Bridgestone is collaborating with Goumbook and the UAE Food Bank as part of its ongoing CSR efforts. The initiative involved Bridgestone’s UAE-based employees and their families working together to prepare meals for 1,000 beneficiaries. According to the company, the initiative “elicited positive responses from the community…”
Continental AG has made significant leadership changes within its Middle East operations. Specifically, Continental has welcomed back José De la Fuente as the managing director for the Middle East. De la Fuente brings a wealth of experience and expertise, having led Continental’s operations in Mexico as general director for tyres for the past five years. According to the company, his time in Mexico showcased “outstanding leadership and strategic acumen contributing to the growth and success of the company in the region”.
The British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the UAE, Gareth Johnson MP, accompanied by UK Ambassador to the UAE, Edward Hobart recently visited Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ). The delegation discussed trade relations between the UK and the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and explored avenues for future cooperation and potential support for British companies looking to expand in the region.
Goodyear has appointed Hamzeh Afaneh as director of its commercial tyre business in the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Afaneh has spent almost sixteen years in the tyre business, occupying a series of sales and business development roles based in Jordan and the UAE with Bridgestone, Continental and most recently Goodyear as commercial regional manager in early 2021. He led Goodyear’s team for the Gulf Cooperations Council (GCC) and near East regions, growing commercial tyre sales and delivering tailored digital solutions to customers. He was the recipient of Goodyear’s Chairman’s Award in 2022. Announcing his appointment, the company notes his experience of brand marketing, sales and business development across the region.
Grupo Alves Bandeira’s MatraX Tyres brand experienced “an extremely productive” debut at Automechanika Dubai, according to the distributor. The expansive MatraX stand showcased the full MatraX range of PCR, high performance, SUV and 4×4 tyres. The MatraX Urcola, Veragua FX and Morucha patterns were featured on the stand, emphasising products suited to high-performance cars.
Davanti Tyres has a new exclusive distributor across all territories within the United Arab Emirates. This remit has been taken on by Central Trading Company LLC, a member company of the Al-Rostamani Group, one of the largest and oldest conglomerates in the UAE.
Phil Robinson has joined Marangoni Retreading Systems as senior country manager for the United Kingdom, Ireland and United Arab Emirates. In this role he supports Mike Carter during the gradual transition towards Carter’s retirement.
Automechanika Dubai 2021 has been moved to the end of the year and will now take place from 14 – 16 December 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. According to the show’s organisers, Messe Frankfurt, the move follows contact with stakeholders and is a the result of the Covid-19 pandemic’s “unchartered territory”.
In January 2019, the ground was broken on the US$614 million Roadbot tyre plant in Abu Dhabi. Local news sources described the project as a milestone in the capital of the United Arab Emirates as recently as January 2020. However, the project has since hit a roadblock as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tyres & Accessories has seen documents that show how recent progress has been limited, though initial steps seem to have progressed well. Specifically, the official letter from Roadbot Tyre Industries dated July 2020 confirms that all the necessary planning applications, architectural designs and structure drawings have been approved and completed. Yet critical machinery work came to a standstill in March 2020.
The 18th edition of Automechanika Dubai, which was scheduled to run from 7-9 June 2020, will now take place from 19-21 October 2020 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The postponement comes in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as containment measures restrict movement across international borders, and impact the global economy.
Continental has renewed its tyre distribution partnership with Emirates for Universal Tyres (EUT). EUT will continue as the exclusive distributor of Continental tyres in the UAE at least until 2023.
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton won the final grand prix of the 2019 season with a one-stop medium-hard strategy. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in second used the same strategy at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi, but the third-placed Ferrari of Charles Leclerc added a final soft stint to his medium-hard run plan, taking advantage of the red tyre’s extra speed in the crucial closing stages of the race. Hamilton never lost the lead after gaining pole position in qualifying. He completed a hat-trick with a fastest lap on the hard tyre, which broke a lap record at Yas Marina that had stood since 2009.
In January 2019, construction of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) first tyre plant began. Now, the best part of a year later, sources operating in the Middle East and Africa region report that the Roadbot factory, which is being built in KIZAD’s China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone by Tirebot, is nearing the completion of its initial stage of development. During the ground-breaking of the plant in January, company representatives said the factory would become operational in October 2020. As much as US$600 million is reportedly being invested in the project.
In its role as the official tyre supplier and associate partner to the FIA World Rallycross Championship, Cooper Tire Europe will supply bespoke World RX tyres to all teams for the sixth consecutive season. This year’s World RX calendar consists of 11 rounds, taking the spectacle of World Rallycross all over Europe, but also into Canada, South Africa and the UAE.
Continental is planning to open a Middle East regional office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The joint venture project with the company’s previous distributor in Saudi Arabia, Almutlak Trade & Industries, will support growing demand for Continental’s products and services in the kingdom, according to the company.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
Continental
RAKEZ
Goodyear
MatraX
Pexels; Pixabay