Mitas celebrates official opening of new two-wheeler tyre factory in India
Mitas’s newest two-wheeler tyre production facility in India has been formally inaugurated, following our early 2022 article that the factory was ready to commence production. The factory, which will serve global motorcycle tyre markets, is the result of a joint venture with the Mahansaria Group. The two companies are combining their expertise to bring Mitas tyre engineering into the two-wheeler tyre market. Both companies have been working throughout the challenges of the last two years, to test and produce tyres. The Mitas brand is part of Trelleborg Wheel Systems, whose sale to Yokohama for 2.1 billion euros was confirmed at the turn of the year.
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Further details of Hamaton’s Tesla sensor
Following news of its launch at the start of April 2022, TPMS specialist Hamaton is promoting its BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) sensor exclusively for Tesla vehicles at the Tire Cologne and Autopromotec exhibitions in May and has revealed some more details.
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Hella and Minth JV opens second production plant in China
Back in August 2020, we reported on the joint venture (Hella Minth Jiaxing Automotive Parts Co. Ltd) established between Hella and the Minth Group to develop and market radomes (absorbent covers for radar systems) and illuminated logos. We learned recently that the JV has put a second production plant into operation in the Chinese city of Jiaxing, to meet growing demand. The permeable covers for radar systems can be manufactured in special designs according to customer requirements and embedded in the radiator grille or in a customer logo, for example.
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Tatneft sells Kama Tyres business
Russian firm PSJC Tatneft has signed an agreement to sell its tyre business, and as such is transferring Kama Tyres to JSC Tatneftekhiminvest-Holding.
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Hankook Tire restyling global websites
Having already given its sites for South Korea and North America the treatment, Hankook Tire is continuing the renewal of its official websites in a further 26 countries. It says the new sites aim to “strengthen the platform’s function as a sales hub” and will “provide users with a more user-friendly, interactive digital experience.”
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Prometeon launches Pirelli-branded Serie 02 truck tyre range
In early May, Prometeon Tyre Group launched its Pirelli-branded Serie 02 truck tyre range in Venice, Italy. More than 200 customers from 10 countries were invited to learn about the launch of the Serie 02, which has been on sale in the EMEA region since April. General manager Roberto Righi, chief technical officer Alexandre Bregantim, head of marketing Sabina Oriani and region Europe CEO Francesco Antonacci were all on-hand to explain about Prometeon’s latest products and strategies.
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Pirelli testing tyres year-round in Sweden
Product testing at the Pirelli Sottozero Centre in Lapland, Sweden is now taking place in summer as well as winter. Pirelli says it switched the facility to year-round testing in response to increased demand for product development on both wet and dry roads, particularly for all-season and winter tyres. The team at the Sottozero Centre recently wrapped up its winter test programme for the season and is now beginning the summer programme.
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Clarion, Natron launch sodium-ion battery collaboration
Sodium-ion batteries offer a number of advantages compared with their lithium-ion counterparts. Natron Energy, Inc. has spent ten years perfecting sodium-ion battery chemistry for mass manufacturing, and in 2021 released the world’s first UL listed sodium-ion battery product. It has now entered into a strategic agreement with Clarios International Inc. that will result in the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion batteries.
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Triangle scraps US tyre factory project
Triangle Tire has scrapped its plans to a build roughly half-a-billion dollar tyre factory in North Carolina, USA. According to the company, the project which had been strongly supported by local government officials in North Carolina was ended amicably with mutual consent.
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Alligator introduces RS+ TPMS Sensors following acquisition
Alligator has launched its new Sens.it RS+ Sensor, for use in 99.98 per cent of all vehicle models. According to the company, the latest production is “a customizable, universally compatible and cloneable option that reduces service time and saves costs on storage and logistics.”
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Linglong’s Serbia factory close to production start
On 11 May 2022, Linglong Tire chairman Wang Feng was quoted as saying that Linglong’s Serbia tyre factory begin trial production shortly.
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Michelin Connected Fleet makes its UK debut at ITT Hub
Michelin Connected Fleet made its UK debut at the ITT Hub truck technology event in Farnborough on 11 May 2022. Michelin Connected Fleet is an evolution of Michelin’s 2019 acquisition of Masternaut and interfacing with other comparable systems in the Michelin portfolio. The technology, which is as much about service and support as it is technology, was launched in Spain and France in 2021. Next up are Germany and South Africa later in 2022, followed by markets such as Sweden and Benelux after that.
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Pirelli Q1 EBIT up 35%, but full-year estimates revised down
Pirelli & C. Spa has reported report a strong set of first quarter 2022 results which show revenues and pre-tax profits (adjusted EBIT) were up 22.2 per cent and 35.4 per cent respectively despite considerable turmoil related to the war in Ukraine and the resultant sanctions against Russia, where Pirelli runs two tyre factories. However, the tyre manufacturer has also revised down full-year estimates due to the same “geopolitical tensions”.
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Two batches of Shandong-produced tyres fail sampling inspection
On 24 April 2022, the State Administration for Market Regulation of China announced the sampling inspection results of transportation products in 2021. Among the 24 batches of tyre products randomly checked by government departments, there were two batches of what are referred to as “unqualified products”, with a resulting failure rate of 8.3 per cent. In 2019 and 2020, the failure rate of the tyre product sampling inspection was 2 per cent and 0 per cent respectively.
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New Michelin MotoE tyre features more Enviro recovered carbon black
Michelin has produced a new version of its motorcycle racing tyre with an even higher share of environmentally sustainable material ahead of the MotoE World Cup motorcycle racing series. This is the fourth season of the MotoE World Cup electric motorcycles racing series.
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