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Nokian Tyres has traditionally focused first and foremost on winter tyres, and these products currently account for around 70 per cent of the company’s passenger vehicle tyre business. But a reputation as a winter specialist means the brand hasn’t gained significant traction in markets where winter tyres find little favour, such as the UK. The tyre maker intends to rectify this.
Hundreds of people employed by Fintyre Group subsidiaries in Germany didn’t receive their wages or salaries for January, and it looks like this unhappy situation occurred again a month later. Disgruntled employees have contacted our German affiliate to confirm the lightness of their bank accounts, but apparently, they’ll soon become weightier.
In the wake of decisions to cancel a number of exhibitions and trade fairs in Europe, including the Geneva International Motor Show, the organisers of The Tire Cologne met yesterday to discuss how the coronavirus could affect this year’s show and how they should respond to the situation. After taking many factors into consideration, they’ve decided to continue preparing for the exhibition’s doors to open on 9 June, but are keeping a close eye on developments nonetheless – and will act to minimise the potential risk to exhibitors and visitors.
Malaysian firm Maxrubber Industries Sdn Bhd claims to be the fastest-growing manufacturer of tyre retreading materials, and the company has Europe firmly in its sights. Following what it calls an “extensive period of investment” at its manufacturing facility in Klang, some 25 miles southwest of Kuala Lumpur, Maxrubber has announced the start of a “targeted export drive” with a view to “developing a strong presence in the European market.”
Linglong Tire has been working hard to make good production shortfalls resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. The tyre maker reports that it shipped a record 280,000 tyres on 29 February, with nearly 300 employees working over the weekend at several of Linglong’s sites in China to ensure as many deliveries as possible.
Goodyear plans to acquire a tyre wholesaler in Germany. Should the deal gain approval from the relevant antitrust authorities, Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany GmbH will purchase Weilheim, Bavaria-based wholesaler and retailer Reifen Baierlacher. The tyre maker has not disclosed how much it will pay for the family-owned business.
The Chinese Grand Prix and Sanya E-Prix have already been postponed, now the FIA is preparing race fans for the possibility of further events being called off should the coronavirus continue to spread. In a statement published yesterday, the FIA said it is “closely monitoring the evolving situation” with relevant authorities and its member clubs, under the direction of FIA Medical Commission president, Professor Gérard Saillant.
As part of its commitment to being a ‘one-stop shop’ for motorcycle and scooter tyre retailers in the UK, Cambrian Tyres partners with all major brands in the two-wheel marketplace and supplies customers from its warehouse stock of more than 100,000 tyres. The wholesaler is also sole UK distributor of the Bridgestone motocross and Continental two-wheel ranges (see separate articles) as well as for the Anlas brand and, from the second half of 2019, Kenda. This last name is back in the local two-wheel market after a decade’s absence, and demand has started off on the right foot.
Following the successful introduction of the Kenda motorcycle range to its portfolio of exclusive brands late last year, Cambrian Tyres has released the first dedicated Kenda catalogue for the UK two-wheel market.
Michelin is teaming up with AS 24, the HGV service station network that fuel company Total runs in 28 countries across Europe, to launch a new automatic tyre inspection service – Fleet Diag 24. The partners will launch their diagnostic offer in March. The rollout begins in a small way, with Fleet Diag 24 initially offered at just three sites in France, however, we can expect to see it introduced at many more of the 986 AS 24 outlets in the UK and Europe.
It’s official – the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) won’t take place next month. The decision to cancel GIMS follows an announcement made earlier today by the Swiss Federal Council. The Council has decided to prohibit large-scale events involving more than 1,000 people. The ban comes into immediate effect and will apply at least until 15 March 2020, the day GIMS 2020 was scheduled to conclude.
Private equity firm Warburg Pincus is investing around £117 million in Apollo Tyres via a subsidiary. On 26 February, the tyre maker’s Board of Directors approved the issue of up to 108 million compulsorily convertible preference shares, each with a face value of Rs 100, to Emerald Sage Investment Ltd. The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Two of Kumho Tire’s latest products have been honoured with an International Forum (iF) Design Award 2020. The International Forum Design awarded the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 high performance tyre and the Wintercraft Wi51winter tyre.
Japanese construction, mining, forestry and military equipment manufacturer Komatsu recently approved several Continental EM Master tyre models as original equipment for the Komatsu Dash 8 wheel loader series. As of January 2020, purchasers of WA270-8, WA320-8, WA380-8, WA470-8, WA-480-8 and WA500-8 models can select E3/L3 or E4/L4 versions of the EM Master in sizes 20.5 R25, 23.5 R25, 26.5 R25 or 29.5 R25.
Following a three-year joint development programme, Birla Carbon and GranBio Technologies are making their patent-pending Nanocellulose Dispersion Composite (NDC) rubber masterbatch available for qualification by tyre and rubber companies.
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