International News
Sumitomo Rubber starts Brazil truck tyre production
On 1 March 2019 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. began manufacturing truck and bus tyres at its new Brazil manufacturing site.
EfTD names Riccardo Costa as purchasing director, Truck & Motorcycle
European FinTyre Distribution (EfTD) has appointed Riccardo Costa as purchasing director Business Truck & Motorcycle. In this role he will report directly to Alessandro Bruchi, Chief Procurement Officer of EfTD.
Volkswagen and Northvolt establish European Battery Union
The Volkswagen Group and further European partners are joining forces to form the European Battery Union (EBU) with a view to forging ahead with battery research throughout Europe. The new consortium is to be led by the Volkswagen Group and the Swedish battery producer Northvolt. The joint research activities of the European Battery Union will cover the entire battery value stream – from raw materials through cell technology to recycling. The prime objective is to accumulate much broader know-how on battery cell production.
Ford starts exporting cars from South Africa to Europe
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is expanding its vehicle export operations by adopting a multi-port strategy with the first shipment of 1000 locally assembled Ford Rangers from Port Elizabeth to markets in Europe.
Fortum claims 80 per cent battery recycling rate
All the data shows that in the years to come electrification will rapidly increase battery demand. A new solution by Nordic clean energy company Fortum purportedly makes over 80 per cent of the electric vehicle (EV) battery recyclable, returns the scarce metals back into circulation and resolves the sustainability gap by reducing the need to mine cobalt, nickel etc.
Philippinas Agila Tires aims for manufacturing plant in 2022
The Philippine Rubber Farmers’ Cooperative (PRFC), composed of farmers from Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines, is leading efforts to develop finished products from raw rubber.
Prinx Chengshan breaks ground on Thailand tyre plant project
A groundbreaking ceremony has been held for the new Prinx Chengshan Thailand factory in the WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate EISE 3 in Chonburi. The new plant is amongst the first to be set up in the industrial park, and Prinx Chengshan notes that a launching ceremony for the park was held today.
Linglong Tire begins Serbia factory project
A ceremony has taken place to mark the start of work on Linglong Tire’s new tyre factory in Serbia. Company chairman and chief executive officer Wang Feng greeted guests at the site of the future plant on 29 and 30 March to launch the new subsidiary, Linglong International Europe D.O.O. Zrenjanin (LLIE), and to hold the tyre maker’s global partner conference.
Rosava making inroads in USA
Tyre maker Rosava comments that “any Ukrainian manufacturer would consider supplying his products to the USA market a significant achievement.” For this reason, it is proud to announce that its products have begun to gain traction in that market.
Test World opens newly expanded indoor proving ground
Test World officially opened additional new indoor test facilities at its Ivalo, Finland operation on 27 March 2019, signalling the culminating of that latest part of a multi-million-euro series of investments in Test World. The recently constructed indoor facilities increase Test World’s capacity for year-round cold weather testing, allowing for simultaneous testing on snow, ice, and wet and dry asphalt, 365 days a year.
Germany: Wholesaler Gundlach begins €20 million expansion project
German tyre and wheel wholesaler Reifen Gundlach is investing more than 20 million euros in an additional production line for its tyre-and-wheel assembly business. Work on the project is under way, and the 25,000 square metre building that will house the line is expected to be completed by May. Plans call for the production line to be operational in time for this autumn’s winter tyre season. The project will create around 100 new jobs at Gundlach’s site in Daufenbach, some 40 miles southeast of Cologne.
Investigation: India considering duties on Chinese truck tyres
Authorities in India are conducting an investigation into alleged subsidies on truck and bus tyres imported from the People’s Republic of China. According to a document released on Wednesday by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies, a department of India’s Department of Commerce, the investigation is taking place in response to a submission filed by local industry representative the Automotive Tyre Manufacturer’s Association (ATMA) on behalf of tyre makers Apollo Tyres, J. K. Tyre & Industries, MRF and Ceat. Should the allegations be verified, the department will recommend implementing countervailing duties.
BFGoodrich launches Off-Road Centre network in Ireland
BFGoodrich is expanding its pan-European Off-Road Centre network into Ireland, initially working with 13 dealer partners in this market. Representatives from the dealerships – which BFGoodrich chose on the basis of their off-road tyre expertise – recently attended a launch event for the network in County Kildare.
Official opening for Continental’s Thailand tyre plant
Continental’s new tyre making facility in Thailand is officially up and running. A ceremony was held yesterday to mark the occasion, with around 500 people present to mark inauguration of the 250-million-euro greenfield factory in Rayong. Production will now be ramped up to provide a capacity to manufacture some four million passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres by 2022. These tyres will be sold locally and throughout the entire APAC region.
SK Innovation investing 1 trillion won in Hungary car battery factory
SK Innovation reports that it is planning to invest just under 1 trillion won (a little less than US$1 billion) in its second car battery plant, this time in Hungary. The company has selected Komaron City in northern Hungary for the investment of 945.2 billion won.