Figures for CV registrations in Europe, released by ACEA, show that they fell by 13.3 per cent in February and were down -11.9 per cent over the first two months, year on year. February was the fourteenth consecutive month that demand for commercial vehicles in the EU was down.
Goodyear is currently celebrating picking up two Which? Magazine Best Buy awards. The latest issue of Which? Includes tests on 225/45 R17 and 185/60 R15 products, with Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tested in the former category and its EfficientGrip Performance in the latter.
Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform – Bull – or underperform – Bear – the markets over the next three to six months. In a move that may give ‘The Grizz’ reason to growl, on 22 March Zacks Equity Research named Titan International its ‘Bear of the Day.’
Michelin’s status as a culinary authority will come in handy at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS) 2013; during this year’s event the tyre maker and Michelin guide publisher will draw visitors in with cooking demonstrations by Michelin starred chefs on its main exhibition stand.
Cooper Tire and Industrias Negromex S.A. de C.V. (INSA), a subsidiary of Grupo KUO, report that the US patent office has granted a patent to the two organizations for their silica masterbatch process. According to the two companies, the process to produce silane, hydrophobated silica, silica masterbatch and rubber products results in a broader processing window offering “manufacturing efficiencies” for the end user.
B&J Rocket has launched a long marketing programme, which the company hope will communicate that “loyalty pays off”. And it was with these words that Andreas Müller, managing director of B&J Rocket, kicked off the new Q-Plus global marketing campaign which stretches across the whole calendar year.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has reported its fourth quarter and full year 2012 results, including record net sales of US$1.1 billion in the final quarter, and increase of two per cent on the same period a year earlier. Operating profit also reached record levels in the fourth quarter, amounting to $124 million – $65 million higher than fourth quarter 2011 and 11.7 per cent of net sales. The company reported net income attributable to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company of $1.15 per share, or $73 million in the fourth quarter.
Cooper Tire & Rubber has announced a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share on common stock, payable 29 March 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business 6 March 2013. This will mark the 164th consecutive quarterly dividend the company has paid. Cooper Tire & Rubber will publish its fourth quarter 2012 results on Monday 25 February.
Pirelli intends to present its new 2013 – 2017 industrial plan to the financial community on 8 May 2013, in London. As a result, the Italian firm’s Board of Directors meeting, which will review the operational results for the three months ending 31 March, will now take place a day earlier, rather than on 8 May as announced. Furthermore, Pirelli’s annual shareholders’ meeting will now be held on 8 May 2013, and not on 13 May as previously announced.
When Michelin reported full-year 2012 free cash flow of 1.075 billion euros, financial analysts responded by describing the results as “a strong beat” compared with consensus expectations. However, questions about profitability (and the company’s continued momentum in this respect) remain a subject of discussion amongst the market watchers.
Dunlop has completed its first test of its new MSA British Touring Car Championship soft compound tyre at Rockingham. In 2013 drivers of NGTC specification cars must use one set of soft compound tyres for one of the three races following a regulation change. Drivers must nominate the race in which they will use the tyres without the knowledge of other drivers’ strategies before Saturday’s qualifying session.
For the final quarter of 2012, Nexen Tire has reported sales of KRW 411 billion (£240.1 million), a year-on-year increase of 2.4 per cent, KRW 24 billion (£14.0 million) in operating income, a 90.1 per cent increase on Q4 2011, a 5.7 per cent operating margin and net profit of KRW 21 billion (£12.3 million), up 12.1 per cent year-on-year.
The newcomer draws first blood – only a month after its launch, Dunlop’s Sport BluReponse has beaten the Michelin Energy Saver + in a head-to-head ‘mini test’ carried out by Auto Express magazine. Reporting its victory, Dunlop quotes comments made by tyre tester Jamie Fretwell from Auto Express, who declared the BluResponse a “worthy addition” to the tyre maker’s range.
Following the organisational changes announced late last year, the Trelleborg Group has recalculated its business area quarterly data for the years 2007 to 2012. Results are now tabulated under the “Coated Systems”, “Industrial Solutions”, “Offshore & Construction”, “Sealing Solutions” and “Wheel Systems” business areas. This recalculation has resulted in little change for the Trelleborg Wheel Systems tyre and wheel business.
Following a series of Michelin Fill Up With Air roadshows, the number of employees at BNP Paribas Group vehicle rental company Arval driving their cars on correctly inflated tyres has increased significantly. Over the past four years the events, run in conjunction with Michelin, have seen an improvement of 38 per cent, the tyre manufacturer says. Michelin staff checked the tyre pressures and tread depths of 151 Arval employee vehicles at the 2012 event, and more than two thirds of tyres tested were at the correct pressure or less than seven psi under-inflated.
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