According to the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions (FNV), Apollo Vredestein will stop employing temp workers hired through agencies at its Enschede plant from April 2020. This means that almost 150 temporary jobs will disappear in addition to the approximately 750 permanent jobs that the tyre maker plans to shed.
Auto Zeitung’s 2020 summer tyre test is one of the largest it has ever published. The German motoring magazine has looked at 20 brands of size 225/50 R17 94/98 W/Y tyres in an evaluation that covers premium to budget. The cheapest of the tyres on test can be had for around 230 euros (£200) a set; the most expensive cost more than twice as much. As you’d expect, the winners’ podium was dominated by premium products priced well above the average. The fourth-placed tyre is a different story.
A meeting between the management of Apollo Vredestein BV (AVBV) and employees took place today to discuss the future of the company’s tyre factory in Enschede, the Netherlands. The workforce was told that Apollo Tyres intends to “specialise” production at the site in order to ensure profitability. Measures related to this realignment include reducing AVBV’s personnel by approximately 750 full-time employees over a period of 24 months.
In January GfK’s “panelmarket” identified SUV tyres and all-season tyres as top two growing sub-segments in 2019. Indeed, since all-season tyre sales have shot up 19 per cent in terms of value and 13 per cent up in volume, the UK market is now selling four times as many all-season tyres as winter tyres sold at their peak. Within this, high performance tyres and bigger size tyres, specifically 17-inch and over, are growing fastest (see separate article for further details).
Three Vredestein models have gained approval as original equipment tyres for the latest generation of Volkswagen’s perennially popular Golf. The Golf 8 will be available with the Vredestein Sportrac 5 in size 195/65R15. Buyers opting for winter tyres can receive their Golf equipped with the Vredestein Wintrac Pro in the same dimension or the Snowtrac 5 in size 205/55R16.
Apollo Vredestein recently announced that it is working with Traxx Tyres to distribute the Vredestein brand in the UK, and Vredestein has supported its new partnership with its participation in this year’s Independent Tyre Dealer Conference, which was hosted by Traxx Tyres late last month.
Vredestein has chosen the largest British farm machinery, equipment and service show, LAMMA 2020 (NEC Birmingham, 7/8 January) to introduce the newest addition to its agricultural range, the Traxion 65 tyre, to the UK market.
Vredestein will also show the Traxion XXL tested by independent German test institute DGL (and the test results) together with LAMMA 2019 Innovation Awards ‘Driven Innovation’ winner, the Traxion Optimall.
UK tyre wholesaler Traxx Tyres has announced a new partnership with Apollo Vredestein. Traxx will initially stock and distribute Vredestein brand tyres, with the possibility of adding the Apollo tyre range in the future.
The long-awaited Vredestein motorcycle tyres for European riders are now here. Visitors to the EICMA show in Italy this week are amongst the first to see the new range, which includes the Centauro ST and Centauro Road. A Vredestein tyre for the scooter segment, the Staccata, is now also available throughout Europe. Details regarding UK distribution for the Vredestein motorcycle tyre range will be announced shortly.
Two further sizes have joined the Vredestein Flotation Trac line-up and will be officially introduced at the Agritechnica show in November. Both sit at the upper end of the Flotation Trac size range; 900/65R32 and 900/65R38 – Vredestein says the latter is, with a diameter of 2.15 metres, the world’s tallest radial flotation tyre. The arrival of these new additions brings the Flotation Trac range up to a total of 33 dimensions.
A successor to the Vredestein Traxion+ will be introduced at the Agritechnica show. The new tyre is called the Traxion 65, and Vredestein says it incorporates new technologies derived from the development of the tyre maker’s flagship VF product, the Traxion Optimall.
It’s AutoVision 2019 gold for Vredestein. The tyre maker’s ‘Live the Land’ campaign won a Gold trophy at the international festival for corporate automotive segment films and media earlier this month.
Apollo Vredestein’s UK operation has announced its partnership with British Jaguar E-Type specialist Eagle E-Types. The company’s range of handcrafted models, famous worldwide, run on Vredestein high performance tyres, which the tyre brand says reflects its classic car heritage and “sensitivity for that market’s unique demands…coupled with its focus on contemporary performance.”
Rowledge Garage has selected Apollo Vredestein as its tyre manufacturer of choice because of the Vredestein brand’s 110 year heritage and reputation. “We felt that we needed a brand which could guarantee performance, safety and quality to our customers,” said current owner Martin Hoare. “We have built our business on trust and reputation, and Apollo Vredestein shares that philosophy with us.”
Vredestein has been engaged in the agricultural segment for over twenty years, and in the UK has now further reinforced its commitment to providing solutions for agricultural OEMs and end users by joining the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) as a Corporate Partner.
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