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Independent Thinking – Bridgestone UK’s retail strategy

Bridgestone UK’s general strategy of focusing on independent dealers is clear with 90 per cent of its sales going through this channel and only 10 per cent going through equities such as Kingsway, ATS Euromaster and HiQ. If anything the management sees its relationships with key independent dealers as even more important to truck tyre sales. Sales figures given at the Truck Point conference seem demonstrate this: 94 per cent of Bridgestone CV products are supplied through Truck Point dealers.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Car Market Still Buoyant, Says Report

The much publicised “credit crunch” which has seen interest rates rise sharply this year has not scared off UK car buyers, says ACF Car Finance. The UK market came in at 419,000 units (+1.3 per cent) in September, which is thought to have been spurred on by the new registration plate which pushed private retail sales up by 1.5 per cent. The UK market performed better than was expected, despite fears of a slowing economy and the increased cost of borrowing money.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Vredestein Set to Sell Controlling Interest in AV-TO

Russian news sources are reporting that Amtel-Vredestein is selling the controlling stake in its less than profitable retail network. One source named Michelin as a possible buyer. If Michelin does buy the controlling interest, analysts are suggesting the chain may stop selling Amtel’s tyres at its points of sale, which will affect roughly 20 per cent of Amtel sales. Despite this, Amtel looks likely to hold onto shares in the retail chain.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Launch Ecopia EP100 Fuel-Efficiency Tyre

Bridgestone is set to compete in terms of fuel efficiency with the launch of its new Ecopia EP100 passenger car tyre. According to the company, the tyres will boast “outstanding braking performance in wet conditions in level with the B’Style Ex tyre as well as a 30 per cent reduction in rolling resistance.” The tyre will go on sale from 1 April 2008 in 195/55R16, 185/65R15 and 195/65R15. There are said to be plans to expand this range in a stepwise manner. Prices are all set at the manufacturer’s recommended retail price.

5th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

More Praise for Goodyear’s Eagle F1

Goodyear’s UHP Eagle F1 Asymmetric has bagged another award, this time at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The widely read US publication Popular Mechanics selected the new for 2007 Goodyear rubber from the 4,000 plus displays and countless new products at the SEMA exhibition and awarded the tyre its Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award for New Products.

“It is an honour to receive this award on behalf of Goodyear and the engineers who invented this tyre for the demanding enthusiasts in this segment,” said Bob Toth, marketing manager for Goodyear Auto Tires. “Goodyear’s Eagle brand of tyres have long been known for ultimate performance, and this recognition again helps to provide further credibility.”

2nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Tire – Double Digit Growth in 2008

Hankook Tire plans to sustain its double-digit growth during 2008 and continue to develop as a producer of quality high performance tyres. And the Korean manufacturer’s status in this segment will be further bolstered by the company’s recently announced KRW 10 billion (£5.4 million) wet proving ground for the integrated development, production and testing of UHP tyres. This facility is the first of its type in Korea.

In 2008, Hankook Tire will renew its strategic focus on driving retail sales through more intensive marketing activities across all of its major markets, leveraging its growing reputation for producing quality high-performance tyres. The Hankook Tire Masters Program for distributors in Europe will be expanded, and a new distributor education plan for high performance tyres, featuring an emphasis on Hankook Tire’s technological innovation and its benefits for customers, is in development.

29th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres Names New Board Member

Former chairman of the State Bank of India, Mr. Arun Purwar, has been named to the board of directors at Apollo Tyres. Company chairman and managing director Onkar S Kanwar, commenting on his appointment, said “It is an honour to have Arun on our board of directors. He brings with him a wealth of global financial and management expertise and his long list of achievements with India’s largest and most successful bank.”

Purwar served as chairman of the State Bank of India between 2002 and 2006, and spearheaded the bank’s retail expansion and modernisation, backed by robust IT systems.

26th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Tyres Opening First US Vianor Outlets

Nokian Tyres is expanding its Vianor retail chain into the US following the purchase of the Goss Tire Company on October 25. The five tyre outlets in the state of Vermont and one in New York State operated by the US retailer will bring the total number of Vianor outlets in operation up to 340, but will be the first outside of Europe and the former Soviet bloc countries.

The acquisition of Goss Tire enables Nokian to increase its tyre sales and gain access to consumer sales in the US market. Vianor Holding Oy managing director Seppo Kupi said that the company is aiming in the near future to further expand Vianor’s US operations in the area of winter tyres. The 40 people employed by Goss Tire will continue working for the new US Vianor operation.

26th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Real Cars – Real Racing

By the time November’s Tyres & Accessories lands in readers’ mailboxes the final round of the FIA WTCC will most likely have been fought out in Macau and the winners of both the Drivers and Manufacturers Championships – both close run affairs at the end of round 20 in Monza – will be known to all. But for now we can only speculate whether or not a UK driver will stand victorious on the dais come November 18.

