Analysts predict Chinese tyre anti-dumping duties of 25 – 35%
Following the news that the US Department of Commerce (DoC) had set the preliminary countervailing duty for Chinese consumer tyres, market analysts have begun estimating what they think the outcome of final determinations will be when they are announced on 6 April 2015. Preliminary details of anti-dumping duties are expected in January 2015. Writing in […]
Continue ReadingUS imposes Chinese tyre import tariffs
The US Commerce Department (USDOC) has moved to impose import tariffs on tyres manufactured in China and imported into the US. The USDOC has also agreed to initiate work on an additional nine subsidy programs identified by the USW. The preliminary finding suggested that Chinese-made tyres in this category are unfairly subsidized and should be subject to countervailing duties of 17.7 per cent and 81.3 per cent. The precise percentage depends on the manufacturer in question, but the standard rate is reportedly 15.69 per cent. This is the second round of passenger vehicle and light truck duties since the millennium. The first round ran from 2009 to 2011 and ranged from 35 to 25 per cent.
Continue ReadingFinancial groups take share in South African tyre network
According to Reuters, global asset manager the Carlyle Group has invested in South African tyre retail network Tiger Wheel & Tyre. Carlyle, together with insurer and banking group Old Mutual Plc, will acquire the stake from South Africas Ethos Private Equity. The deal is said to be valued at 1.75 billion rand (£101.7 million), including debt.
Continue ReadingTyres offering relief to sleep-weary Venetians
Trolley case wheels are often nasty little castors that punish travellers with high rolling resistance and scrape noisily along the footpath. In one much-loved tourist destination, they’ve got on the authorities’ nerves so much that their use may soon attract a hefty fine. But never fear – the trusty tyre is here to save the day.
Continue ReadingPaolo Ferrari appointed Pirelli Latam CEO
Chairman and CEO of Pirelli’s NAFTA region, Paolo Ferrari will move on to the position of CEO, Pirelli Latin America region effective 1 January 2015. In the last three years, the NAFTA team led by Ferrari have scaled up Pirelli’s presence in North America across all areas of the business including the expansion of the […]
Continue ReadingZafco launches winter tyres, shows four brands at SEMA
Zafco exhibited a number of different ttre brands during November’s SEMA show in Las Vegas. These included the firm’s Zeetex private brand – including car, truck and bus, winter 4×4 and SUV fitments. In the UHP category, Accelera tyres were position to attract the attention of dealers and distributors. However, on the other hand, the […]
Continue ReadingFirst Pirelli-Rosneft tyre centre opens in Moscow
Rosneft, Pirelli and the Koleso retail chain have opened the first of many Pirelli tyre centres that are planned for Rosneft service stations in Russia’s capital, Moscow. The Pirelli centre at Mira Avenue 94 has been established under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Rosneft head Igor Sechin and Pirelli & C. S.p.A. chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera on 24 May 2014 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Continue ReadingFord approves Nizhnekamskshina as OE tyre supplier in Russia
Deliveries of Kama tyres for original equipment fitment on Russian-made Ford vehicles are set to begin now that JSC Nizhnekamskshina has received final approval from the Ford Sollers joint venture operation. Nizhnekamskshina began working towards homologation when the joint venture between Ford and Sollers was first established in October 2011.
Continue ReadingNew Continental facility meeting growing Indian demand for premium tyres
With the promise of “German engineering and technology”, adapted for local market performance requirements, Continental has launched two premium passenger car tyre lines in the Indian market. The ContiMaxContact MC5 and ContiComfortContact CC5 are being produced at a new, state-of-the-art passenger car and light truck tyre facility at the company’s Modipuram plant. The newly-built facility has an initial capacity of 800,000 tyres per annum, with potential for further expansion.
Continue ReadingNo winter tyres in Turkey? Fine
Although commercial vehicles operating in Turkey have been legally obliged to use winter tyres between 1 December and 1 April for two years now, so far this requirement has not been enforced. This will change on 1 December 2014, when a TRY519 (£149) fine will be levied for non-compliance.
Continue ReadingToyo Tire returns to Essen Motorshow
Toyo Tire Europe GmbH president Tatsuo Mitsuhata has confirmed that Toyo Tire Deutschland GmbH will exhibit at the Essen Motorshow which runs from 28 November to 7 December. The company returns to the motorshow after an seven-year absence in order to introduce key new products which will become available in the German market in 2015. […]
Continue ReadingTweel not being developed for cars – at the moment
As reported yesterday, Michelin has officially opened its new Tweel factory in the US. The plant produces the airless tyre and wheel combination for off-road commercial applications, and at the inauguration the chairman and president of Michelin North America addressed recent speculation regarding the extension of Tweel technology to passenger cars.
Continue ReadingMichelin Tweel factory opens
Michelin’s Tweel factory has opened in Piedmont, South Carolina, USA, manufacturing airless tyres for commercial applications. From Piedmont, Michelin will boost output of its X Tweel SSL skid-steer tyres and begin production of the new X Tweel Turf as original equipment for John Deere’s Ztrak 900 Series line-up of zero-turn commercial mowers. The 135,000sqft facility is Michelin’s 10th in the state, and 16th in the US. The company said it would invest about $50 million in the new plant.
Continue ReadingSports Direct acquires Dunlop sporting goods rights for Australia, New Zealand
UK-based sports retail group Sports Direct plc has bought the rights for the Dunlop brand name in Australia and New Zealand. This deal does not affect the Dunlop tyre brand, which in the region is owned by Goodyear & Dunlop Tyres, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goodyear Tire & Rubber.
Continue ReadingApollo to establish Singapore base, redesignates Sarkar as chief business officer
Asia is an enticing part of the world for many tyre makers, including Apollo Tyres, which has stated its desire to make inroads there. A small but significant step it has taken into the region is the relocation of incumbent president and chief financial officer Sunam Sarkar to Singapore. Sarkar’s arrival will likely be followed by the establishment of an office in the city state, and – although Apollo hasn’t yet made any official announcement to this effect – he seems the logical choice to oversee the operation set up there. A secondary function of Apollo’s new presence in Singapore will be to aid its sourcing of raw materials in Asia; the subject of rubber is a high profile one for tyre makers in India, and despite the higher duty affixed to natural rubber compared to finished tyres, manufacturers rely heavily on imports of this raw material.
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