Amtel Appoint Financial Director
Viktor Nekrasov has been appointed the financial director of Amtel holding and the chief financial officer of the parent company Amtel Holdings Holland. In his new role he will be responsible for corporate finance, merger and takeover deals, as well as controlling the company’s financial activities.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Director Resigns
The Associated Press has reported that James M Zimmerman, a member of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. board of directors, has resigned. The company said that Mr Zimmerman had requested that his resignation be effective immediately. Goodyear has not specified what was behind the decision and stated that no further information will be released.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Nurture Talent
With just weeks to go until the beginning of this year’s F1 season Bridgestone has announced a pan-European search for talented young journalists. The official tyre partner to Ferrari, Jordan Grand Prix and Minardi F1 has pledged to “nurture the next generation of motorsport talent,” and so Bridgestone e-reporter is offering a chance of a lifetime to students hoping to pursue a career in journalism. An independent jury will select seven finalists to attend a European Grand Prix to report on the GP2 series, meeting the drivers behind the championship. The articles will be published on the Bridgestone Europe and GP2 websites. The winner will then win a once in a lifetime trip to Tokyo, Japan, visiting Bridgestones global headquarters and reporting on a major company event.
Continue ReadingBeissbarth Scoops Company of the Year
Beissbarth UK has been awarded the Institute of Transport Managements (ITM) ‘UK Company of the Year 2004/5’ accreditation. This is the second award to be received by the company within the space of six months. After winning the industrys equipment provider award of 2004 ‘Best Garage Equipment Provider.’
Continue ReadingContinental confident on 2005 outlook
Continental’s president and CEO (North America), Martin de Louw, is “optimistic on 2005’s outlook” reports Deutsche bank. Analysts predict that earnings will benefit from a partial payback from the Mayfield plant closure and the conclusion of restructuring charges attached to it. The consolidation of Phoenix and a positive impact from selling price increase/raw material price increase of maybe 50 million euros is also expected to benefit the company. “Overall while 2004 was a good year for Tires Co, 2005 could be even better,” say analysts.
Continue ReadingCooper Analysis Positive
According to Deutsche Bank, Cooper Tire’s (CTB) management “sounded pretty optimistic on CTBs growth prospects for 2005,” at a recent analyst conference. Company representatives remain positive about industry pricing, reports the German news source, with Cooper rolling out new price increases of up to four per cent in March. New contracts that have recently been secured should also encourage 2.5 per cent growth, say analysts.
Continue ReadingWestern European Passenger Car Registrations Rise
Western European passenger car registrations totalled 14,516,879 units in 2004 representing a growth of 2.1 per cent. ACEA figures show that 1,043,669 units were recorded in December, a 7.7 per cent increase compared to 2003 figures. Four of the five main markets posted increases for December, however the UK showed a decrease of (-0.5) per cent with 2,567,269 units registered in ’04 compared to 2,579,050 in ’03. Germany led those countries posting an increase, with a 21.5 per cent rise ahead of France, Italy and Spain. Belgium, Finland, Greece, Ireland and Portugal also posted decreases.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Build a Plant in Poland
Bridgestone will build a plant in Poland to produce rubber tracks for earthmoving equipment, the manufacturer announced today. The plant is due to begin operating in July 2006 and will be located in the city of Zarow in the south western Polish province near Wroclaw. Production capacity is expected to reach about 26,000 tracks a year by 2007 and 12 million euros will be invested to achieve this.
Continue ReadingMichelin Suspends Production At Shanghai
Production at Michelin’s Shanghai joint venture has been suspended for the past month following a “drastic slowdown in sales in the Chinese car market,” reports the South China Morning Post. According to an unnamed source at Shanghai Tyre and Rubber, which owns 30 per cent of Shanghai Michelin Warrior Tyre, the production is likely to be halted for another one to two months, because of continuing hard times. The venture has yet to record a profit since its establishment in 2001.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Aviation Win Ryanair Contract
Goodyear Aviation is to supply tyres and tyre maintenance to Ryanair, under a new five-year contract. The contract with the low budget airline began on 1 January and includes the delivery of new tyres and the repair and overhaul of aviation tyres that supply the current fleet of 66 Boeing 737-800s. This will extend to a further 96 aircraft, with up to 123 options to be delivered up until 2009.
Continue Reading‘SUV of the Year’ Rides on Goodyear Tyres
Goodyear welcomed the news that the redesigned 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee has received yet another accolade for its “versatility and style,” as its tyres will again be fitted on all models of the new vehicle. The vehicle recently won the title of 2005 SUV of the Year by ‘Truckin’s SUV,’ an enthusiast magazine. According to the magazine, the Grand Cherokee stood out due to its refined ride, off-road performance, and high-feature content coupled with notable quality, excellent road manners, and a warm and inviting interior.
Continue ReadingCommunications at Continental Automotive Systems
The Continental Automotive Systems division (CAS) of Continental AG has announced that Dagmar Weiner will assume responsibility for the division’s communications starting 17 January 2005. She will oversee the internal and external communications of CAS, which specialises in vehicle safety, comfort and power transmission. The division also includes the electronics specialist Continental Temic and Continental Teves. Ms Weiner will report to the Continental executive board member Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann and to the director of corporate communications of Continental, Dr Heimo Prokop. I am very much looking forward to the task of communicating the Continental Automotive Systems division as a part of Continental AG, which leads in state-of-the-art technology for automotive safety worldwide, commented Ms Weiner on her new position with the company.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s 4×4 Pilot Scheme
Bridgestone has implemented a new marketing strategy for its Dueller 683, 4x4 on road luxury tyre. According to news source Strategiy the manufacturer will be hosting a free, test pilot scheme for residents of several Middle Eastern countries including the UAE, KSA, Kuwait Qatar and Bahrain, in a bid to show customers how “quality tyres can assist driving.”
Continue ReadingKwik Fit’s Pit Stops Criticised
German television programme ‘Frontal 21’ has attacked the quality of service delivered by Kwik Fit owned Pit Stop following a series of mystery shopper investigations across the country. Frontal 21, which is broadcast by ZDF in Germany, claims that a succession of Pit Stop outlets made the unnecessary and costly replacement of brake parts that had been deemed effective by experts prior to the investigation.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Supply Superamerica
Bridgestone is to supply Potenza RE050 radial tyres for the Ferrari Superamerica. Delivery of the tyres, for factory installation on the newest Ferrari convertible, will begin this month. The Superamerica is derived from the 575M Maranello and will be produced in limited edition. Powered with a 12-cylinder engine and featuring a rotating roof in combination with electrochromic technology, which allows the driver to adjust the amount of sunlight that shines into the cockpit.
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