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.
Nokian Tyres has explained the decision to retain its manufacturing operation in Russia, a facility that reportedly produced 82 per cent of Nokian’s passenger and light commercial vehicle tyres last year. The Finnish tyre maker states that by continuing to operate the passenger car tyre factory in Vsevolozhsk, Russia it wants to “make sure that the factory is operated and controlled by Nokian Tyres also in the future.”
Bridgestone Americas has made a minority investment in May Mobility, marking the company’s first investment in public-serving autonomous vehicles (AVs). The new partnership paves the way for the future integration of Bridgestone’s digital and predictive tyre-centric technologies into May Mobility autonomous vehicles. The partnership will also provide Bridgestone with insights into autonomous vehicle operations that improve its core tyre products and mobility solutions.
Following an investigation performed by Bridgestone Americas and third-party security advisors, Bridgestone Corporation understands that the “IT security incident” that Bridgestone Americas experienced on 27 February was the result of an “untargeted ransomware attack.”
The cyberattack on Bridgestone Americas resulted in the perpetrators gaining access to “a limited number of Bridgestone systems and threatening to make this information public.” However, the Bridgestone Americas statement released in answer to Tyres & Accessories questions on 15 March also explained that the company is: “…working around the clock with external security advisors, Accenture Security, to investigate and understand the full scope and nature of the incident.”
Pirelli has announced a range of price increases in the United States for car and light truck tyres. Specific price increases will vary according to product line and size, but price hikes will range up to 10 per cent.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has appointed Steve McClellan of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to its Board of Directors. Goodyear says McClellan is joining the board to bolster US-based association’s “leadership in policy advocacy, workforce solutions, legal action, operational excellence and news and insights.”
Tire Group International (TGI) has turned 30 years old, and as part of the year-long celebration of three decades in the business, the US-based tyre and tube supplier is commemorating the clients, team members and friends that helped the company get to where it is today.
Bridgestone Americas has become a minority shareholder in tyre sensor and data management company Tyrata, Inc. It says this partnership will “enable Bridgestone to offer more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective tyre management practices for fleets, including last- and middle-mile delivery fleets.”
Bridgestone Americas is currently in the process of getting its systems “back online in a safe and secure manner” following what the company called an “information security incident that recently impacted operations” at the end of February. But tyre production is not yet back to normal.
A number of Bridgestone’s tyre factories in North and South America have been hit by cyberattacks resulting in production shutdowns. Some sources have even suggested that the actions are linked to the war in Ukraine.
The Board of Directors at TireHub, the USA-wide tyre distributor jointly founded by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Bridgestone Americas Inc., has named Ted Becker the company’s chief executive officer, effective immediately. This announcement confirms Becker in a role in which he has served in an interim capacity following the departure of Peter Gibbons from the company in October 2021.
Wheel manufacturer Iochpe-Maxion is investing US$5.5 million in Autotech Ventures LLC, a US-based venture capital firm. With this investment, Maxion joins Autotech Fund III as a Limited Partner. The investment aims to foster the development of new start-ups and research in the automotive segment with a focus on connectivity, autonomous vehicles, shared vehicles, electrification, and digitalisation.
In the USA, Heintschel Truck Tire Center has joined the Pre-Q Galgo network of independent retreaders. According to the company, the firm’s retread factory averages a seven-day turnaround and also offers OTR repair, foam fill, and wheel refurbishing.
In the USA, Vee Tyre and Rubber Co Ltd is recalling 1782 Tri-Ace branded tyres due to a defect. Two sizes of the Tri-Ace Pioneer A/T III tyres (LT235/85 R16 and LT245/70 R17) are affected. And the recall covers all production dates of the aforementioned tyres.
Titan International, Inc. has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Kubota Tractor Corporation and Kubota Canada Limited, the Japanese agricultural machinery company’s businesses in North America. The agreement will see Titan Trac Loader II tyres fitted in selected sizes on Kubota products. These tyres will be branded with both the Titan and Kubota names on the sidewall.
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