New OE Aluminium Casting Wheel Manufacturer
Only two years after its foundation, Cevher Alloy Wheels (Izmir, Turkey) has achieved the impressive feat of becoming an original equipment (OE) manufacturer of aluminium casting wheels. The company’s first assignment will be producing wheels for the Volkswagen T5, followed by a contract to work with Ford in the company’s Turkish car plant. In a promising development for the company, there have also been discussions with BMW. The acceptance of the company into the OE ‘circle’ is down to years of OE experience producing a range of other aluminium car parts says group president and CEO, Haluk Oezyavuz.
Continue ReadingHayes Lemmerz Tightens its Belt
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc’s second quarter results show that the company has felt the consequences of increased steel and iron prices and lowered OEM production requirements in North America.
Continue ReadingA Four-Door Coupe? The New Mercedes CLS-Class
At the beginning of October Mercedes’ new CLS-Class range will make its market debut. From Mercedes’ point-of-view the new cars represent the bridge between “the elegance and dynamics of a Coupé and the practicality of a saloon.”
Continue ReadingUS Tyre Demand to Increase by 4.1 per cent
The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has said that it expects demand for tyres to increase by 4.1 per cent in the US. The growth is attributed mainly to “broad-based economic growth in the consumer and commercial sectors.” According to the association, this growth is expected to continue over the next few years inline with the US economy’s moderate growth pattern. Overall, the combined original equipment (OE) and replacement shipments for both the car and truck categories are anticipated to increase by 12.6 million units to nearly 323 million units. In 2003 it amounted to 310.3 million. The association is projecting that this figure will reach 356 million units by 2009.
Continue ReadingAugust New Car Market Dips
August’s new car market has dipped 4.9 per cent at 84,996 units. However, this figure remains one per cent up compared with last year’s total thus far. Another saving grace for the figures is that they are six per cent better than the five-year average of 80,221 units. The August market is typically three per cent of year-end total compared to around 17 per cent in September. According to the SMMT since the start of the twice yearly plate change in 1999 the September market has on average accounted for 411,157 units. Industry representatives are expecting a market on par with last years 439,365 units, in the 430,000 to 440,000 unit range. They recognise that the new car market has started to cool and the effect of interest rate rises on consumer confidence are said to account for this. Commenting on the August market, SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: “Until the industry moved to a twice yearly registration plate change, August was the month to watch. Now, its significance is dwarfed by the key September market. “Growth that has sustained the market for the last four years has eased a little in recent months and it will be the September figures that tell us if a strong start to 2004 will bring a fourth consecutive record year.
Continue ReadingRetailers Strengthen Voice Through the TIC
Nick Gregg, group managing director at ATS Euromaster, has been appointed to join the Tyre Industry Council later this year, strengthening the retail representation on the Council. The TIC claims that its tyre safety work is expanding, particularly in the area of tyre safety clinics and roadside tyre checks, and so welcomes the support from retailers as well as tyre manufacturers.
Continue ReadingToyo Forms New Chinese Subsidiary
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co has announced that it has set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Guangzhou, southern China.
Continue ReadingConti to Embark on Chinese Joint Venture
Continental chairman, Manfred Wennemer, has said that the company will announce that it has agreed to a joint venture in China, this week, according to German media sources.
Continue ReadingDown-Under and Back Again
The Italian aluminium wheel brand, OZ, is known worldwide for its involvement in motorsports. It is equally well known in the aftermarket because of its good reputation. But, in recent times there have been many fears that Italian companies couldn’t compete in European market, where high quality and low prices are paramount. Now, at thirty years old, the company has experienced the sharpest turnaround in its history. A turnaround that the management believes has a lot to do with its acceptance of Japanese Kaizen Philosophy. To download this article as a PDF file, click here.
Continue ReadingConcentrating on Catalytic Converters
The widespread introduction of catalytic converters, almost a decade ago, has had a dramatic effect on vehicle pollution. Harmful emissions from petrol cars have been reduced by an average of 75 per cent. The effectiveness of ‘cats’, combined with vast improvements in the quality of fuels, means that today it is estimated that it would take up to approximately 100 new cars to produce the same emissions as just one made 20 years ago. To download this article as a PDF file, click here.
Continue ReadingGroup Tyre Team Win Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge
A team made up of tyre fitters from Elite Garages of Horsham and Broadway Tyres of High Wycombe demonstrated their high speed skills by winning Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Continue ReadingAnalysts Applaud Michelin Deal
The recent cost cutting agreement signed by Michelin and USWA is a “significant achievement,” according to Deutsche Bank analysts.
Continue ReadingEssen Motor Show Booked Out
All exhibition space at the 37th Essen Motor Show is booked out, say the organisers. From 26 November to 5 December, 2004, 570 companies from 19 different countries will present their latest innovations. In keeping with the exhibitions motto “Formel Fun,“ the organisers want to bring visitors’ fascination with cars to life. One of the biggest and most influential passenger car exhibitions this year, the show is expected to attract more than 400,000 visitors. Several new models are expected to make their debut. In addition, the tuning sector of the industry will display many new products on its exhibition stands.
Continue ReadingContinental and Renault Share Prices Boom
Continentals shares prices reached historically high levels last week. The influential automotive suppliers impressive share prices are attributed to the companys strong first half earnings, which have increased 46 per cent at the operating level. At the same time French car manufacturer, Renault, has achieved a similarly impressive share price. According to analysts, the results are due to the car manufacturer’s Megane II and the recently launched Modus model.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Managers to Job Swap
Goodyear Dunlop Europe has appointed Dick Johnson as general manager of Goodyear Dunlop UK, the company has announced.
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