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The United Steel Workers (USW) has angrily denounced the management of Bridgestone Firestone’s LaVergne, Tennessee plant for preventing members from collecting cash to help workers in Liberia. The USW said Liberian workers were struggling to provide for their families and accused the manufacturer of “human rights violations.”
Joy Rainey is set to become the first driver to compete in a long distance rally in an LPG converted vehicle. Joy will be taking part in the South American Carrera Sudamerican Challenge in May. As a strong supporter of BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund, Joy asked that the charity’s logo be included on the livery of her vehicle to increase awareness of the Fund. Nicholson McLaren Engines has converted a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4×4 to run on liquid petroleum gas. This will be the first vehicle to be competitively driven in a long distance rally using LPG.
Motor parts supplier Motaquip has announced the appointment of Andy Hill as product planner, expanding its product team to eight. He will be responsible for Motaquip’s timing and drive belts range, compiling catalogues, setting prices and developing range additions. Andy Hill has over 25 years’ automotive industry experience, having worked for Lucas SRE, TRW Automotive and Lucas Automotive. Prior to joining Motaquip, he was product development manager for Timken, where his responsibilities included the company’s automotive aftermarket product activities.
For the first time in almost 10 years, Fiat’s Putno has topped the b-segment sales charts in western Europe and been named the most sold car in Western Europe. In January 2006 Fiat sold 37,977 Puntos ahead of Renault’s Clio (36,016) and Ford’s Fiesta 31,470. In the same month, Fiat Auto recorded over 100,000 vehicle sales in Europe, which represents a 17.9 per cent growth over January 2005. Fiat Auto’s European market share stands at 8.4 per cent, which represents a 1.1 per cent increase over the same month a year ago.
German automotive supplier Continental AG and workers have officially reached a deal over how to phase out production the company’s Hanover Stoecken plant, the IG BCE union has reported. Continental will now push back the date for closing car tyre production in Hanover to the end of 2007 from the end of this year as once planned. There will be no forced layoffs, chief union negotiator Werner Bischoff told reporters.
Delphi Product & Service Solutions has established a joint venture with Roulunds Braking Systems SAS, a leading European supplier of OE and aftermarket automotive friction components. The new company, called Alliance Friction Technologies, has already developed a purpose-built manufacturing facility near New Delhi (India), dedicated to supplying Delphi with OE equivalent quality brake pads for sale throughout Europe and to other countries supplied by Delphi’s European operations.
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK promoted Matthew Bowell to the new role of PR support manager in the company’s corporate communications team. Bowell joined the tyre giant in 2004 as Communications Specialist, after beginning his PR career in a London NHS Trust, before moving to work on the Comic Relief programme in 2002 and 2003.
Deutsche Bank analysts are predicting that Continental’s operating profit will increase by as much as 35 per cent in the company’s fourth quarter results. They expect sales to reach 3,610 million euros, up 4.5 per cent on the same period last year. Deutsche Bank predicts profits will peak at 431 million euros, up 35 per cent against the market consensus of 390 million euros. This is put down to the reduction of exceptional charges levelled at the company – last year this reached 100 million euros in the fourth quarter.
Deutsche Bank analysts are more optimistic than the management when it comes to predicting future results. The analysts forecast that Sumitomo will achieve 13 per cent more operating profit than the management predicts. “Working off our new…forecasts and historical 12-month valuations we lower our target price from 1,700 yen to 1,500 yen but maintain our Hold rating,” the report commented. “However, we still think it may only just sustain single-digit profit growth given the significant pull impact of rising input costs,” they added.
Viking International has announced the appointment of Mike Singleton as account manager for the South East. Singleton’s area will include London, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, East and West Sussex and will take him as far as Bournemouth and Poole.
Singleton (39), originally from Bracknell in Berkshire, began his career in 1983 on a YTS scheme for National Tyres and Autocare as a trainee tyre fitter. After a short spell with Cafco Automotive Ltd, Singleton continued to work for National Tyres in various sales and managerial roles until 1996. Subsequently, he joined ATS (Southern) Ltd and finally Hi-Q (Goodyear), again in various sales roles before joining Viking International.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America (CTNA) announced that its recently launched ContiProContact will serve as the new flagship luxury performance tyre for the Continental brand. The ContiProContact tyre replaces its predecessor, the ContiTouringContact CH95. “The ContiProContact outperformed the ContiTouringContact CH95 in virtually every category, including straight and lateral hydroplaning, as well as ABS braking performance in both wet and dry conditions,” said CTNA in a statement.
A new round of negotiations between Continental Tire North America and its union have failed to result in progress that could avert planned layoffs next month, company and union officials have reported. According to the Charlotte Observer, the two parties met for two days of talks but reached no agreements, said Continental spokesman Rick Holcomb. Continental sees the Charlotte plant as the company’s most expensive to operate and is seeking wage and benefit concessions from workers. After workers failed to agree, the company announced plans to lay off about 241 salaried and hourly employees on 15 March then 272 more in late June. Continental employs more than 1,000 workers at its Charlotte plant, where workers earn an average of about $21 an hour, excluding benefits.
Nanjing Automobile Corporation (UK) Ltd (NAC), the company that bought the remains of MG Rover after its collapse, has signed a 33-year lease with site owner St Modwen Properties. Nanjing says it plans to renew production of the MG TF sports car in 2007.
The agreement will see Nanjing pay rent of £1.8 million per annum on 105 acres of the 469-acre site. This comprises the South Works of the former MG Rover plant, which incorporates two car assembly plants, the paint shop and administrative offices, together totalling more than 2 million square feet. Interestingly, the lease terms incorporate a six-month break clause in case Nanjing is unable to confirm a viable long-term future for the site.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) has extended its sponsorship of the famed Bigfoot monster truck team through 2010. BFNAT began its sponsorship of Bigfoot in 1991, and the multi-vehicle team uses specially prepared Firestone tyres.
Fourth quarter financial figures from wheel manufacturer Accuride were “somewhat disappointing,” according to Deutsche Bank pundits. Sales were up two per cent, against an expected 11 per cent. Lower volumes and high aluminium prices were cited as the reasons. The analysts are lowering their estimates for 2006 for Accuride, but are maintaining their “Hold” rating.
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