New Dansk Porche Catalogue
Euro Car Parts has released its new Porsche catalogue for 2005/06 packed with high performance exhaust systems and accessories from Original Equipment Manufacturer Dansk. Dansk manufacture for the whole Porsche range, including the 356, 912, 914, 911, 964, 993, 996, 924, Boxster and Cayenne models. According to Euro Car Parts, the famous Dansk engineering produces the distinctive Porsche sound that owners demand.
Continue ReadingHankook Tire Denies It’s Walking Away From Slovakia
Hankook Tire Co, Korea’s largest tyre manufacturer said it is still considering Slovakia as the site for a 500 million euro ($603 million) plant, contradicting a Korean newspaper report that the plan had been scrapped. Now the Slovak government is saying that it has up until 31 August to come with a new offer for Hankook, local media sources have reported. The cabinet rejected the original investment proposal due to investment incentives of 21 per cent of the total investment. Now the government insists that six per cent will remain the maximum level of the investment stimuli for the company.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Eyes Hungary For New Plant
(Akron/Tire Review) According to an Associated Press report, Bridgestone Corp. is looking to build a new tire plant in Tatabanya, Hungary. Construction on the plant, estimated at $229 million, would start next year.
Continue ReadingNew China Aftermarket Forum Launched
(Akron/Tire Review) MEMA’s Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) has established the China Aftermarket Forum, a new discussion group for aftermarket executives heading their businesses’ Chinese operations. The China Aftermarket Forum will meet quarterly to discuss industry issues and solutions, share best practices and network with peers.
Continue ReadingBFNAT Workers Set to Strike Friday
(Akron/Tire Review) A 16 July report in the Nashville Tennessean said that workers at Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s (BFNAT) medium truck tyre plant in Warren County, Tennessee, would indeed go out on strike at midnight 22 July.
Continue ReadingMichelin F1 Tyres The Answer?
Renault F1’s executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, has spoken of his confidence that Michelin can provide the tyres that will help the team win at the German Grand Prix.
Continue ReadingConti Appoints New Commercial Manager
Continental has appointed Mike Nyren as its truck and remould brand manager. In his new role Mr Nyren will be responsible for the development and implementation of strategies for the Uniroyal and Semperit truck tyre brands. Nyren comes to Conti from Daimler Chrysler, where he worked as marketing executive for the commercial vehicles business. Talking about his recent appointment he said: “I am really looking forward to my new role, especially working at Continental which is renowned for its high standards of engineering and product quality.”
Continue ReadingNew Bandag Dealers In Egypt and Romania
Cairo-based Internile for Tyres Ltd and HL & H Prod Com SRL have joined Bandag’s retreader network, along with Internile Tyres, Egypt Bucharest-based HL & H Prod Com SRL recently went into business operating as a joint venture between two experienced specialists from the Israeli tyre sector. Since then, the Bucharest public bus company Filaret has reportedly been full of praise for Bandag retreaded tyres. Filaret actually bought its retreads from Hatzav, the Israeli parent company of Bandag Dealer TGL (Aviation) Rubber Company, in Acre, Israel.
Continue ReadingMichelin Launches US Ticket Refund Process
Michelin have began the process of refunding US Grand Prix ticket holders after tyre failures turned the race into a six-car disappointment. Michelin North America and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway said all those who had bought race day tickets for the 19 June event were eligible. Some 120,000 fans attended the race and details of how to claim were provided through the US Grand Prix website.
Continue ReadingYokohama Thai Subsidiary Officially Opens
(Akron/Tire Review) Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co, a subsidiary of The Yokohama Rubber Co, held its grand opening ceremony on 15 July.
Continue ReadingApollo’s Kanwar Heads Exports Panel
(India/Rubber Asia) Onkar S. Kanwar, chairman of Apollo Tyres, has been named as the head of the Board of Trade working groups (WGs) set up by the Indian Commerce Ministry in order to boost exports from the country. Mr Kanwar, who is also the president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, heads the WG on “trade facilitation”. The WGs were expected to submit their reports to the Board chairman before September.
Continue ReadingUS Tyre Shipments Strong in June
US tyre shipments rose 4.2 per cent year-on-year in June, possibly boosted by pre-buying ahead of June price increases. Deutsche Bank analysts, who also calculated the figures, found that shipments for the full quarter were in line with expectations, rising 1.5 per cent compared with the second quarter of 2004. As a result of the strike early in the second quarter, the analysts expect Cooper Tire to “underperform the industry during the quarter.” In contrast the report suggests Goodyear and other tyre manufacturers outperformed the market in the same period. “We continue to expect an inflection point for Cooper Tire in the third and fourth quarters, as production and industry pricing levels continue to rise,” said the analysts.
Continue ReadingMichelin Sells US Steel Cord Operations
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) has sold its steel cord plant in Scottsburg, Indiana., to Hyosung America Inc. a subsidiary of Hyosung Corp. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal includes a 10-year, $650 million supply contract in which MNA will purchase finished steel cord for tires from Hyosung America.
Continue ReadingMichelin F1 Teams Not Guilty
The FIA senate has recommended that the World Motor Sport Council reverses the guilty verdict it imposed on seven Formula One teams following the US Grand Prix. It is anticipated that this recommendation will be put to the World Motor Sport Council by means of a fax vote in the next few days.
Continue ReadingShanghai Automotive Bids for MG Rover
The future of MG Rover is likely to be decided in the next few days after Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation re-entered the bidding in partnership with a former Ford executive. SAIC’s confirmation of a strategic collaboration with Magma, which is run by Martin Leach, a former Ford Europe boss, and Ed Sabisky, a former General Motors executive, came after the administrator (PricewaterhouseCoopers) had threatened to sign a deal with its Chinese rival, Nangjing Automobile Corporation.
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