Whatever the outcome, 2007 has been a spectacular season for the championship, with the round contested on British soil no exception. The Brands Hatch circuit served as host to the WTCC on the weekend of September 22-23, and the four UK drivers competing in the two rounds presented their home crowd with very respectable results. The first race saw two local lads amongst the quickest three drivers across the line, with Alfa Romeo driver James Thompson and BMW’s Colin Turkington recording times less than a second behind race winner, Chevrolet’s Alain Menu. The afternoon’s racing ended with the UK’s Andy Priaulx, competing in a BMW320si, in first place. Third and fourth places were also grabbed by local drivers Robert Huff and Colin Turkington.

23rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bidvest Believed to Behind TiAuto Buyout Announcement

Bidvest, 20 per cent shareholders in Tiger Automotive Ltd (TiAuto), who in turn own a 51 per cent share in Yokohama High Performance Tyres in the UK, is believed to have shown interest in acquiring all of the company’s retail and wholesale aftermarket wheel and tyre business. In mid-October TiAuto’s board announced: “Shareholders of Tiger Automotive are advised that the board has received a proposal which may result in an offer to acquire the entire issued share capital of the company.”

22nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres Unveils Smart Retail Outlets

Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched its first branded retail store in Patiala, India. The company now plans to take these stores to all the metropolitan and class A cities in the country in the coming months.

The first store to sport the new look is National Tyres, Patiala, one of Apollo’s leading retailers in the state of Punjab. Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Satish Sharma, Chief, India Operations, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said: “There’s much happening in the Indian retail space and it’s the right time for us to give our customers the same best-in-class experience. We are creating outlets where women feel comfortable making a purchase. In an environment where the consumer can make an informed decision and is backed by quality service levels and knowledge. These stores look and feel different and will finally bring in the global tyre-buying experience into India.”

19th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Launches Licensed Product Kiosk at Retail Stores

Using its network of retail stores as a licensing proving ground, Goodyear Tire & Rubber has begun the installation of free-standing, licensed product kiosks at 65 Goodyear Auto Service Centers and 118 Just Tires locations across the United States. The Goodyear kiosk is a metal structure with flexible shelving to allow for multiple configurations depending on product mix. Initial installation is scheduled to take place between October 15 and the end of October and is, according to Goodyear’s manager of licensed products Bob Paciulan, part of a broader future retail distribution plan for its licensed products.

“The more than 60 licensees that currently produce products carrying the Goodyear name realise how valuable our retail network is for showcasing their products with the compelling Goodyear nameplate,” said Paciulan. “This is the first time that Goodyear licensed products are being offered at Goodyear retail locations and we hope that this direction encourages additional licensing agreements with companies that produce high-quality merchandise and want to tap into our consumer distribution capability.” The new kiosks will offer 22 distinctive products ranging from air compressors to floor mats and air pressure gauges, produced by licensees and carrying the Goodyear name. Product prices range from US$2 to $40.

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Aiming for 15 Million Tyres a Year in Poland

The previously reported Michelin expansion in Poland will see capacity at the company’s Olsztyn plant boosted to 15 million units a year, claims Deutsche Bank’s Equity Research division. This capacity will further be revised in the mid-term to 20 million units, making the facility in northeast Poland the tyremaker’s largest.

The reasoning behind the decision to expand in Poland at the expense of facilities in Western Europe becomes clear when viewing the relative costs of each region. In Western Europe, direct labour costs per passenger car tyre represents approximately 7.5 euros, or 15 per cent of its selling price. In Poland the same tyre can be manufactured for 1.7 euros, less than 4 per cent of the tyre’s retail price.

15th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Mizati Plans More Wheel Lots Stores

(Akron/Tire Review) Mizati Luxury Alloy Wheels said it plans to open its second Wheel Lots retail store somewhere in the Los Angeles area, and has plans for as many as eight stores in the area. “Initially we were focusing on the Inland Empire area. However, since this October when we launched our radio campaign, we realized that in order to assist our customers after they made purchases, we would like to have the second Wheel Lots store cover a different part of the city,” Mizati CEO Hazel Chu said. “With this scenario, both geographic areas will be covered by at least one location for the installation of customers’ purchases, and in 2008, we will have six to eight stores opened between Inland Empire and the greater Los Angeles area,” Chu added.

11th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Micheldever Chooses Hofmann Megaplan

Micheldever Tyres have chosen Hofmann Megaplan as a preferred equipment supplier following an “extensive evaluation of their products.” Micheldever, which operates a number of retail sites under the Micheldever and Pro-Tyre banners, took the decision to review their equipment supply source and as such reportedly trialled machines from a number of manufacturers. Prior to the news Micheldever’s record breaking Micheldever Station retail outlet ran an exclusive supply agreement with Snap-On.

According to company representatives, Hofmann Megaplan equipment, in particular the megamount 701XL tyre changer, performed to their complete satisfaction and received positive reviews from those who put the machines through their paces.

11th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors