The National Association of Bodyshops (NAB) Executive Committee, and the body repair arm of the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association (VBRA) National Repairers Council, met on 23 July 2015 to scope out their future plans for working together as a unified voice for bodyshops.
Cenex, the Loughborough-based Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies, has chosen Chargemaster, the largest UK supplier and operator of chargepoints, to run the Plugged-in Midlands Network (PiM) following a competitive selection process.
Four Hankook tyre patterns will be shipped to Ford in North America as original equipment fitments for the new 2016 F-650 and F-750 medium duty trucks. The tyre maker will supply its AH11 and DH07 patterns in sizes 245/70R19.5 and 265/70R19.5, while the AH22 and DH15 will be available in size 275/80R22.5.
Hankook Tire says increasing global competition, slow market growth in China and Korea and exchange rate fluctuations contributed to a year-on-year decline in operating profit in the second quarter of 2015. While sales revenue was only slightly down on a year earlier, falling 2.5 per cent to KRW 1.62 trillion (£886.4 million), operating profit dropped 20.0 per cent year-on-year in the April to June reporting period to KRW 201.1 billion (£110.0 million). Net profit figures were not reported.
Jaguar Land Rover has chosen the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV as an original equipment fitment on the Range Rover Sport. This latest homologation builds on a series of original equipment tyre supply deals that include fitments for the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Earlier in the month tyrepress.com reported on a bill introduced into the United States Senate that could pave the way for implementation of minimum tyre standards – effectively a US tyre label – and also reintroduce compulsory tyre registration in the USA. Yesterday the Senate passed the bill containing these proposals by 65 votes to 34. The bill also authorised funds for other highway, safety and transit programmes.
Last year Michelin made news when it bought out the parent company of Germany’s largest wholesaler, Ihle Baden-Baden AG, and now the French tyre maker has increased its wholesale presence in Germany with the 100 per cent acquisition of Meyer Lissendorf, a wholesaler with a strong car tyre focus. Michelin has not disclosed the purchase price.
Britain’s largest energy provider, British Gas, plans to fit Michelin CrossClimate tyres to its fleet of 13,000 commercial vehicles. It will ask OEMs to supply CrossClimate tyres on its new vehicles where possible, and all replacement tyres will be fitted by ATS Euromaster.
Bridgestone has handed responsibility for its consumer segment public relations and the organisation of related events in the German, Austrian and Swiss markets to Hamburg-based company P.U.N.K.T PR. The firm has previously worked with the tyre maker and will now deal with both the Bridgestone and Firestone brands.
Production of Michelin truck and bus tyres in India will apparently increase by 45 per cent this year. Financial daily The Economic Times writes that annual output at the company’s plant north of Chennai will increase from 11,000 tonnes to 16,000 tonnes in 2015 in response to increasing demand for radial tyres.
Pirelli has agreed terms with Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) for its Protyre Motorsport Division to become the official provider of tyre services for two Pirelli-backed motorsport championships in the UK from 2016.
Michelin’s Agricultural division has landed a CNH Industrial 2015 Best Supplier Award. Division head Emmanuel Ladent received the award on behalf of Michelin at a CNH Industrial-hosted ceremony on 16 July.
Titan International is considering an expansion of its wheel business in the coming half year. In the company’s second quarter 2015 results announcement, CEO and chairman Maurice Taylor reports that Titan International is “exploring plans to expand our wheel plant in Turkey” and to “establish a new wheel presence in Brazil to accompany our existing tyre business.” Taylor did not furnish any additional details about the two potential projects.
Goodyear has reported strong overall results for its second quarter, despite falling sales in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The manufacturer reported that the 20 per cent lower sales, $1,265 million compared to $1,580 million in the same quarter in 2014, was primarily a result of “unfavourable foreign currency translation”, though it also saw two per cent lower tyre unit volume. This was a result of lower consumer tyre sales and the manufacturer’s exit from the agricultural tyre business. Both original equipment and replacement tyre shipments were down two per cent. Its EMEA operating income was also eight per cent below the 2014 2Q, though operating margin rose from 7.4 to 8.5 per cent.
The recent sustained growth in new commercial vehicle registrations in the UK should continue for at least the rest of 2015, according to the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA). Sue Robinson, the association’s director, said she is “encouraged by the continued growth”, commenting on figures published by ACEA. The NFDA represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK.
