News
Motokiki tyre price comparison site launches
A new online tyre price comparison service has launched, aiming to provide UK motorists with an online tool to choose their tyres quickly and easily, and bringing together products from a wide variety of retail businesses. Motokiki’s comparison engine is designed to offer an impartial whole of market price comparison of tyres from a broad range of suppliers, as well as tyre label result comparison, and the location in which they can be fitted. The company initially comprises 20 staff in offices a short walk from Port Talbot railway station, working on the technical development and marketing of the website, with other aspects of the business outsourced to teams around the country, such as its London-based communications agency, FWD Consulting. Tyres & Accessories travelled to south Wales in late November to attend the launch, with Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”) and the Development Bank of Wales, which have collectively made an equity investment of £3 million in the company, also represented.
Nokian Tyres splits Europe in Central Europe and Nordic regions
Nokian Tyres is separating its Business Area Europe into two business areas: Business Area Central Europe and Business Area Nordics. Anna Hyvönen, SVP Vianor and member of Nokian Tyres Management Team, has been appointed SVP Nordics and Vianor, with the additional responsibility for Nokian Tyres Nordics. Pontus Stenberg, who has been SVP Europe and member of Nokian Tyres Management Team, is leaving the company to pursue his career outside of Nokian Tyres. Hannu Liitsola, currently managing director Central Europe, has been appointed interim Head of Business Area Central Europe.
Toyo changes official name, reshuffles executives
Toyo has made a number of organizational, structural and personnel changes, including an executive reshuffle. First, the company will change its corporate trade name from Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. to Toyo Tire Corporation, effective on 1 January 2019. According to the company, the corporate name change will leverage “getting our business operations rolling with the aim of strengthening governance and achieving further growth, which we will endeavour to implement under a new management structure.”
NTDA disassociates itself from TyreServ Romford
Following its 5 December 2018 statement saying the association would take action against non-member misappropriation of the association’s name, the NTDA has indeed been taking action against a number of UK tyre retailers falsely claiming to be members of the association.
Kenda’s Michael Andre to retire
Michael Andre (60) is retiring at the end of 2018. The news comes after five years with Kenda Rubber Industrial, where he has been marketing and sales manager automotive Europe responsible for the European passenger car tyre business of the Taiwanese tyre manufacturer. In this role Andrew has led the phased introduction of the Kenda brand to the German and other key European markets.
Wanda Boto Tyre advertising on NASDAQ screen in Times Square
In September 2018 Shandong Wanda Boto Tyre Co Ltd was invited to display some of its advertising on the NASDAQ screen in the world-famous Times Square in New York, USA.
Cooper Tire and Sailun announce Vietnam TBR tyre joint venture
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is to form a joint venture with Sailun Vietnam Co, Ltd to build a 2 million capacity truck and bus radial manufacturing plant. Subject to closing and government approvals, the facility will be located near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at the site of Sailun Vietnam’s existing operations, which early in 2018 signed an offtake agreement to produce Roadmaster, Dean and Starfire brand tyres for Cooper. The new announcement represents the latest move in a series of cooperative moves between the two firms - Sailun Jinyu invested in joining Cooper in its GRT JV in September.
Linglong hosts partner meeting in Turin
Linglong Tire hosted its dealer meeting in Turin recently. The event focused on global cooperation and Linglong distributors and suppliers from all over the world were reportedly present. Dialogue with local partners was a specific talking point.
Continental re-emphasises partnership with ContiTread cold retreaders
Continental reports that it is “further enhancing its support services to strengthen its partnership with ContiTread cold retread shops”. This development is being led by John Cox, Global Head of Technical Services Retread and will centre on the enhancement of support services.
Toyo Tires signs three-year Professional Darts Corporation deal
Toyo Tires is now an official partner of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) after the tyremaker signed a three-year deal commencing at the forthcoming William Hill World Darts Championship. Darts has enjoyed a boom over the past decade, with stars such as world number one Michael van Gerwen, flamboyant Peter “Snakebite” Wright and reigning World Champion Rob Cross becoming household names.
IAAF Annual Awards Dinner ‘largest event for years’ celebrating aftermarket success
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) Annual Awards & Dinner 2018 has been hailed as one of the largest of its kind in many years, as it once again welcomed key aftermarket professionals to celebrate another successful year of business, growth and innovation.
5 years on, Evergreen-Zelos partnership ‘thriving’
Renault Clio Cup racer Dan Zelos has been supported by Evergreen Tyres for half a decade. The partnership started in karting, and has continued to Zelos’ current drive in the Renault Clio Cup. The tyre brand states that its support for Zelos is motivated both by the marketing opportunity it offers and by helping a young driver achieve his ambitions.
Falken celebrates ‘most successful’ VLN season
Falken Tyres experienced its most successful VLN Endurance Championship season in 2018, securing seven podium finishes including two race victories, as its Porsche 911 GT3 R beat its competitors around the Nordschleife. The Type 991 has been the most successful Falken race car in the VLN to date, claiming two wins and nine podium finishes since its racing debut in April 2016. A reliable competitor, it has completed more than 30,000 racing kilometres overseen by Falken’s engineers.
Hankook’s Ventus Race tyre supports wide variety of circuit racing series
Hankook has supplied several demanding series in 2018, including the DTM, FIA Formula 3 European Championship, 24H Series powered by Hankook, the VLN Endurance Championship, and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, with the Ventus Race tyre.