Volkswagen Archives - Page 19 of 29 - Tyrepress

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Porsche Increases Stake in VW

Company News, Product News

Porsche has increased its stake in Volkswagen ordinary shares to 50.8 per cent. Analysts Morgan Stanley say that, while the timing of such a move was impossible to predict, this is absolutely in line with Porsche’s stated strategy of ultimately moving to 75 per cent of Volkswagen and seeking a domination agreement.

With this move, Porsche also acquires indirect control over Scania through VW’s 68.6 per cent voting stake in the Swedish truck maker. Porsche has made it clear that is has no strategic interest whatsoever in Scania or any interest in buying Scania shares. However, Swedish law requires Porsche to make a mandatory bid for Scania.

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Going Green in VW Race Series

Pirelli has been named the official tyre supplier for the 2009-11 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, the first zero-carbon racing series in the world. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup was founded in 2008 and is comprised of 30 factory-prepared and managed 2009 clean-diesel Jetta TDIs piloted by relatively unknown talented drivers aged 16 to 26. Volkswagen’s goal is to find drivers with the most talent and help them break into the world of professional motorsports.

“Pirelli is very excited to be the exclusive tyre supplier to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, the world’s only carbon-free racing series,” said Rafael Navarro, Pirelli Tire North America’s director of motorsport and media communications. “This series is a very important part of our motorsport growth in North America as it provides a platform to introduce young developing talent to our brand while reducing the impact motorsport has on the environment.”

The series kicks off with a driver selection event on 1-4 February. Races will begin 24-26 April at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, making stops in Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ontario, and New Jersey before the series wraps up at Road Atlanta on 25-27 September. (Tire Review/Akron)

17th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

European New Car Market Contracts by a Quarter in November

According to data released by on December 16 by JATO Dynamics, the European new car market fell by 25.3 per cent (313,361 units) during November 2008, when compared to the same month last year. Total sales for the month now stand at 924,936 units, down from 1,238,297 in 2007.

This further decline in the market, which has dropped consistently over the past seven months, sees an increased year to date deficit figure in comparison to 2007. The total number of vehicles sold during the first 11 months of 2008 is 13,556,052 units – 7.1 per cent (1,030,584 units) less than during the same period last year.

17th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Shanghai Baolong Offers Non-Lead Wheel Balancing Weights

International News, News, Product News

Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation is one of the leading manufacturers of non-lead balancing weights in China. It boasts certificated products and names Chinese Ford, Nissan and Volkswagen branches among its customers.

Established in 1998, Shanghai Baolong is a leading manufacturer of wheel balancing weights for automobiles in China. It specializes in producing all types of wheel balance weights, especially non-lead wheel balance weights. The company uses the zinc and steel blend that is more environmentally-friendly and complies with European and U.S. directives. They are designed and produced for vehicles with either steel or alloy wheels, with the same functionality, appearance, and fit characteristics as conventional wheel weights.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Supervisory Board Extends Dr. Neumann’s Contract

Continental AG’s Supervisory Board has extended Executive Board Chairman Automotive Group Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann’s contract for a further five years. Dr. Neumann, who is also head of the company’s Automotive Group, has been a member of Continental’s Executive Board since October 2004 and chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG since September 1, 2008.

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Board Refuses to Sell Rubber Business

Continental AG stood up to its major shareholder and takeover suitor, Schaeffler Group, on Wednesday (10 December) by refusing to sell the group’s tyre and rubber products business. Sources told the Financial Times that Conti’s supervisory board unanimously decided not to sell the company’s “rubber” unit, apparently rebuffing Schaeffer’s demands. Instead Conti’s board announced plans for a three-digit million euro cost cutting programme and said it is considering axing its dividend payment. FT’s source was also reportedly keen to stress that Continental should be in the driving seat of any industrial cooperation between the two companies: “We want to make it clear that, if David and Goliath go together, Goliath has to be in the drivers seat.”

Schaeffler Group’s 12.1 billion euro hostile takeover bid, launched earlier this year, cooled down slightly when former CEO Manfred stepped down and Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann took over in September. However, while FT reports that Neumann was Schaeffler’s preferred candidate, the newspaper also points out that “he has acted solely in the interests of Continental.”

11th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to Review Romania Production as OE Orders Decrease

Production output at Continental’s Timisoara factory in Romania will be reduced due to falling orders from OE customers. Numerous vehicle manufacturers, including Dacia and Volkswagen have temporarily suspended production in recent weeks, and Michelin has already announced a planned two-week pause in production at its Romanian facilities during December.

