Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac wins 2015 Off Road Award
Goodyear’s Wrangler DuraTrac tyre has been chosen as the best off-road tyre by readers of the specialised German magazine Off Road. It was the third successive year the tyre has won. The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac won in the “Traction Tyres” category in which readers were invited to vote for one of 10 candidates. 30 per cent of the votes went to the Goodyear tyre, which was developed for use on tough terrain.
Sid Richardson planning Mexico carbon black facility
Carbon black manufacturer Sid Richardson Carbon & Energy Co. says it has “roots planted deep in Texas”. These roots will soon stretch south of the border, however. The company has announced it has begun the planning phase for the construction of a carbon black production facility in Mexico. Company president and CEO Bill Jones says the plant is expected to be producing carbon black by 2017.
Plant upgrade to boost Michelin’s light truck/SUV tyre capacity in USA
Production capacity for high performance light truck and SUV tyres at Michelin’s Dothan factory in the US will increase by ten per cent when upgrades now being installed in the plant are completed in the summer of 2016. Michelin says it is investing US$22 million to upgrade the 35 year old plant, which currently employs 560 people. Approximately 40 new jobs will be created by the investment.
The board of directors of Pelmar Engineering has appointed Eldad Eilam and Dana Broder the company’s new co-CEOs. They will replace Joseph Anglister, who has led the company as CEO since 1 May 2014 and will continue as a member of the board and special sales and marking advisor.
Weakness in the Russia and CIS region held European passenger car and truck tyre sales back in May 2015. According to market figures released by Michelin yesterday, the original equipment passenger car tyre market in Europe (including Russia/CIS and Turkey) remained at the same level as May 2014, while the replacement market shrank three per cent year-on-year. These two markets are still respectively three per cent and one per cent higher year-on-year for the January to May 2015 period.
Motorists ‘should stand up for their rights’ – ABD
The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) has issued a call to arms for all drivers, saying it is celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta with a 21st century mobility charter. This summer, millions of Britains drivers will likely crawl to their holidays on a crumbling road network, congested with road works, the Alliance argues. Yet according to a survey carried out for the ABD last year, some two-thirds of drivers are unaware that they pay roughly five times over for the service they get.
SMMTs communications manager, Janet Wilkinson, has been awarded an MBE for services to the Motor Industry and Charity in the Queens Birthday Honours List for 2015. Wilkinson, who has spent virtually all her career at the SMMT, has been responsible for many of the activities and events the organisation runs to help promote the industry to media and other stakeholders. She has also mentored dozens of young people who have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the industry.
From September 2015, all new cars must be compliant with Euro 6 emissions standards, which aims to reduce the levels of harmful exhaust emissions such as nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (THC and NMHS) and particulate matter (PM).
An analysis of RAC breakdowns has shown that potholes are more of a problem to British drivers than ever, according to a spokesperson for Click4Warranty. Faulty suspension and damaged springs are traditional indicators of the condition of Britain’s road surfaces. More faulty springs means more potholes and more potholes means more wear and tear on your vehicle. Britain has seen a dramatic increase in the number of suspension-related repairs in the UK over the last three years, with the annual cost for drivers reaching £730m.
Guinness World Records fuel economy title for A6 TDI ultra
Audi and the RAC have officially set a new Guinness World Records title by driving to 14 countries on a single tank of fuel. The unmodified Audi A6 TDI ultra chosen for the challenge comfortably exceeded its official 67mpg-plus potential by averaging a remarkable 75.9mpg and completing a total of 1158.9 miles without the need for a fuel-stop. Motoring journalist Andrew Frankel and racing driver Rebecca Jackson drove the A6 TDI ultra almost non-stop for nearly 28 hours from the Netherlands to Hungary, passing through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia – 14 countries in all.
FTA urges French Government to act over Calais ‘warzone’
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is pressing the French government to take action on the migrant situation in Calais, which has been described as “like a warzone” by some of its members.
Trend Tracker, formed in 2003 to provide accurate and informed automotive industry research, calculates the retail service, maintenance and repair market’s worth has risen by almost £1 billion since the 2008 recession. This is inevitably resulting in greater interest in the segment, which is increasing the desire of vehicle manufacturers (VMs) to compete for this business. AMOnline has recently reported on the efforts of some car manufacturers to take a bigger slice of that market, giving a synopsis of what measures various VMs are taking.
Michelin launches MEMS Evolution3 for surface mining applications
Trucks operating in surface mines weigh 200 tonnes and carry loads twice that. These machines work under demanding conditions, and the slightest problem can be a logistical nightmare – when a tyre needs changing, it can often take more than eight hours to swap over the four metre tall, five tonne rubber.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is urging the new government to increase its efforts in promoting road safety by giving targeted enforcement a higher priority. With the yet-to-be-revealed figures for 2014 shaping up to show an increase in deaths and injuries on UK roads, the IAM believe the new government must make road traffic policing a core priority function for police forces and commissioners in England and Wales.
Continental fully acquires Alençon Pneus, integrating into BestDrive network
In May 2011, Continental acquired a 49.9 per cent in French tyre chain Alençon Pneus; the company has now exercised its option to purchase the remaining share, and has become the 100 per cent owner of Alençon Pneus.
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