International News
Continental considering delivery robots to accompany autonomous pods
During the CES 2019 technology show in Las Vegas, Continental is exhibiting how a driverless vehicle could be paired with a robotic delivery hound. No it’s not 1 April, but do think “deliverwoof”.
Xingda tyre cord opens European office
Chinese tyre cord manufacturer Xingda has opened a European office in Luxembourg. The new European operation has been registered as Xingda Europe Limited and is a subsidiary of Xingda International Holding Company.
Hankook and Peaches in creative partnership
Hankook Tire has announced it will partner with Peaches, the California lifestyle and fashion brand known for translating street car culture into modern-day street fashion clothing. The next step “in the near future” is for Hankook Tire’s design team and Peaches to unveil several projects, including a series of experimental sports tyre designs to appeal to up and coming generations of drivers.
Mopar connects with Amazon Marketplace
Mopar, Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA)’s spares, parts and service operation, has announced that it will be selling its products online on Amazon Marketplace. Mopar will be the first Automaker in Italy to sell its products through this platform. According to the company, it is a new way to respond to the needs of increasingly more technological and digitised customers.
Vipal installs first buffing machine outside Latin America
Vipal installed its VR01 Smart DUO buffing machine at Tyre Retreads in Christchurch, New Zealand between 10 and 19 September 2018. This was the first time that this machinery has been installed outside Latin America.
Marangoni USA increasing tread production
Marangoni Tread North America is adding capacity to manufacture its XP Extreme Performance wide base Ringtread in the US – specifically at its tread manufacturing plant in Tennessee. According to the company, the move is being made to meet business demand from independent retreaders, Marangoni is expanding.
Prinx Chengshan invests £19 million in purchasing land for new Thailand tyre factory
Having rejected earlier plans for a new tyre factory in Malaysia, Prinx Chengshan has invested 170.6 million yuan (£19.464 million) in buying at least 433,600 square metres of land in at Tambon Nong Suea Chang, Amphur Nong Yai, and Tambon Klong-Kew, Amphur Ban-Bung, Chonburi province in Thailand. According to stock exchange filings dated 25 December 2018, the deal comprises “several plots of land” and will be funded by the company’s recent global share offering.
BorgWarner executive arrested for spying in Russia
Well-known automotive parts manufacturer BorgWarner has confirmed that its head of security has been arrested by Russian security services. Various news sources report that Paul Whelan was arrested on spying charges.
Delphi partners TomTom on driverless technology
Delphi Technologies PLC has announced a collaboration with TomTom, known for its satnav products. According to the two companies, the partners will collaborate on “electronic and software applications designed to further optimize vehicle fuel efficiency and emissions through the use of real-time mapping data”.
Yokohama Rubber to exhibit ‘hobby tyres’, wheels at Tokyo Auto Salon 2019
Yokohama Rubber will participate in the Tokyo Auto Salon 2019 between 11 and 13 January at Makuhari Messe. The company will showcase its tyre and aluminium wheel products. Yokohama adds that it will have a special focus on its “hobby tyres” – those for motorsport or classic car applications. The booth will also introduce its motorsport activities, which it states make important contributions to its technology development for consumer tyres.
FinTyre buys RS Exclusiv Reifengrosshandel and TyreXpert Reifen + Autoservice
European FinTyre Distribution (EfTD) has signed a binding agreement to acquire two key players in the German tyre market: RS Exclusiv Reifengrosshandel GmbH and TyreXpert Reifen + Autoservice GmbH. As a result of the acquisition EfTD now has a total turnover of 740 million euros in Germany and project annual unit sales of 8.5 million tyres.
Cooper wins Good Design awards for Discoverer AT3, Discoverer True North tyre ranges
Cooper Tire’s Discoverer AT3 family of tyres, which includes three distinct all-season, all terrain tyres for SUVs and pick-up trucks, and its Discoverer True North, a tyre designed to provide strong grip and confident handling in winter weather, have earned 2018 Good Design awards from The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. The winning tyres were selected from more than 900 entries spanning nearly 50 countries.
The Liqui Moly sponsorship spectacle is hotting up
Liqui Moly is not only a well-known sponsor in the world of motor sports. When the engines fall silent for a time, the German oil and additive specialist gets involved in other sports. The Four Hills Tournament is on the cards at the turn of the year. "An absolutely top-notch event that will bring our brand closer to millions of spectators," says Ernst Prost, CEO of Liqui Moly.
More airports can stay open thanks to new autonomous solutions
Semcon will be developing new autonomous solutions to help airports reduce their costs and make them safer. This time, the company will be devising smart ways to clear snow from landing lights using autonomous vehicles. This is a time-consuming job at present that has to be carried out manually. The aim is to allow more airports to stay open.
Do markets dream of electric cars?
Phillip K Dick may well have been thinking far further into the future than the current popularisation of electric cars when he wrote his famous novella “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, however the rise of big data alongside electric and autonomous vehicles means the most advanced cars of today have an increasing amount in common with the artificial intelligence in the source material for the film Blade Runner.
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