Conti has not specified the extent of its changes to production output, but company representatives indicate that production will not be halted. While original equipment sales are down, the replacement tyre market has been more resilient. “Moreover, Romanians have started becoming more interested in acquiring winter tyres,” reported Continental Romania market manager Martin Zaloudek. “This has also been felt on the market and, according to Continental estimates, the winter tyre market will hit 800,000 units this season, up 40 per cent year-on-year.”

4th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Considering Production Cutbacks

Production output at Continental AG will reportedly be reduced at the end of this year following cuts in production at most German vehicle manufacturers. According to Continental spokeswoman Antje Lewe, in the next few weeks the company will be “looking at each location individually” before deciding how long to curb production or at which facilities.

1st December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Renews Business Relationship with VW and Audi Canada

Continental Tire Canada has renewed its business relationship with Volkswagen Canada and Audi Canada. As of October 1, the Volkswagen and Audi sales and service network, which includes 170 Volkswagen and Audi dealerships across Canada, is able to offer customers a comprehensive line of Continental and General passenger and light truck tyres as well as Gislaved winter products. As part of the new agreement, all dealers will be able to offer their customers tyres for any Volkswagen or Audi model and can choose from among the three tyre brands.

24th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Sizes Added to North American Dunlop Range

In the US Goodyear reports that the list of Dunlop Signature fitments has been boosted by 11 new sizes this autumn, along with four additional choices in the brand’s SP Winter Sport 3D line. The Dunlop Signature, an all-season touring tyre for standard and luxury passenger cars, with equal focus on enhanced handling and a quiet, comfortable ride, has added 235/55R17 and 215/60R17 sizes.

2nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Williams Named Pirelli Star Driver

Jon Williams has been plucked by Pirelli to fill the first of the Italian manufacturer’s five Star Drivers to compete in the World Rally Championship. Pirelli introduced the scheme to promote new talent in the 2009 FIA-accredited series.

25-year old Williams has competed in the African Rally Championship in a Volkswagen Polo S2000 this year: “This is the fulfilment of a dream and a magnificent opportunity for me to show what I can achieve at World Rally Championship level.” He will drive in Portugal, Italy, Greece, Finland, Spain and Great Britain.

16th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Develops New Premium “Gommoncino”

Pirelli continues to aspire to innovation in the area of truck tyres, while also acknowledging its desire to tap into new and emerging markets. Now it has developed the Gommoncino, a new 385/55R22.5 size, premium-tread FH85 Amaranto, which the manufacturer claims is able to sustain superior loads and return greater mileage. Simultaneously, the company announces that it continues to strengthen its position in emerging markets, especially in China and South America, through OE alliances with some of the world’s largest industrial vehicle manufacturers.

4th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Launch for Latest Eibach Multipro Kits Imminent

After months and miles of exhaustive testing, Eibach report it is about to launch its two latest ‘Multipro’ Coilover kits onto the European market. The first two UK specific fitments from the firm’s US R&D facility are the Volkswagen Golf 5 and BMW’s E92 3 series. Many others vehicles are in the pipeline, Eibach promises.

Whilst coilovers have formed part of Eibach’s product line up for many years now, the new range raises the bar for the industry in terms of price, performance and componentry. Multipro uses state-of-the-art remote reservoir damping and adjustable height platforms to endow the recipient vehicle with what Eibach describes as “phenomenal levels of handling”, whilst still maintaining a compliant and comfortable ride quality.

3rd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Neumann Appointed New Conti Exec Board Chairman

At its meeting on August 23 the Supervisory Board of Continental AG decided upon the appointment of Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann as new Executive Board Chairman, effective September 1. Neumann has been a member of the Continental Executive Board since October 2004 and is succeeding Manfred Wennemer, whose request to be granted early release from his mandate effective August 31, 2008, was previously accepted by the Supervisory Board.

26th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Quality Alignment and Garage Equipment from Snap-On

Snap-on Equipment has been building on its long-standing position as a leading garage equipment manufacturer, supplier and service provider with a comprehensive range of wheel alignment systems, including the John Bean Visualiner 3D Arago, Ultra, V3D1 and V3D Lite systems, through to the new hybrid PRISM.

Three-dimensional wheel alignment offers workshops the latest technology for accurate alignment readings in an easy-to-use package. Designed with the UK wheel service market in mind, the John Bean V3D Lite wheel alignment system has been well received since it was introduced in 2007 complementing the John Bean line up, through to the top-of-the range 3D Arago aligner. The Reading-based company has also gained endorsement for the 3D Arago for all marques under the Volkswagen Group.

18th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors