During the second quarter of its financial year, the period from 1 June to 30 September, Apollo Tyres reported net sales of Rs 34.3 billion (£338.2 million), a slight increase on the same quarter a year earlier. Operating profit rose 16 per cent in the quarter to Rs 4.4 billion (£43.3 million), while net profit soared 44 per cent to Rs 2.2 billion (£21.7 million).
The solid tyre portfolio offered by Continental’s Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) business has grown with the addition of three new fitments for forklifts. These are the CS20, SC20 Mileage+ and SC20 Energy+. All three are super elastic tyres that fit on industrial pneumatic tyre rims and each is also available in a non-marking version for industries where a clean environment is critical.
A low rolling resistance tyre has been added to Bridgestone’s BattlaxSC maxi scooter range. The Battlax SC Ecopia is said to reduce rolling resistance by 15 per cent while maintaining the wet and dry handling, stability, wear life and comfort found in the standard Battlax SC. Bridgestone says it was able to reduce rolling resistance – which primarily results from tyre deformation and the loss of energy via heat generation during rotation – by working on three factors that directly affect tyre rolling resistance.
Bridgestone has been rewarded for its winter tyre investment with some high finishers in some major German magazines’ winter tyre tests. Representing the pinnacle of Bridgestone’s expertise in tread and compound technology, the Blizzak LM-32 performed extremely well in the latest independent tests, earning the label of “highly recommended” from Autozeitung and ends 4th out of 50 tyres in AutoBild.
New car registration figures for September show the UK once again delivered above-average performance, with the market growing 12.1 per cent year-on-year to 403,136 new registrations during the month. Registrations across the EU27 region were up 5.4 per cent on September 2012, with 1,159,066 new registrations recorded. Upon reporting these results, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ […]
Avon Tyres witnessed a strong end to the 2013 Time Attack series at Brands Hatch, as two titles and an all-time Time Attack lap record were claimed on its tyres. Avon became an official tyre supplier to the increasingly popular Time Attack series at the start of 2013, supplying its acclaimed ZZR road-legal circuit tyres and full competition slicks to entrants.
Pirelli has been nominated the world leader in the ATX Auto Components sector of the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe indices, with a score of 85 points compared with a sector average of 51 points. It is the seventh consecutive year that Pirelli has topped the tyre sector in this respect.
Effective from the 1 September Continental AG has merged its Suspension Systems and Chassis Electronics segments into the Electronic Brake Systems business unit from the Chassis Components unit, which has been dissolved as far as an organizational structure is concerned. In line with the move the Electronic Brake Systems unit has been renamed Vehicle Dynamics.
Alcoa has expanded its medium duty portfolio with a new wheel size: 19.5 x 6.75. Alcoa already offers the 17.5 x 6.75 wheel for medium duty trucks. It is available in two finishes; Brushed and Dura-Bright. The new wheel has the following specification:
Continental AG has placed a 750 million euro Eurobond with institutional and retail investors. According to the company, the aim of the move is to reduce the firm’s interest costs. The bond issued by Continental under its Debt Issuance Program established in May has a term of seven years and an interest rate of 3.125 per cent per annum. Interest will be payable annually in arrears. The issue price is 99.228 per cent.
Goodyear is unveiling a new Eagle race tyre with roots in consumer tyre technology at this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Reversing the usual development trend of racetrack-to-road, Goodyear’s newly designed right-side tyre marks the introduction of its Multi-Zone Tread Technology, combining two different rubber compounds in a single tread to face the conditions of one of NASCAR’s most demanding speedways.
According to Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ interim financial results for 1 January to 30 June, the Japanese made net sales of 333.7 billion yen (£2.3 billion). Despite this 3.6 per cent year-on-year rise in net sales, operating income fell 7.9 per cent to 29.7 billion yen (£194.9 million) and net income 6.7 per cent to 15.5 billion yen (£101.5 million).
Ryan Naughton has been appointed Cam Systems’s general manager with the aim of reinforcing the company’s service-oriented culture and “driving up its results-led organisational approach”. According to Cam, Naughton demonstrates “in-depth analytical and strategic expertise”, and will build upon the company’s operational and procedural planning.
Metzeler has rounded out its road racing season with its first year as title sponsor of the Ulster Grand Prix, at which Tyco Suzuki’s Guy Martin took three victories on the company’s rubber. Martin’s Supersport and feature Superbike race wins were joined by victories for Ivan Lintin in the Lightweight class, while Gary Johnson and Dean Harrison also enjoyed strong performances in the Superstock race. The weather led to the cancellation of the Dundrod 150 races on Thursday, but Metzeler enjoyed a victorious day on Saturday as the brand completed the first of three years as title sponsor to the World’s fastest road racing event, the Ulster Grand Prix.
During its recent annual results statement, YHI announced that it has added Otani and Double Coin tyres to its portfolio of premium and proprietary brands. According to the company, the group plans to accelerate its business development plans through the existing sales network as well as developing new sales channels to increase our commercial tyres business. No further details were given about which geographical areas the exclusivity refers to at this point.
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