Across the Atlantic they are called tires, while over here we use a “Y” and say tyres. This tag provides the latest tyre business news emanating from the United States of America (USA), whichever way you spell it.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that it has commenced a public offering of $700 million aggregate principal amount of 10-year senior notes, subject to market and other customary conditions. The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the company.
Bridgestone is to be the title sponsor of field hockey’s equivalent of cricket’s Indian Premier League, a competition designed to raise the profile of the sport in one of its key markets. The eight-franchise Bridgestone World Series Hockey competition starts on 29 February in Chandigarh, with the home Comets taking on the Bhopal Badshahs. The tournament will be broadcast in India on the Neo Sports network, with international coverage providers still to be announced. In addition to the 150 Indians, players will participate from around the world, including some from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
At this month’s Pneu Expo 2012, Yokohama’s flagship eco tyre the BluEarth-1 was awarded a Pneu Expo Innovations Trophy. Trophies were given for excellence in one of three categories: environmental actions, shop equipment innovations, and service innovations. The Japanese tyre maker was awarded the trophy for environmental actions, recognising the BluEarth-1’s contribution to bettering the environment through improved vehicle fuel economy.
Pirelli has appointed Paolo Ferrari as chairman and chief executive officer of Pirelli’s NAFTA region. He will be tasked with driving the group’s growth and further strengthening its commitment to its US, Canadian and Mexican operations, according to a Pirelli statement. Matteo Battaini will focus on the role of NAFTA region chief operations officer.
The lockout at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay plant in the US state of Ohio has been in effect for almost three months now. And while the tyre maker is keeping quiet about how or even if it plans to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with the United Steelworkers union, the situation is being kept in the public eye by the union. On 15 February the USW announced a joint project with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM). Called “From Fargo to Findlay: A Journey for Justice”, the project involves locked out workers from Findlay and a BCTGM represented factory embarking on a road trip from Fargo, North Dakota (where the aforementioned factory is located) to Findlay. The USW says the road trip’s aim is to “focus attention on the most recent wave of greed-motivated corporate attacks on workers and their unions.”
Federal has announced that it will continue its motorsport activities through the supply of the 2012 RACEceiver US Legend Cars series, which runs from 19 February until 6 October. It has previously used its 595 ultra high performance tyre in the series in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. “Federal Tire has a lengthy and rich heritage in the leading motorsport categories across the world; we are proud and excited to enter the new chapter of such a promising partnership with US Legend Cars to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the fun and affordable racing series in which anyone can compete,” commented Taz Yeh, project manager of Federal Motorsports.
Indonesia's government plans to invest US$5.6 billion consolidating 15 state-owned businesses into a large single rubber and palm oil company. The Jakarta Globe reports that the 15 businesses, which last year generated combined sales of some $4.5 billion, will be consolidated under parent company PT Perkebunan Nusantara III. The planned Indonesian merger echoes the plantation merger that occurred in Malaysia in 2008, when the government there combined three state-owned planters to form Sime Darby.
As of the second quarter of this year Continental will assume responsibility for the marketing of its ContiTread precure treads. Previously Italy’s Marangoni group didn’t just produce these treads for the German manufacturer, it was also in charge of marketing the brand in Europe. “We successfully introduced ContiTread precure treads into the European market in 2008 through a licensing agreement with Marangoni. As of April 2012 we will begin marketing ContiTread directly through our own marketing organisation,” explained Christian Sass, director Retread Business Commercial Vehicles Tires (CVT) Continental.
Last year was a “very challenging year” for Yokohama Tire Corporation, reports Dan King, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Yokohama’s North American operation. King describes the North American consumer tyre market as being “basically flat” and says in light of this Yokohama was pleased to have grown in all segments of its business.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has become the latest company to join The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP), a collaboration between automotive manufacturers and suppliers and the US Environmental Protection Agency that aims to create new business-centred approaches to environmental protection; solutions that address green issues while providing value throughout the automotive supply chain.
Clemson University in the USA announces the 28th Annual Tire Industry Conference, which is being held between April 18–20, 2012 at Westin Resort and Spa, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Speculation still exists regarding Michelin’s furtively-named “Project Cougar”, however it appears possible the Felidae plan may find a home in Anderson County, a location in the US state of South Carolina where the tyre maker already employs some 700 workers. Michelin North America has been named as the company considering setting up two projects in the area. Should they go head in Anderson County, these projects would be established with an investment said to be at least US$550 million and likely to be in the “$600 million to $1 billion” range if built according to plan.
Going against a trend witnessed in the tyre industry over recent years, Carlisle Companies says it will transfer tyre production from China over to the United States – for cost reasons. At the company’s forth quarter 2011 conference call on 2 February, Carlisle Companies chairman, president and CEO David Roberts reported positive developments regarding efficiency levels at the company’s Jackson, Tennessee tyre making facility and then shared plans to make US production a greater priority.
Prices for Yokohama consumer tyres will rise by up to eight per cent in the US as of 1 March 2012. Yokohama Tire Corporation says the increases apply to all passenger car, performance and light truck lines, and some in-line adjustments will also be announced at a later date.
Kumho will be the sole tyre supplier to the international Auto GP series for 550bhp single-seat racing cars. In a change for the 2012 season, all Auto GP teams will be required to use two specifications of tyre per weekend, a parallel to the tyre regulation in Formula One. Kumho says the management of prime and option compounds will strengthen the series’ role as a “premier schooling grounds for Grand Prix drivers”. Auto GP will also include a KERS-style boost system giving drivers an extra 50bhp up to 10 times per race, and a mandatory pit stop for each race.
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