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.
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.
Continental has confirmed its intention to erect a new commercial vehicle tyre factory in the USA, and while no start of construction date has been announced the company says it expects to break ground in the next few months “in cadence with market demands.” The tyre maker anticipates that in the long-term an investment of approximately US$1.4 billion will go into the project.
Prior to the weekend’s Super Bowl 50, Bridgestone Americas announced the extension of its National Football League sponsorship arrangement for a further five years and its continuation as the NFL’s official tyre. The new deal extends the tyre maker’s eight-year relationship with the NFL and advances its ‘Bridgestone Performance Moments’ campaign platform, which includes the award for top performance play of the year at NFL Honors during Super Bowl week.
The US state of Mississippi has approved an incentive package for a US$1.45 billion tyre factory that Continental intends to build in the state. The incentives approved by the Mississippi State Legislature include providing loans of $263 million and various tax breaks. Mississippi will also assist with site acquisition and preparation work, and help with the cost of building the facility.
On 27 January, Trelleborg held a ceremony to inaugurate its first agricultural radial tyre factory in the USA. The official opening followed the start of production at the facility late last year. Production at the US$50 million, 430,000 square foot (40,000 square metre) factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina will be gradually ramped up, with all manufacturing equipment expected to be installed by 2018. Trelleborg anticipates that the project will have created around 150 jobs by this time.
Pirelli’s North American operation reports that Scorpion Verde and Scorpion Verde All Season tyres have been chosen as original equipment fitments for the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.
In 2015 the British car manufacturing industry made more cars than any year since 2005 when 1,595,697 vehicles were produced, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Data released on 21 January shows that production increased 3.9 per cent on 2014, with output at 1,587,677 overtaking pre-recession levels for the first time.
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