International News
40 years, 81 million tyres – Kama Tyres reaches milestone
Almost 40 years to the day since the first Kama truck tyre was produced in the Nizhnekamsk Truck Tire Factory, parent company Tatneft reports that the plant has produced its 81 millionth tyre. The tyre will be presented to staff at an event held on 25 April to mark the plant’s 40th anniversary.
Tyresure celebrating 10 years of TPMS
Tyresure Ltd is celebrating its 10-year anniversary during May. Since the early days of the TPMS aftermarket in 2008, Tyresure has grown to become recognised as a European leader in the supply of TPMS solutions to the automotive aftermarket - and 2018 marks their 10th year of success in the industry.
Pyrolyx secures funding for US plant expansion
Pyrolyx has signed a five-year mezzanine financing agreement for 5 million euros (about $6.1 million) with USAmerican Arena Growth Holdings. The capital will be used to finance global expansion, the development of production in the US, and optimization of Pyrolyx’s existing production capacity.
Sport sponsorship: Continental official partner, tyre of Giro d’Italia
Continental has become the official tyre of the Giro d’Italia as part of a three-year agreement signed with organiser RCS Sport that sees the tyre maker also take on the role of official partner to the cycling Grand Tour race. As official tyre partner, Continental will collaborate with Shimano to supply both bicycle and car tyres for the neutral technical assistance team.
Yokohama USA launches new OTR tyre sales and reference guide
Yokohama Tire Corporation’s latest off-the-road (OTR) Sales and Reference Guide is now available in print and online. The 82-page guide featyres key off-the-road industry tyre and maintenance guidelines, as well as information on Yokohama’s complete line of OTR tyres.
Retread Instead promotes pro-tariff lobbying actions
Retread Instead, a US coalition of retread industry supporters, is requesting industry members extend their letter writing campaign that supports imposing tariffs, antidumping duties and countervailing duties on Chinese truck and bus tyres that are imported into the US.
Liqui Moly the official sponsor of 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
In Denmark the best national teams will cross sticks at the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship from May 4 to 20. The German oil and additive specialist Liqui Moly is the official sponsor of the competitions that will be carried out in Copenhagen and Herning.
8 million autonomous vehicles by 2025
OEMs are driving the rapid deployment of autonomous vehicles and the growth of sensor types that underpin the technology. With this in mind, ABI Research analysts recently forecast that there will be 8 million consumer vehicles shipping in 2025 that feature SAE Level 3 and 4 technologies (where drivers will still be necessary but are able to completely shift safety-critical functions to the vehicle under certain conditions) and SAE Level 5 technology (where no driver will be required at all). This, in turn, will help drive the shipments of vital Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors that underpin the technology. As many as 36 million LiDAR units are expected to ship in 2025, corresponding to a market value of $7.2 billion.
Goodyear, Bridgestone combining aftermarket tyre distribution in the USA
The wholesale tyre distribution networks owned by Goodyear and Bridgestone in the USA are combining to form an operation the two protagonists claim will be “one of the largest tyre distribution joint ventures in the United States.” This 50-50 joint venture, announced yesterday, echoes the arrangement that Michelin and Sumitomo Corporation entered into at the start of the year.
Nexen USA launches dealer education portal
Nexen Tire USA has launched an education portal, www.NexenACE.com, intended to elevate customer service, marketing and sales.
USTMA admits Giti Tire as member; Enki Tan joins Board of Directors
Giti Tire has become a member of the US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), and Enki Tan, president and chief executive officer of Giti Tire, has been elected to the organisation’s Board of Directors. The tyre maker’s entry into the association was unanimously approved at the USTMA annual spring meeting earlier this month.
Output at Continental’s Kaluga plant exceeds 10 million tyres
Five years after production commenced, the Continental tyre factory in Kaluga, Russia has celebrated the production of its 10 millionth tyre. Plant output officially went into eight-digit figures on 11 April and the team in Kaluga marked the occasion with invited guests, including government officials, customers and representatives from the Continental Executive Board.
Michelin announces further Movin’On speakers
A new wave of speakers has been announced for this year’s Movin’On summit. Michelin shares that the following speakers will address attendees in Montréal between 30 May and 1 June.
Michelin takes home more JD Power silverware
The results of the JD Power 2018 US Original Equipment Tire Satisfaction Study have been released, and the winner is…Michelin. The tyre maker received top customer satisfaction scores in all four segments of the study for the second consecutive year. Michelin’s total tally since the study began in 1989 is 88 awards, more than the number received by any other tyre manufacturer.
Golf: Bridgestone title sponsor for Senior Players Championship
Beginning in 2019, Bridgestone will act as title sponsor for the Senior Players Championship, the annual golf championship for players aged 50 and over on the PGA Tour Champions. The agreement announced by PGA Tour yesterday covers a four-year period through 2022, and when players head out onto the Firestone Country Club’s South Course between 8-14 July, they will be competing in the ‘Bridgestone Senior Players Championship’.