Three types of companies appeared in the tyre sector of the 2024 Automechanika Dubai
On 10 December 2024, Automechanika Dubai opened at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As a large-scale auto parts exhibition in the Middle East, Tyrepress China saw many tyre manufacturers at the exhibition.
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China’s tyre exports rose slightly in 2024
After an upward trend in October, China’s tyre export data slowed again in November. After explosive growth in 2023, China’s tyre exports generally showed a slowing trend in 2024. With Chinese tyre manufacturers continuing to increase the production capacity of overseas manufacturing centres, China’s export data may further decline.
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JK Tyre presents Indian Car of the Year award
On 11 January 2025, JK tyre presented The Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) awards at the Levitas Lounge in New Delhi. This years occasion was particularly significant as it marked the 20th anniversary of ICOTY. Specifically, Dr Raghupati Singhania, chairman and managing director, JK Tyre & Industries, along with ICOTY chairman Dhruv Behl, IMOTY chairman Kartik Ware, and esteemed jury members, presented the awards to the winners.
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Wanli Tire breaks ground on Cambodia plant
On 12 January, Wanli Tire held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new production facility in Cambodia. The Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holdings Group (GIIHG) company is setting up a plant in the Xin Bavet Special Economy Zone, in Svay Rieng province, with a production capacity to produce 10 million semi-steel radial tyres and 1.2 million all-steel radial tyres. This is not only Wanli Tire’s first overseas project – GIIGH views the project as a “crucial step” towards accelerating its globalisation strategy within the framework of China’s Belt and Road initiative.
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Hankook Tire, Solvay collaborating on Circular Silica
On 10 January, Hankook Tire & Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Solvay Silica to jointly develop ‘Circular Silica’. This strategic partnership will focus on collaborating in the area of circular silica development for tyre manufacturing with the aim of achieving a “significant step forward in sustainable tyre production.”
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Aeolus raises funds for giant tyre project
Aeolus is preparing to issue shares to 16 parties (individuals or organisations) to raise 300 million yuan for a giant tyre project. The project involves an annual production capacity of 20,000 giant engineering radial tyres, with a total investment of about 1.464 billion yuan. Of the 300 million yuan raised this time, 78.07 per cent is being used to purchase equipment.
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Linglong and JD Auto explore more cooperation models
On 4 January, senior executives of JD Group, a leading e-commerce platform in China, visited and exchanged views with tyre manufacturer Linglong. Specifically, JD Group vice president, JD Auto president Miao Qin and JD Auto Vice president Chen Haifeng visited Linglong. There they held a symposium with the tyre manufacturer’s chairman, Wang Feng, and vice president Guo Kuntao.
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KraussMaffei Group receives equity from Sinochem
Machinery manufacturer KraussMaffei reports that shareholder Sinochem recently undertook the final step in its August 2024-announced plan to convert existing shareholder loans into equity for the KraussMaffei Group’s parent company, China National Chemical Equipment (Luxembourg) S.á.r.l. (CNCE Lux). KraussMaffei Group anticipates significant benefits from this transaction thanks to an improved capital structure and financial performance.
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Yokohama sends condolences, supports Spain flood relief efforts
The Yokohama Rubber Group has sent its ”deepest condolences” to the families of the many people who lost their lives in the flooding that occurred in the province of Valencia in eastern Spain on 29 October 2024, extending “heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the disaster”.
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Goodyear names Don Metzelaar SVP, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Don Metzelaar as senior vice president, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain, reporting to chief executive officer and president Mark Stewart, effective 13 January 2025.
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Anyline: AI-driven data capture saves 1.3 million work hours
Anyline reports that its AI-powered mobile data capture technology saved 1.3 million work hours worldwide in 2024. Over the past decade, we’ve built solutions that no large language model (LLM) can match when it comes to enterprise-grade, scalable implementation, said Lukas Kinigadner, CEO of Anyline. “Our proprietary AI-powered technology is purpose-built for real-world applications in the automotive sector. It’s designed to deliver measurable, high-impact results, and this year’s 1.3 million work hours saved proves how impactful our solutions are at scale.”
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Premium global brand – SRI’s plan for Dunlop
The team at Tyrepress.com was puzzled when, as announced late in 2023, Goodyear strategists relegated Dunlop to the status of pan-European value tyre brand. The stated aim of positioning Dunlop within Tier 2 was to capitalise on projected growth within this segment, not to mention a wish to avoid cannibalising the Goodyear brand’s market share, but by this time Goodyear was already pursuing “strategic alternatives” for Dunlop as part of efforts to “optimise” its portfolio. Why devalue a brand you intend to sell? This logic remains opaque, but it hardly seems to matter now – Dunlop is destined to regain its premium status across Europe.
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Sumitomo: We’ll triple Dunlop brand tyre sales via Micheldever
Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ (SRI) purchase of the Dunlop tyre brand has huge implications for the European tyre markets and beyond. Within that, the SRI-owned Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) tyre wholesale operation finds itself at the centre of ambitious plans to triple sales volumes in the UK.
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Pirelli signs multi-year partnership with the Australian Open
From this year, Pirelli will be the Official Tyre Partner of the Australian Open, which will start on Sunday 12 January in Melbourne. The Italian brand thus fills a tyre-shaped hole left by the departure of Maxxis, official tyre for several years last decade. Pirelli is also in good company, with the Dunlop brand continuing as Official Ball Partner, a status it has held since 2019.
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SRI: ‘premium, global’ Dunlop to complement ‘bold’ Falken in ‘dual-brand’ strategy
Following its acquisition of Dunlop from Goodyear, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has detailed how it plans to deploy a new “dual-brand” strategy, with Dunlop positioned as its “core” and “premium” global tyre brand. SRI was always the front-runner to acquire the brand since it already operates Dunlop in various market segments. While Dunlop rights remain somewhat complex thanks to Goodyear holding on to such segments as Dunlop-branded motorcycle tyres in Europe and Oceania, SRI will now have an almost global focal point in the four-wheel car tyre segment (the deal excludes India, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in this segment). By adding the Europe, North America, and Oceania regions to its four-wheel Dunlop business, SRI wants to advance “premiumisation globally through differentiated products and enhancing brand strength” via the brand’s sporting heritage.
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