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 Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau has moved to a new address, and can now be found at Suite 15, 591 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, California 93950-2662 USA. All correspondence with the retreading organisation should now be addressed to recently appointed managing director David Stephens at david@retread.org.
According to the Calcutta Telegraph, the Calcutta-based Ruia Group and Japanese tyre manufacturer Sumitomo are engaged in talks concerning the construction of a radial tyre factory in India. It is reported that the joint venture would cost around 500 crore rupees (US$113 million) and would either be a 50/50 project or with Sumitomo taking a majority holding.
Cooper Tire has been awarded the Global Media Award from the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. More than 2,000 new products were registered at the show, and from these a judging panel of 26 journalists from 16 countries selected a small number of products based on their potential impact and commercial success. Cooper’s Discoverer S/TMAXX, due to be launched February 2011, was chosen because of its all terrain performance capabilities.
Continental Tire the Americas is increasing prices on its Continental, General and proprietary brand tyres by up to 6.5 per cent. Increases will vary by product line and size and take effect in the US market on January 1, 2011. Continental states the increase is “a response to the continuing rise in raw material cost.”
The Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau has appointed David Stevens, 42, as its new managing director, reports Tire Review. Stevens will replace interim managing director Marvin Bozarth, who had filled the role after the TRIB board of directors dismissed long-time managing director Harvey Brodsky on 5 October. Stevens’ appointment was unanimously agreed upon by the board, which had been searching for a new managing director for the last few weeks, incoming TRIB board president Bob Majewski told media during a press conference Wednesday at the Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show.
For those who are unable to attend this year’s SEMA Show, Nitto Tire USA will provide images and live updates of its exhibit booth and other show events on its mobile website, reports Tire Review. The company will promote the site on an outdoor billboard, where people can use their smartphones to snap a specialised Microsoft tag to link directly to the content.
Indonesian tyre manufacturer Gajah Tunggal has increased its nine-month operating income (981.3 billion Indonesian rupiahs; £68.6 million) and net income (664.2 billion IDR; £46.4 million) by 29.4 and 10.7 per cent respectively on the back of rising sales in domestic and export sales during 2010’s first three quarters. A report by Bisnis Indonesia said the country’s largest tyre producer scored particularly high sales in the USA, which have risen 42.5 per cent to total 840.7 billion IDR.
The Independent Tire Dealers Group says 2010 is shaping up to be a record year, with an increase in purchases from existing members, several new key vendors and the expansion of its geographic footprint through the addition of new members, according to Michael Cox, president and CEO. He noted ITDG, which has 125 members representing 341 tyre and service center locations in 25 states, will exceed its forecasts for both top and bottom line growth.
Goodyear is phasing out its Gemini Automotive Care retail store format, and will transition existing dealers to its new Tire & Service Network concept, reports Tire Review. On 1 October, the tyre-maker began moving its Gemini dealers over to the new programme and replacing old signage. The transition will continue through the end of the year. Goodyear will announce full programme details at its annual dealer meeting in early 2011, the company said.
Bridgestone’s motorcycle tyre developers have declared themselves pleased with the “positive feedback” they received from MotoGP riders in Australia following the use of its extra-soft compound in the rear tyres.
Titan Tire and the United Steelworkers Union are to negotiate a new contract covering Titan’s three US tyre plants, reports Tire Review. Union representatives from Titan plants in Bryan, Ohio; Freeport, Illinois; and Des Moines, Iowa, are in Merrillville, Indiana, where the talks will be held. The USW contract with Titan that expires on 19 November lasted four and a half years.
The RMA said it has “successfully completed” its reorganization and is now a tyres-only trade group, reports Tire Review. Earlier this year, RMA’s board of directors approved a plan to restructure the organization to better serve the interests of its membership. The restructuring resulted in two separate organizations – one that represents tyre manufacturers and one to serve the needs of elastomer products manufacturers. Each organization is an independent 501(c)(6) trade association with its own board, officers, budget and management.
Jointly organised by CEMS USA, CEMS INDIA, a leading multinational exhibition organizer of South & South-East Asia and CCPIT-Auto (China Council for Promotion of International Trade – Automotive Sub-Council), the Singapore International Auto Parts Expo 2010’ [SIAPE 2010] reports that it is set to be Asia’s latest platform, which is seeing a “revolution in the sales of Automobiles, for global players to assemble in the remarkable Asian business hub – Singapore.”
Tyrenet, the independent tyre network, has gone live with Cam Systems’ UniSerV application suite. The platform handles the call logging, customer policy and contract management, interactive mapping and breakdown form processing requirements that Tyrenet have, enabling it to streamline its operations significantly and introduce Straight Through Processing for the first time. Tyrenet is also UniSerV’s integration into Cam’s Cameo platform for systemised updating of transactions into the organisation, making commercial functions speedier, more robust, more visible and, ultimately, easier to manage.
Cooper Tire is getting involved with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s October “Think Pink” campaign in the USA. “Cooper is thrilled to join hands with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to support and raise awareness of this disease that affects not only women, but the men in their lives, as well,” said Dave Craig, Cooper's director of channel and consumer development. “The Professional Bull Riders is a wonderful demonstration of this, proving that men are just as passionate about fighting breast cancer and are not afraid to show their true colours — pink.”
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