Emissions revelation puts VW group credibility in question
News that VW is recalling almost half a million diesel cars in the US is bad enough, but the revelation that this is because the company put so-called defeat devices into the cars in order to mislead emissions testing systems is likely to damage the OEM’s reputation. And there is a growing financial cost too.
Continue ReadingLehigh appoints two vice presidents
Lehigh Technologies, a leading specialty chemicals company that produces micronized rubber powders (MRP), today announced the promotion of two industry veterans to its leadership team. Ryan Alleman has been named vice president for coatings, construction and asphalt, and Jason Stravinski has been named vice president of operations. The executives are tasked with ensuring operational success and opening new markets as Lehigh continues its rapid market growth.
Continue ReadingEuropean tyre e-tail worth 5.47 billion euros by 2021
Automotive tyre manufacturers in Europe are focussing on electronic retailing (e-tail) to serve increasing customer preference for convenience and low prices, according to a new report published by Frost & Sullivan. Currently, tyre e-tail accounts for nearly eight per cent of the total tyre aftermarket in Europe. The report concludes that this figure will continue to rise as tyre manufacturers recognise the potential to access global markets through e-tail and invest in online sales and marketing tools to meet their growth objectives. Here Tyres & Accessories engages with the Frost & Sullivan data in order to better understand and begin to apply it to the current market context.
Continue ReadingSerena Williams confirmed for Pirelli Calendar
Tennis player Serena Williams has been named as one of the protagonists appearing in next year’s Pirelli Calendar. On 18 September Williams shared the news with her Twitter followers – “Guess what?? I am so happy to be part of the next #PirelliCalendar shot by @AnnieLeibovitz!! #thecal.”
Continue ReadingKumho Tire workers resume duties in Korea ahead of union election
After more than a month of strike action, unionised workers at Kumho Tire’s three factories in South Korea are preparing to return to work. However this move doesn’t signal an end to the industrial action that is estimated to have already cost the tyre maker around 150 billion won (£82.1 million) – Yonhap News reports that the walkout has only been temporarily suspended pending the election of a new union leader.
Continue ReadingRichard Lyons resigns from Giti
Dr Enki Tan, executive chairman of Giti Tire, has announced that Stefan Fischer and Corrado Moglia have been appointed as managing directors – Europe. The news follows the resignation of Richard Lyons, who has left the company with immediate effect. Prior to his resignation, Lyons was managing director Giti Tire (Europe) and director - International Sales & Marketing, Passenger Car.
Continue ReadingOxyo-pneus.fr now under Norauto banner
Back in March Norauto, a leading vehicle maintenance chain, and Oxyo-pneus.fr, the fourth largest player in the online tyre market in France, merged their e-commerce activities.
Continue ReadingOnline sentiment win ‘a great result’ for Continental
Following the news that Continental has topped this year’s sentiment rankings in our annual online branding survey, company representatives has expressed their delight at the win and their ambition to take both the sentiment and prominence titles next year.
Continue ReadingIAA Commercial Vehicles show press days rescheduled
When Tyrepress.com attended the first press day of last year’s IAA Commercial Vehicles show, we were surprised to find ourselves working in halls that effectively doubled as building sites. It turns out we weren’t the only ones to be less than happy with this arrangement, as show organiser VDA (the German Association of the Automotive Industry) says it’ll do things differently next year. In response to “a large number of requests from the media and exhibitors,” the press days at the 66th International Motor Show Commercial Vehicles will no longer coincide with the period set aside for the erection of show stands.
Continue ReadingLet it rain – Bandag retreading facility more than doubles rainwater storage capacity
Bridgestone Australia’s Bandag Manufacturing retreading operation has completed the first part of a project that will enable its Wacol plant in Brisbane to harvest and store more than one million litres of rainwater. Bandag added 13 new rainwater tanks to its existing harvesting capabilities at the end of August, enabling the business to collect and store an extra 610,000 litres of water. Stage two will be completed in the coming months and will take Bandag’s total rainwater storage capacity to 1,100,000 litres.
Continue ReadingACEA outlines CO2, data protection approach
At the IAA show in Frankfurt yesterday, the president of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) outlined the automotive industry’s approach to tackling CO2 from road transport, focusing on the potential of intelligent transport systems (ITS). Carlos Ghosn also presented the EU industry’s new statement on the protection of personal data.
Continue ReadingGoodyear exclusive tyre partner to MAN ProfiDrive
Goodyear reports its selection as exclusive tyre partner to the MAN ProfiDrive driver training programme. As such, all 25 tractor units and trailers used at the main MAN ProfiDrive facility in Germany will be changed over to Goodyear tyres – they will be fitted with FuelMax and KMax tyres along with Omnitrac II mixed-service range. Going forwards, new vehicles entering the MAN ProfiDrive fleet will be fitted from new with Goodyear tyres. Goodyear will take over all tyre service duties and also provide ProfiDrive trainers with tyre training.
Continue ReadingBert Stellinga takes on Pon Tyre Group role
On 1 September 2015 former Continental Banden Groep managing director, Bert Stellinga, took on a direct role in Pon Tyre Group as director of marketing intelligence and pricing. Jannes Bouman takes over as MD of Conti Banden on an interim basis. Pon Tyre Group owns businesses including Continental Banden Groep, Euro-Tyre and Reifen Gundlach.
Continue ReadingMillbrook buys Test World
Millbrook, the well-known vehicle test, validation and engineering service provider, signed a contract to acquire specialist winter test centre Test World on 14 September. No price-tag has been publically released.
Continue ReadingGoodyear to relocate South African truck tyre production within EMEA
Following yesterday’s announcement that Goodyear is investing 44 million euros to upgrade manufacturing at its Uitenhage, South Africa factory, the firm has offered further clarification about a second proposal to relocate “Medium Radial Truck” (MRT) tyres to other plants across the company’s Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
Continue Reading