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.
Nexen Tire is increasing its sponsorship of Major League Baseball in the US this year by partnering with a third team. The tyre maker has announced sponsorship of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2016 season, and its continued partnership with the Texas Rangers and LA Angels. Its sponsorship of the LA Dodgers and Detroit Tigers concluded at the end of the 2015 season.
Martins Industries has appointed Jenny Lalumiere as a technical representative for Western USA and Cedric Gaudette as the sales manager for the Americas (North America & LAC).
The results of the latest J.D. Power study into original equipment tyres in the US market shows higher levels of openness towards less-established tyre brands amongst younger consumers than their older counterparts. While established tyre brands still possess the highest consideration rates amongst all generations, Generation Y and Generation X consumers are more likely to consider brands that are smaller or newer to the US market.
Cimcorp, a manufacturer robotic gantry-based order fulfilment and tyre handling solutions, is opening a new US-based operation – Cimcorp USA, Inc. (Cimcorp USA) – based in Norcross, Georgia. The firm is making the announcement at the Modex trade show taking place from 4-7 April in Atlanta.
Nexen Tire has become an ‘Official Major Partner’ of US-based drifting series Formula Drift for the 2016 and 2017 race seasons. The two-year partnership agreement was signed at the Nexen Tire America’s headquarters on 18 March and sees the tyre maker supply the N’Fera SUR4 for competitive use. In addition, the company has also signed partnerships several drivers.
Pirelli has begun plans to sell truck and bus tyres in the United States and Canada through a new entity, TP Commercial Solutions LLC. The move represents an expansion into North America of Pirelli’s industrial business unit, currently headed at the group level by Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera.It also follows plans to separate Pirelli’s car and truck tyre businesses, which was initiated in practice by a stock market filing published on 21 March in China. This filing saw China National Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (ChemChina’s tyre division known as CNRC) announce it had signed a “material asset reorganisation framework agreement” with Aeolus Tyre Co., Ltd including the creation of a China-based Pirelli TBR company.
On 10 March, General Motors held its 24th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony in the company’s headquarters city of Detroit, recognising 110 suppliers from 17 countries, including Bridgestone. It was the 14th occasion that Bridgestone Corporation has been designated a GM Supplier of the Year since the vehicle manufacturer inaugurated the award in 1992.
The North American Tire & Retread Expo is being held in New Orleans from 19 to 21 April. An education conference is being held alongside the exhibition in the mornings and the organisers have just revealed the programme schedule.
According to the latest forecast by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), total shipments of tyres in the US will exceed 315 million units this year, 0.7 per cent higher than in 2015. Furthermore, the association anticipates that passenger car tyre shipments will exceed the previous record set in 2014.
For the third consecutive year, Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) is teeing it up with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in Prattville, Alabama. That’s where the 2016 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic will be held 5-8 May on the Senator Course at Capitol Hill along the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Golf Trail.
A five-year, US$164 million project to expand Bridgestone’s 42-year old Wilson passenger car tyre factory in the US state of North Carolina got officially underway yesterday with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site. During phases one and two of the investment, which will involve an investment of nearly $100 million, 167,000 square feet (approximately 15,500 square metres) of manufacturing space will be added to the plant. Daily output will rise by 3,000 tyres to 35,000 tyres a day by 2018.
The editorial team at Tyres & Accessories/Tyrepress.com were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Jim Smith, editor of US tyre industry publication Tire Review. Smith, aged 58, died suddenly at the ‘Tire Industry Association OTR Conference’ in San Diego last week.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, 26-time NASCAR winner, is to become the “featured expert” who chooses Goodyear tyres on and off the track in a series of broadcast, digital and print ads. Earnhardt describes his selection as a Goodyear Tire & Rubber brand ambassador as building on his existing connections with the tyre maker.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has approved Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ facilities in China and the USA. The FAA-14 CFR Part 145 approval means operators of US-registered commercial aircraft are able to fit the company’s products. The company has a global tyre distribution and retreading network, and is opening its first distribution and retreading facility in North America in order to support aircraft operators throughout the Americas.
IMG has announced a new addition to its ‘New York Fashion Week: The Shows’ schedule: “The Cal: Pirelli Icons” an exhibition of nearly 130 iconic photos selected from the past 50 years of Pirelli Calendars.
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