Polish Market to Grow 3 per cent
The Polish tyre market is to grow at a rate of three per cent during 2004, according to Goodyear estimates. The company, which has invested in domestic tyre producer, Dębica, believes Polish consumers will buy a total of 7.1 million new tyres in 2004.
Continue ReadingNew COO at Stapletons
Stapletons (Tyre Services) Limited has announced the appointment of a new chief operating officer.
Continue ReadingPSA Peugeot Citroën’s Stop and Start System
PSA Peugeot Citroën unveiled its new Stop and Start system at a ceremony in Paris earlier this week. With the new system, the engine is automatically turned off and is in standby mode, when the vehicle stops at traffic lights and traffic jams. The engine instantly starts up again when the brake pedal is released, with the vehicle pulling away once the accelerator is pressed. The Citroën C3 1.4i 16V Stop and Start, will feature Michelin tyres when it is rolled out in early November, and will be the first mass-produced car equipped with this environmentally conscious system. It will also be combined with SensoDrive technology; an electronically controlled manual gearbox. The new system is expected to be gradually extended to other Citroën and Peugeot vehicles. The Group claims that the system has reduced fuel consumption by 10 per cent for city driving, six per cent in a standard combined cycle and up to 15 per cent in heavy traffic. CO2 emissions are said to be reduced by a similar proportion.
Continue ReadingSMMT’s Vehement Response to Industry Committee
The Trade and Industry Select Committee report on The UK Automotive Industry in 2004, has stated that the UK is “a good venue for automotive production.” It also went on to suggest that the industry calls for consistent implementation of EU regulations and strict monitoring of EU-wide schemes for emissions trading. There was good news for the SMMT Industry Forum and Automotive Academy, which was praised for its work in improving competitiveness and addressing the skills shortage. However, it criticised falling new car prices and the action taken to open up the market for independent service and repair outlets. The SMMT was disappointed with the criticism and has issued a contentious response following the release of the report. Chief executive Christopher Macgowan commented: “The fundamentals of this report are good news for the industry. While the sector is not without its problems, the Committee has recognised the steps taken to address issues of competitiveness and skills through organisations like SMMT Industry Forum and the new Automotive Academy. “By continuing to work closely with the government we can ensure that threats identified in the report, such as the cost of regulation and low levels of investment in research and development, do not erode the UKs significant automobile production and supply base.”
Continue ReadingZisser Banned from Selling Wanli S-1099
A US court has banned wholesaler Zisser Tire from selling Wanli S-1099 tyres, which, according to the ruling, infringe Yokohama’s trademarks.
Continue ReadingVredestein No.1 in Tyre Tests
Auto Express has completed its longest and largest ever test, confirming Vredestein as the number one, for the third year in a row. The assessment put 16 different brands of tyres to the test, and nine different aspects of tyre performance were measured, including wet and dry braking characteristics, rolling resistance, cornering ability and resistance to aquaplaning. The well-known motoring magazine described Vredestein’s Sportrac 2 as a “superb wet weather all rounder”. The tests confirmed that from a speed of 62 mph a car on Vredestein tyres stops quicker than any other and that on a wet road the Sportrac 2 beats the poorest performer by four car lengths. “We are extremely proud that Vredestein tyres have again been shown to be the best quality tyre on the UK market,” commented Vredestein UK’s MD, Bert Stellinga. “It’s great to see the result of all the work that our engineers, our product development people and our partners Giugiaro Design have done in developing the Vredestein range of tyres.” The magazine did not hide its surprise that the tyre, which performed so well in wet conditions could also perform well in the dry, writing: “It was a shock to see wet weather ace Vredestein at the top again.”
Continue ReadingITC Meeting Moves to Portugal
The International Tyre Club is to hold its 2005 meeting in Lisbon, Portugal from March 9-11. Club secretary James Graham pointed out the reasons behind the decision: “Although recently we have concentrated on introducing the markets of Eastern Europe to our members we do not want to over-focus on these. Other areas of Europe offer just as much new opportunity and in Lisbon we will not just be introducing new faces from Portugal itself. We will be looking to the whole of Spain, South to Morocco & NW Africa and West to Brazil. All areas of equally fast moving potential.” The ITC’s ‘summit’ style format provides an arena for trade discussions for its tyre and wheel business members. Club events seek to foster new and mutually beneficial commercial links in regions offering the prospect of higher than average long-term potential. Both the Czech Republic and Hungary have hosted recent successful Club meetings.
