Alcoa Opens New Automotive Centre in Detroit
Alcoa has opened a new Automotive Centre in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. At the same time the company announced that it has been awarded more than a dozen new product applications by some of the most respected brands in the automotive industry.
Continue ReadingCV Registrations Hit a High
Commercial vehicle registrations hit a record level in September with the highest monthly volume for 15 years. The rolling yearly total was 381,388 and Septembers 52,230 registrations were up 8.4 per cent on last year’s corresponding figure. The SMMT also claims that there was high demand for heavy vans. The society’s chief executive, Christopher Macgowan said: “September is a vital month in the registration calendar and the figures confirm strong demand. We expect demand to hold at similar levels over the coming months, but growth next year may ease as interest rate rises hit more consumer and business markets.”
Continue ReadingFirst Stop Awards Customer Service Stars
Bridgestone has announced that the number of UK First Stop dealerships reaching the network’s highest customer service standard has doubled in the past 12 months. In addition the company has given six outlets its highest five-star award.
Continue ReadingDunlop Sport Maxx Put to the Test
Dunlops new performance tyre, the Sport Maxx, has been put to the test through the Performance Car of the Year programme. Hailed as “the toughest media evaluation programme of its kind,” the annual test, conducted by Car & Driving, the UKs motoring media agency, puts top performance vehicles and their tyres through a series of road and track tests all over Europe.
Continue ReadingMatador gets the Green-Light to Supply VW
Volkswagen has selected Matador’s so-called “green tyre” for original equipment on its Polo model.
Continue ReadingTIA Strongly Opposes New Bill
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has written an open letter to the US Senate explaining its strong opposition to aspects of a new Jobs bill.
Continue ReadingSchumacher and Bridgestone Take ‘Home’ Grand Prix
After fears that a so-called super typhoon would halt the Japanese Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher has won his 13th race of the season. The fact that qualification was more than a little disrupted by an “undriveably” wet track only meant that more emphasis was put on tyres. After the first ever Sunday morning qualification, Michael Schumacher’s Bridgestone equipped Ferrari blew away the opposition. Williams’ Ralph Schumacher took second place, with Britain’s Jenson Button taking the third podium spot. According to Button: “I went for the two stops because it worked pretty well for me in the last race.” Michelin drivers took the majority of the other point scoring positions. When the reigning world champion was asked what it felt like to back in winning form, having set a new record for the number of wins in a season, the Ferrari driver commented: “Yeah. It is obviously nice, for other reasons, particularly that it is Bridgestone’s home Grand Prix and we wished to do well for them and we did. We did very superb in being basically fastest all weekend and finally get the win and it is the way to pay back something to our partners.”
Continue ReadingAutomechanika a Success for British Automotive Suppliers
The SMMT is describing Automechanika 2004 as “another success for British exhibitors.
Continue ReadingSlow Quarter for Tyre Manufacturers
Financial analysts are reporting that this quarter is likely to be a slow quarter for retailers and tyre manufacturers. According to the Deutsche Bank analysts, tyre shipments were weak in September declining 6 per cent year over year. This is said to have follow a 7 per cent decline in July and a further 1.5 per cent slip in August. As a result, the consultants are predicting that US tyre makers will experience, on average, a 5 per cent drop during the quarter. Industry players are attributing the weakness to weather in Southeastern US and the ever-increasing fuel prices, impacting on car maintenance spending. This analysis means that the bank is lowering is third quarter estimates for both Goodyear and Cooper.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Expands Availability of its ‘Unique’ Tyres
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that it will expand availability of its Assurance tyre. The company will add three more sizes of the product, which features TripleTred Technology.
Continue ReadingRondell Targets Prestige Brands
Rondell is to aim at enhancing its market share of luxury and performance brands, the company has announced. The news follows the successful launch of a number of other wheels earlier in the year. According to Rondell’s UK distributor, Sherbrook International, demand for the existing designs has “soared.”
Continue ReadingDemand for Wet Tyres Grows
After a long summer soaking and autumn that is showing little sign of being different, demand for wet weather tyres is “soaring,” according to automotive retail chain, Hi-Q.
Continue ReadingWill Continental Withdraw From Russia?
Continental is having “big difficulties in Russia.“ According to German media sources the company’s joint venture with Moscow Tyre Plant (MTP) is both taking longer than envisaged and becoming considerably more expensive. Continental board member, Dr Hans-Joachim Nikolin, has been reported as saying the company is even “seriously” considering the implications of its worst-case scenario, withdrawing from the joint venture.
Continue ReadingMichelin Recalls 46,000 Tyres
At the end of September Michelin Tire North America announced that it has recalled 46,000 passenger car and light trucks. Now the company is extending that recall to include the other markets that the tyres were supplied to.
Continue ReadingTreadway Gets a New Name
Treadway Exports Limited, one of the largest tyre wholesaling companies in North America, has announced that it will be changing its name. From 1 November the company will be known as Hercules International. According to Treadway, the name change is designed to align the parent company with its export division.
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