Pirelli announces USA price rise
Pirelli is increasing prices for the car and light truck tyres it sells in the USA. From 1 July 2021, increases of up to six per cent will take effect, varying by line and tyre size.
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.
Tag Archive for: USA
Data-driven road safety: Michelin teams up with Arity
Michelin is partnering with Arity, a mobility and data analytics company founded by American insurance company The Allstate Corporation, to develop data-powered solutions for transportation departments and city authorities, with the aim of improving road safety across the USA. This partnership will combine the expertise of Michelin Driving Data to Intelligence (DDI), who are the Michelin Group’s in-house data analysis boffins, with Arity’s database. This database, which contains nearly 100 million consumer connections, is said to be the largest repository of driving behaviour data in the world.
Bridgestone Americas expands leadership roles
Bridgestone Corporation reports that its North and Latin American subsidiary is expanding several key leadership positions in order to strengthen its core tyre business and to accelerate the execution of its sustainable mobility solutions strategy. The changes will take effect 1 June.
TBC Brands president Marty Krcelic retires
Marty Krcelic, president and chief operating officer (COO) of TBC Brands and executive vice president of TBC Corporation is set to retire effective 30 June 2021. Under his leadership, TBC Brands has become one of the largest distributors of proprietary brand tyres in North America. Geoff Doster will succeed Krcelic to lead TBC Brands as senior vice president of sales. His responsibilities will be expanded to include oversight of TBC Brands operations, customer service, commercial truck tyre sales and equipment and non-tyre sales.
Cooper shareholders approve Goodyear merger
Cooper shareholders approve proposed merger with Goodyear Cooper Tire & Rubber Company’s stockholders have voted overwhelmingly to approve the planned merger with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The vote was held at a special meeting of Cooper stockholders today. Cooper reports that approximately 99 per cent of votes cast were in favour of the transaction. Read our coverage of Goodyear’s acquisition of Cooper here, or in our special 12-page e-paper supplement.
Kumho gains Red Dot award for Ecsta V370
A further Red Dot accolade for Kumho, which has won a Red Dot Design Award 2021 in the ‘product design’ category. The Red Dot team honoured Kumho for its latest street legal competition tyre, the Ecsta V730. Kumho launched the Ecsta V730 in the US market earlier this year.
Studies show Michelin Ultraflex technology improves crop yields
Jonathan Gill, Harper Adams UniversityAn in-depth study into the impact of traffic and tillage on soil compaction has found agricultural machinery running low pressure Michelin Ultraflex Technology tyres could boost farmers’ yields by 4 per cent, helping to ‘feed the world’ for years to come. Harper Adams University – a specialist provider of higher education for the agricultural and rural sector – has been leading the investigation, utilising one site at its campus in Newport and another site in the USA in conjunction with the University of Illinois.
John Thomas named president & CEO of Toyo Tire U.S.A.
Toyo Tires has appointed a new chief executive officer at its Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. subsidiary. As of 1 May, John Thomas will take on this role.
USA capacity increase complements doubling of Kumho’s Vietnam output
Kumho Tire has shared further details of the planned production capacity increase at its facility in Vietnam, as well as news of an associated project in the USA. The tyre maker says the US$305 million investment will double capacity at the Binh Duong Province site by 2023. This means that annual output should reach at least 9.3 million tyres per annum by that time. As previously stated, the project will commence in the third quarter of this year and run until the early part of 2023.
ECP acquiring Liberty Tire Recycling
The largest player in the USA’S tyre recycling sector will soon have a new owner. Global investment firm The Carlyle Group has agreed to sell Liberty Tire Recycling to ECP, a 2005-founded investor across energy transition and decarbonisation infrastructure assets. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021. The parties have not disclosed financial details.
North American debut for Apollo truck-bus tyre range
Apollo Tyres aims to gain a foothold in the North American commercial vehicle market with tyres produced at its plants in Europe and India. The roll-out of commercial vehicle tyres in the USA and Canada follows the introduction of a comprehensive passenger vehicle range, but this time the tyre maker will market its products under the Apollo brand rather than as Vredestein tyres. Apollo Tyres says the launches of both ranges have been preceded by years of in-market research and planning.
USTMA honours Goodyear & Michelin for injury prevention efforts
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has awarded Michelin North America, Inc. and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company with 2021 Innovation Awards. In the technology category, USTMA honoured Goodyear for its Goodyear motion capture app that performs ergonomic risk assessments. USTMA recognised Michelin for its ‘Bib Bow’ stretching initiative in the culture category.
Yokohama Tire opens 430,000sqft distribution centre in Texas
YokohamaYokohama Tire Corporation will open a new 430,000sqft distribution centre in Wilmer, Texas in summer 2021. The company will first distribute Yokohama’s OE tyres from the facility, about 15 miles southeast of Dallas, followed by passenger car/light truck and commercial truck/bus products in 2022. Yokohama operates three other distribution centres in the US: Chino, California; Groveport, Ohio; and Auburn, Georgia.
Kumho investing $300 million in tyre factory expansion plans
Kumho Tire Co is planning to invest some 340 billion won (£217 million; 255 million euros; US$298 million) in expanding its tyre production facilities in Vietnam. The planned investment aimed at bracing for an increase in demand from North American markets and mitigating tariff-related price pressure, according to local news sources.
USA: Michelin remains atop J.D. Power rankings
It’s 18 years in a row for Michelin. The tyre maker has ranked highest in all segments of the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study and points out that this result marks its 18th consecutive highest ranking in the Luxury category as well as sixth consecutive highest ranking in the Truck/Utility Vehicle category.