Continue ReadingCooper Down Grade Inner Tube Production
Due to a decline in demand Cooper Tire & Rubber has decided to end production of inner tubes at its Clarksdale, Mississippi, plant by 12 November. The company has confirmed that most of the facility’s 159 workers will be made redundant. About 30 of the workers are expected to remain at the plant to produce curing bladders and operate the rubber mixing unit, which produces rubber for internal consumption at the company’s other plants. In an official statement the company explained that employees have been notified of the redundancy and will receive outplacement assistance. Cooper is also said to have notified its customers about the inner tube decision and is provided recommendations for alternative sources. The phase-out is expected to cost about $9 million (£5 million), which will be needed to cover the write-down of assets and the impacts of severance and other benefits. The company will record a charge of approximately $7 million during the third quarter of 2004 as a result of this decision. Cooper maintains that the decision supports its strategy to “dedicate resources to those product categories that will help the business grow globally and provide shareholder value.” cma
Continue ReadingTIA Help Hurricane Recovery
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has announced that it will offer resource assistance to its members in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia who were affected by Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
Continue ReadingMotorcycle Registrations Continue to Grow
As high-street retailers report a wet August and rising interest rates hit consumer sales generally, the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) today released figures indicating a rise in new bikes sales.
Continue ReadingChinese Car Sales Slow
Chinese car sales growth has slowed considerably. In the first quarter of this year car sales grew 44 per cent, in the second quarter they grew 22 per cent. By July sales growth slowed down to four per cent and now the booming sales figures appears to be stabilising as sales only increased by 0.1 per cent in August. The Chinese market will continue to be a force to be reckoned with, not simply due the country’s large population but also because year-to-date the automotive sales have grown by 21 per cent. Analysts are forecasting that the numbers will be similarly weak in the fourth quarter of this year.
Continue ReadingKumho Tires Keen on Formula 1
Kumho Tire Corp has officially decided to take on the challenge of Formula 1, said company president, Sae-Chul Oh, during a Formula 3 Euro Series event.
Continue ReadingYokohama to Debut ADVAN Brand at Paris Motor Show
Paris Motor Show 2004 will provide the venue for the European debut of Yokohama’s ADVAN brand, the company has said.
Continue ReadingATS and CV Show on Track for Another Success
Organisers have confirmed that exhibitor space sales for the combined 2005 Automotive Trade Show and the CV Show, are already well ahead of what the 2004 figures were this time last year. The SOE, RHA and SMMT, which comprise the CV Show Partnership, claim that the combination is attracting a lot of interest following the success of this years event and that over 30 per cent of ATS exhibitors have already re-booked for 2005. Crypton Technology Group is one of those companies, which has chosen to exhibit again next year. Walt Koloska, group sales and marketing director of the company comments: “After so many years of asking for a combination of ATS and the CV Show, this years event proved the value of listening to the market. The Crypton Group stand is a healthy 25 per cent larger than this year and will feature technology leading kit for all vehicle types.” According to organisers, the show, which is effectively two trade exhibitions in one, had its most successful year in 2004, with a combined total of almost 29,000 visitors and 600 exhibitors. Robin Dickeson, spokesman for the event, added: “The event has grown in recent years, which is testimony to the fact that it is delivering real value to exhibitors and their customers. Visitors can meet and do business with a huge variety of existing and potential suppliers under one roof, in a very short space of time, something that is of enormous value in these busy times.” cma
Continue ReadingUK Equipment Appoints Service Manager
UK Equipment Ltd has appointed Linda Norman as service manager. In her new role she will be responsible for directing the company’s team of service engineers and its service call centre based in Reading. Through her new position Linda will aim to ensure that best practice is implemented across UK Equipment’s service organisation and she will also be working closely with key customers and partners to ensure that a premium service is provided. Before joining the company Linda held a number of managerial positions within the UK workshop equipment industry, including 20 years at Transervice and more recently David Brown Radicon. “Linda’s appointment will strengthen our service organisation and allow us to expand our market profile in the wheel service and MoT sectors,” said Brian OSullivan, general manager at UK Equipment Ltd. “One of our unique strengths is that we design, manufacture and service all of our products within our company. Enhancing our service team will allow us to provide the strongest offering to garage equipment customers in the UK”.
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