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The leader of Formula One’s Drivers Championship since the beginning of the season, Jensen Button looks to be in for a fight to stay at the top of the rankings until the season is over, following victory for his Brawn GP teammate, Rubens Barrichello at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
President Barack Obama’s decision to apply a 35 per cent import duty on all passenger car and light truck tyres from China for a period of three years may have been intended to “remedy market disruption caused by a surge in [Chinese] tyre imports” into the US, but it has also provoked a sharp response from the Chinese ministry of commerce and played havoc with the share prices of Far Eastern tyre manufacturers. China’s state media said the US import duties would cost 100,000 jobs and $1 billion (£600 million).
Announcing the decision (on Friday 11 September 2009), the White House explained that the 35 per cent ad valorem levy would be placed in addition to the existing 4 per cent import duty on imports of Chinese-product passenger car and light truck tyres. The duty will reduce to 30 per cent ad valorem in the second year, and 25 per cent ad valorem the third year. The US International Trade Commission had recommended a 55 per cent tariff in the first year, 45 per cent in the second year and 35 per cent in the third year.
Euro Car Parts, an independent supplier of car parts, accessories, tools and equipment in the UK, has recently secured a distribution agreement with Klarius UK to supply the Timax range of exhaust systems, and exhaust mountings via its 60 UK branches. Klarius is one of Europe’s major manufacturers of ‘type approved’ aftermarket exhaust systems and its current catalogue lists over 5,500 part numbers. The company’s products are compatible with 97 per cent of the UK car parc.
Georg Schramm, head of marketing and sales for Apollo Tyres South Africa (Pty) Limited, will be a keynote speaker at the inaugural Tyrexpo Africa Conference alongside next March’s Tyrexpo Africa’10. Schramm is responsible for all marketing and sales for the Dunlop brand in South Africa as well as Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. He will provide an expert insight into tyre manufacturing in the African market.
He will be joined at the conference by Dr Etienne Human, chief executive officer of SATRP, the South Africa Tyre Recycling Program. Dr Human will outline the work and remit of the not-for-profit organisation that was established to tackle the waste tyre problem in South Africa and support a sustainable waste tyre producer industry. Members of the body include Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop and Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Maxiprest and Trentyre.
Financial analysts have given Delticom AG a “Buy” rating and a set 24 euro target price, above the company’s current level of around 20 euros. The Deutsche Bank analysts described Delticom as “a very attractive business model in the fragmented tyre replacement market” and were clearly impressed with their performance to date. “In 2009, one of the worst years ever in the tyre industry, Delticom targets 10 per cent revenue growth and increased its EBIT-margin outlook from 6 to 7 per cent. We think Delticom's eCommerce focus will lead to further market share gains and allows for annual revenue growth of 13.4 per cent and earnings per share growth of 18.4 per cent (estimated company annual growth rate from 2008-2011).”
Marangoni is celebrating the success of its hill climbing champion, Simone Faggioli, who recently won European Hill Climb Championship for the second time. Faggioli, who drives an Osella FA30 with Zytek 3000-V8 engine and Marangoni Zeta Linea Racing tyres, achieved the feat one race from the end of the 2009 series. The Marangoni sponsored driver last won this European title in 2005, in a similar car again fitted with the Italian company’s race tyres.
Faggioli took the 2009 title after winning six of the eleven stages which make up the European Hill Climb Championship. A slow puncture meant that Faggioli could only manage third place on the fearsome Italian Trento-Bondone stage, but this was won by his Marangoni teammate Davide Baldi.
Viking International has added the new Platinum battery range, from UK Batteries, to the company’s product portfolio. The Platinum range includes Prestige and Prestige Plus. According to the company, the batteries are manufactured to OE specification and used by a number of leading manufacturers including Toyota, Volkswagen, Saab, Lexus, Honda and Ford.
The Prestige range is suitable for the majority of cars including older models dating back to the early nineties up to today’s modern engines and includes a three year guarantee. Prestige Plus is designed for modern and premium vehicles, especially for larger engines and those vehicles with higher electrical demands such as air conditioning and GPS.
Infinity Tyres’ French distribution partner, Fort Pneus, has announced that despite the current economic situation, sales of Infinity tyres have increased “substantially during the first half of the year.” In a recent internal newsletter, company representatives reported that Fort Pneus staff were presented with an Infinity brand plans for the future including details of “considerable investment in new product and sizes” Referring to his meeting with Al-Dobowi Group executive director Harjeev Kandhari, Frederic Breysse, director of Fort Pneus, commented: “The visit by Infinity was a huge success. There are exciting plans to grow the brand in France and we look forward to developing our partnership with them.”
Viking International’s online ordering facility was recently nominated for an NTDA TAFF award. Here the company explains why its service offers dealers a “quick and convenient solution for all tyre, exhaust, cat and battery needs.”
