vehicles by regrooving them in-line with Michelin’s recommendations. According to the manufacturer, the company fits new Michelin 295/80 R22.5 XZE 2+ and XDE2+ tyres as standard across its fleet, with each tyre regrooved by the local ATS Euromaster branch when the tread depth reaches two to three millimetres.
Goodway Rubber Industries is a leading provider of rubber compounds and other related products, including retreads. Innovative technology, coupled with intensive research and development efforts, has paid off with the development of the winning formula, Supercool Hi-M. This high mileage formula has been tested on leading highways and expressways in several countries with a winning reputation.
In this age of high fuel prices, commercial users will be pleased to learn that the new Bandag BDLT is a cost saving and reliable alternative to even the best new tyres on the market. It is an application-specific design for all wheel positions on mid-range to light trucks and vans, operating in busy city centres or covering regional distances on a variety of road types, in all seasons.
The tread is designed to deliver good traction and responsive handling in all weather conditions without sacrificing tread wear. It has been approved by customers in its target market as a top-quality and cost-saving substitute for new tyres.
(Akron/Tire Review) Amtel-Vredestein NV says it will invest another $124 million to expand its Voronezh, Russia, tyre plant. The Voronezh II project, previously announced, will see a state-of-the-art tyre plant built on the grounds of Amtel-Vredestein’s existing Voronezh facility. The new plant will produce some 2.5 million Amtel and Vredestein branded tires annually, and could be expanded to 4.1 million tyres.
According to this agreement Amtel-Vredestein will invest $124 million into its new Voronezh-II production facilities. Within this project, state-of-the-art facilities will be built which will produce 2.5 million tyres annually, with a possibility for further expansion to 4.1 million tires per year. Production is set to start in September 2008.
(Akron/Tire Review) Just as suddenly as it came up, One Equity Partners has ended its quest to acquire Titan International Inc. One Equity Partners made an $18 per share offer last October, a move opposed by one of Titan’s largest shareholders but support by the company’s board.
GSF Car Parts – one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of quality car parts for German, Swedish and French cars – has launched an ‘All-Makes’ range incorporating products suitable for the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Fiat cars.
The recent purchase of Motorola’s Auto Electronics business by Continental has increased the German company’s market capitalisation by 900 million Euros this week. Financial analysts appear to approve of the deal, describing it as a good fit and, at US$1 billion (812 million Euros), they feel that the price was right. The analysts also believe that the deal will quickly add to the group’s operating profits.
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