Toyota iQ Is Japan’s Car Of The Year
The revolutionary Toyota iQ, the world’s smallest four-seater passenger car, has won the 2008 Japan Car of the Year award by a landslide over rivals such as the Citroën C5, Audi A4 and Jaguar XF. The innovative iQ scored more than double the points of the second placed, receiving top marks from 39 of the 65 jurors who voted. The judges praised the iQ for its space efficiency and design, particularly the iQ’s capacity for seating four people within a body less than three metres long, as well as its combination of high levels of safety and low CO2 emissions.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Europe Outlines Green Performance in New Brochure
It’s as fresh as the morning dew upon a rainforest fern frond - Bridgestone Europe has published its updated environmental report, which sets out the company’s commitment to high environmental standards and the latest steps it is taking to achieve them. In keeping with its theme, the colour brochure is printed with vegetable-based inks on FSC label recycled paper, and is aimed at all organisations and groups interested in the company, including shareholders, government authorities, journalists, car manufacturers and other business partners.
Continue ReadingAnalysts: Slowdown May Cause Russian Tyremaker Growth
Following several years of consistent sales increases, full year 2008 figures may hit show a drop in Russian passenger car tyre sales by value. The profitable premium segment, which is dominated by non-Russian premium manufacturers, is expected to be the first to feel the pinch. On the other hand, the share of the market occupied by budget products is likely to increase, and some sources predict that Chinese and Korean tyre sales will be replaced by domestic Russian tyre makers’ products.
Continue ReadingPirelli Planning Job Cuts and Plant Idling, says Union
Job cuts are said to be a possibility at Pirelli & C. SpA. According to Italian labour union Filcem, whose comments have been published by Bloomberg, the company will eliminate approximately 200 administrative jobs in Milan and will probably continue to idle plants to counter a global drop in demand.
Continue ReadingSurvey: Canadians Steer Clear of Snow Tyres
A survey conducted by insurance firm RBC and researcher Ipsos Reid shows that a little over half of Canadian motorists put snow tyres on their cars, despite the country’s snowy winter months. Feedback showed that more than half of those who do not use the specialist tyres do not due to the additional costs involved. Francois Boulanger, president and CEO of RBC General Insurance Company, stated on the release of the information, Installing winter tires should be a critical safety measure for all Canadian drivers. Canadians need to think of it as an investment in their familys safety.
Continue ReadingB&J Rocket Launches Web Shop
B&J Rocket has developed a new online shop. As of November 2008 selected articles from B&J’s wide range will be available to everyone via www.bj-rocket.com. These include items for tyre repair, carbide tools as well as products for tyre shops and service stations.
Continue ReadingFreedom from the ‘Black Gold’
By 2013 Sumitomo Rubber plans to be selling tyres containing absolutely no petrochemical materials. This news was printed in the company’s 2008 – 2011 environmental statement, which was published in Japanese only on November 17. It appears likely the oil free tyres will initially be sold on the Japanese market only.
Continue ReadingMichelin Primacy HP to Benefit Vauxhall ecoFLEX
Michelin reports it has developed a tyre – the energy-efficient Primacy HP – specifically for Vauxhall’s new Insignia ecoFLEX. The tyre is said to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres, thereby lowering CO2 emissions by more than four grams per kilometre. In this way, the tyre contributes to the Insignia ecoFLEX’s notable performance in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, which for the 160-horsepower vehicle are fewer than 140 grams per kilometre.
Continue ReadingDunlop the Tyre of Choice for Lancer Evo X
Dunlop has announced that its SP Sport 600 tyres have been chosen as original equipment on Mitsubishi Motors’ new Lancer Evolution X. The high-performance vehicle comes with a new powerful all-aluminium 2.0 litre turbo engine, with power ranging from 295PS and 407Nm of torque to 359PS and 492Nm, depending on the model. Dunlop will meet the task of transmitting that power to the road with its SP Sport 600 in the size 245/40R18 93Y.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Slovenian Sub, Sava Takes 2-Week Break
STA, the Slovenian Press Agency, is reporting that the Central European country’s Goodyear subsidiary, Sava Tires, has announced that it will suspend production for two weeks towards the end of December. It will be the fourth time since June that the company has halted production.
Continue ReadingChris Wakley Receives TyreSafe Award
Chris Wakley, founding executive director at Automotive PR, has received a special award from TyreSafe recognising his contribution to tyre safety over the past 15 years. It is only the third time that the award has been conferred. Wakley handled media relations for the Tyre Industry Council since its inception which latterly became TyreSafe. The organisation is the UK’s leading tyre safety body. The TyreSafe Award was presented by Rob Beddis, chairman of TyreSafe “in recognition of the outstanding contribution to tyre safety”. According to Beddis: “Chris was responsible for developing a very successful series of tyre safety campaigns ranging from regional roadside tyre checks arranged with practically all UK police forces, to tyre safety weeks in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East of England.”
Continue ReadingHankook Tire Nominated Member of ETRMA
Hankook Tire reports that it has been officially nominated concordantly as a corporate member by the Board of Directors of the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), representing the interests of the European tyre and rubber goods industry. The company will become an official direct member of ETRMA as of 1 January 2009. Currently, ETRMA has 11 tyre corporate - direct members; Hankook Tire will be the 12th.
Continue ReadingCorus Cutting Steel Production as European Demand Slackens
In order to align its production levels with demand in the European market, Tata Steel subsidiary Corus announced in October plans to reduce its third quarter (October to December 2008) production by one million tonnes of crude steel, the equivalent of 20 per cent of its output. The company has now decided to extend the production cuts beyond December. Corus says it expects to produce about 30 per cent less crude steel than planned during the two quarters to the end of March 2009. To meet this planned reduction Corus, currently Europe’s second largest steel producer, will temporarily idle one blast furnace at each of its IJmuiden (Belgium) Port Talbot and Scunthorpe facilities, the last of which manufactures steel rod from which tyre cord is produced. The company will also adjust output levels on its downstream production units to suit market conditions in respective regions and end-use sectors.
Continue ReadingState Funds to Help Goodyear Headquarters Project
Goodyear’s global headquarters project will receive US$2 million in funding from the state of Ohio, the state’s government revealed on November 13. The grant is part of a $46 million Job Ready Sites programme funding available through the Ohio Department of Development. The funding is intended to help with utilities and transportation infrastructure at commercial sites throughout the state. According to the Ohio state government, the grant will go towards the construction of a new headquarters building and research and development centre for Goodyear Tire & Rubber in Akron. The headquarters is part of a $900 million redevelopment plan.
Continue ReadingUK Batteries Launch New Catalogue
UK Batteries, the driving force behind the Platinum brand, has unveiled a new catalogue that details its most comprehensive range of applications to date. The 2009 Platinum Batteries catalogue has been collated by experienced product manager, Keith Rudd, and contains a comprehensive application list for a market-leading automotive product range that covers cars, light vans and commercial vehicles. The catalogue is available in three formats: on the www.ukbatteries.co.uk website, in paper form and also on a CD.
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