According to company representatives, the site has been designed with the end-user in mind first and foremost. Tyres are clearly displayed by size, speed rating or price according to the user’s preference, with special offers highlighted for ease of use. Exhausts and batteries are easily looked up by the product part / code or simply by the vehicle make and model. All information is updated in real time, so pricing and stock are constantly updated, enabling dealers to offer their customers an immediate quotation. A unique customisation tool also allows dealers to adapt the website for their own use, uploading their own logo, changing the colour-scheme to match their own as well as displaying their own retail prices on-screen.
Thule has added a line of snow chains to its UK vehicle accessories range. Produced in Thule’s Italian manufacturing facility, the extensive range of snow chains will be available from selected recognised dealers from October. The UK launch coincides with a reported rise in demand across Europe and the UK for high quality snow chains.
Peter Barker, UK general manager, commented: “For Thule, the manufacture and distribution of snow chains is a welcome addition to our sports and leisure equipment transportation range. Snow chains are a vital part of ski-drive holidays and are required by law in many destinations. We have seen a demand for a high quality chain by our customers, and are confident the Thule snow chains will not disappoint with their quick and easy application and durable, superior materials.”
The K-Summit snow chain is a key model in the range. With a patented rachet system the chain is designed to fit over 250 wheel sizes, with just eight chain lengths, mounting to the wheel in three steps. Once fitted, the ratchet system centres itself as you drive. The K-Summit has zero clearance, which means no part of it touches the inner side of the tyre, so it can be used on cars with limited space around the wheel arch.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has announced manufacturing “realignment” plans that will see the company’s Melksham plant reduce its workforce by 20 per cent. According to a statement, the decision to realign production at the Melksham facility is a result of the company’s focus on its “strategic objective to create a sustainable and competitive cost position.” Company managers say the move is designed to enhance the company’s long-term performance, “while helping to mitigate the effects of the current economic downturn and the increases in its cost base.”
This means over the next year, the company will transfer some US tyre production to Melksham and other Melksham production to its Chinese production plants. It is this part of the realignment that will result in the reduction of the current work schedule. It appears that the bulk of the changes are taking place in the passenger car tyre manufacturing departments. A company spokes person told Tyres & Accessories/tyrepress.com that Cooper Tires does not know exactly which products will be affected, but will be communicating more information on this in due course. However, motorcycle and motorsport products are apparently not included in the changes and will continue to be manufactured in Melksham.
Wolfgang Reitzle, CEO of industrial gas company Linde, was confirmed as the new chairman of Continental AG's supervisory board. "We are very pleased that we have been able to persuade Professor Reitzle to take on this challenging mandate," said Schaeffler owner Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler in a statement. Reitzle has been highly sought after by a number of major firms, including BMW, and served as an executive with Ford Motor Co. The move came after owner Schaeffler Group forced out the previous board chairman Rolf Koerfer, who will nonetheless remain on the board. Also stepping down is board member Michael Frenzel, CEO of travel company TUI.
Meanwhile, the Schaeffler Group recently appointed Dr. Peter Pleus (55) and Norbert Indlekofer (51) to the position of President of Schaeffler Group Automotive. They have been appointed successors to Dr. Elmar Degenhart (50), who was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG on 12 August 2009.
National Tyres and Autocare have announced plans to support this year’s Tyre Safety Month by offering customers free tread, pressure and general condition checks for their tyres. According to the company, National are supporting this year’s TyreSafe-initiated campaign to highlight the importance of well maintained tyres, particularly, tyre tread, with customer leaflets and posters in branch. National are also using direct communications with customers including emailers and vouchers urging them to check their tread and if in doubt to drop into branches for a free check.
Tony Neill, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “As a founding member of TyreSafe, National is highly committed to tyre safety and by offering these free checks, our customers can be confident that their tyres are performing correctly, especially during the autumn and winter months ahead.”
A Texas jury returned a $12 million judgment against Michelin North America, finding that a manufacturing flaw “substantially contributed” to a 31 December 2006 crash that killed six and left a 12-year-old boy paralyzed. The Willacy County, Texas, jury awarded the plaintiffs $11.96 million, ruling that a BFGoodrich brand tire failed due to manufacturing errors, causing the 2002 Ford F-250 pickup truck the victims were riding in to swerve into oncoming traffic and crash head-on into a Chevrolet Suburban. “The jury found that broken air conditioners and leaky roofs cause moisture to get on tires, which led to this tread- belt separation,” Mikal Watts, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said. “We are grateful the jury saw the evidence as it was. There was a manufacturing defect in this tire, and Michelin needed to pay for the damage it caused.” (Tire Review)
Kumho Tire USA Corp. has taken a $151 million credit line, arranged by GE Capital Corporate Finance. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based tyre company plans to use the line for working capital. GE Capital has worked with Kumho since 2006.
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