Nordic buying group Dekk Partner has reported that its network is growing at a rapid rate. Dekk Partner now has 110 workshops in Norway, close to 90 in Sweden, 60 in Finland and one in Estonia. On top of this group managing director, Leif Kristiansen, predicts that total turnover could peak at 215 million euros this year.
In recent months the motorbike consumer press has heaped praise on Avon’s Viper Sport (see T&A February 2005) and Supersport tyres. Journalists from MCN, Superbike, Bike and TWO all attended the European launch of the Viper at the Catalunya GP circuit near Barcelona, Spain in February. The tyres were tested on a variety of bikes, which together clocked up around 3,000 miles on one of the world’s fastest and demanding circuits.
The Cambridge-MIT Institute’s Centre for Competitiveness and Innovation (CCI), at the University of Cambridge has published a 33-page report investigating the final collapse of the MG-Rover in April 2005. Report authors Dr Matthias Holweg and Professor Nick Oliver investigate the final collapse of MG-Rover in April 2005, and address two main questions. First, what were the reasons for the final collapse, and was this avoidable? Second, who or what was responsible for the circumstances that put MG Rover in such a precarious position, and what critical choices sealed the fate of Rover?
In the wake of the collapse of MG Rover, it seems that the vultures are already circling the carcass. According to an Auto Express report, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corportation (SAIC) plans to build 321,000 Rover 75s in the next five years. Not one will come from Birmingham.
(Akron/Tire Review) Treadways Corp has announced several organisational changes, effective 1 May. First, Lyle Symonds has been appointed senior vice president of private brand sales. Mr Symonds will oversee Treadways’ Laramie, Eldorado, Jetzon and Telstar tyre divisions and will report directly to Roy Araki, president. Previously, Mr Symonds was vice president, sales and marketing for the company’s Eldorado division.
US replacement tyre shipments rose one per cent in March, Deutsche Bank analysts have reported. According to the report, this number is seen as relatively strong in the context of the seven per cent year on year increase experienced in February. The analysts predict a 2 – 3 per cent increase for the quarter.
Stapletons Tyre Services has appointed Taro Ikeba to the position of chief financial officer to join its expanding operation. Mr Ikeba joined Stapletons recently from his previous position at Itochu Finance Europe plc in London, where he was head of corporate finance. He will report to Stapletons’ chief operations officer Alan Denton, and his core responsibilities will include managing the company’s overall financial strategy.
Analysts have predicted that Michelin’s first half operating profit could match last year. They added that a three or four per cent fall in volume should be offset by the effects of a strong price/mix effect of plus four or five per cent. The Deutsche Bank report states that the analysts expect first half operating profits to be 50 million euros higher than the consensus of 700 million or 9.3 per cent of margin. This translates into an earnings per share estimate of 5.5 euros for 2005 earnings and 6.5 euros for 2006 earnings, against a consensus of five and six euros respectively.
Singapore company, Stamford Tyres, has discovered fraudulent acts committed by an employee responsible for its Brunei, Sarawak and Labuan markets, according to a report from Channel News Asia.
No names were given, said the news source, but the company has lodged a police report.
The loss arising from the fraud is estimated at S $500,000 (£159, 950). The company has insurance coverage for fraud and dishonesty by its employees to a limit of S$250,000 says the report.
Indonesia’s Gajah Tunggal has reported a 4.11 per cent decline in net profit to Rp478.15 billion (£31.2 million) in 2004 compared with the previous year, according to Yahoo Finance Australia.
Its financial report declared net sales that rose to Rp6,807,58 billion from Rp5,729.51 billion.
Its gross profit rose from Rp871.82 billion to Rp1,124.39 billion but it suffered a loss on the foreign exchange amounting to Rp436.75 billion as against gain of Rp390.65 billion in the previous year, said the report.
The company’s total assets shrank from Rp12,173.26 billion to Rp6,341.12 billion as a result of a sharp fall in current assets from Rp9,096.77 billion to Rp4,491.78 billion.
According to a report from Bloomberg, foreign direct investment in China rose by 9.5 per cent in the first quarter. It attributes this to companies such as Avon Products and Goodyear Tire & Rubber that are expanding in the market and furthering their attempts to tap rising demand in Asia’s second-largest economy.
(Akron/Tire Review) Associated Press has reported that nine Formula One teams and five F1 car manufacturers will boycott a meeting this week with the FIA in another move interpreted as increasing their bid for a new grand prix series.
FIA’s meeting on 15 April was reportedly called to discuss 2008 race season regulations. The only race team and constructor committed to attending the meeting is Ferrari, which signed a multi-year deal to remain in F1.
National tyre wholesaler, Stapletons has made strategic supply chain appointments. Ian Kirkpatrick will move from his role as national logistics manager becoming head of supply chain as part of the company’s ambitions to work even closer with UK and worldwide tyre manufacturers.
Koichiro (Kyle) Iwasawa has been named executive vice president of operations for Treadways Corp.
Iwasawa, who is replacing Koji Aoyama, started his career with Sumitomo Corp. in 1979 and worked for Treadways for six years. Iwasawa served as director of marketing and operations from 1993-1995 and vice president of operations from 1996-1999. Most recently, he was general manager of the paper and paperboard export department of Sumisho Paper Co. in Tokyo.
Iwasawa will work out of Treadways’ headquarters office in East Norriton, and will report directly to Roy Araki, president of the company.
(Toronto/Tire Review) Canadian Press reports that the Big Three automakers – Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler – continue to lose market share in the United States but are regaining ground in Canada. US sales by the Big Three have declined by six per cent so far this year, reducing their market share to 59 per cent – the fifth consecutive month below 60 per cent – said the report released Monday, citing research by Scotiabank.
Meanwhile, the Big Three led the way in Canada last month, with volumes advancing 16 per cent year-over-year – the best performance in more than five years.
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