RMA Petition Federal Government For Reserve Air Pressure
The RMA in the USA have petitioned the federal government to adopt a reserve air pressure standard for tyre pressure monitoring systems. According to the RMA, vehicle manufacturers set the safe pressure limit at, or just above, the minimum required for safe operation of a fully laden vehicle. The existing 30 per cent drop in pressure allowed by tyre pressure monitoring systems means that fully laden vehicles could be running on tyres inflated to dangerously low levels. The RMA is asking that the suggested tyre pressure setting should be set at 30 per cent above the safe limit, thus allowing 30 percent loss without creating a dangerous underinflation.
Continue ReadingRecord Second Quarter For Cooper
Cooper Tire & Rubber has published its results for the second quarter, which showed a Q2 record net income of $39 million; an increase over last years 2Q figure of 113 per cent. Sales were up one per cent to $836 million and Cooper managed to reduce debt by $29 million. Sales for the first six months totalled $1.6 billion; a 4 p.c. rise over 1H, while net income was up 196 p.c. over the same period last year, at $65 million. 2Q tyre operation sales were $414 million ($433 m 2Q 2001) with operating profit up 39 p.c. to $37 million. The companys North America unit volumes for 1H have risen by almost 5 p.c., against a decline for the industry of around 2 p.c.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Invests $250 Million Upgrading
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is investing 250 million dollars upgrading its Lawton, Oklahoma plant. The project will be split into two phases spending 125 million dollars on each phase. The initial project should be completed in early 2003 and the second phase should begin in mid-2003. The project is being driven by the demand for low profile, large diameter tyres and run-flat tyres. The company will be upgrading tyre building equipment and installing new tyre finishing tooling to produce tyres over 18 inches in diameter. There will also be a new 475,000 square foot warehouse facility constructed.
Continue ReadingConti Teves Wins Ford Contract
Continental Teves has been awarded a contract by Ford in the USA for the supply of advanced brake and chassis systems. The company will supply complete systems, including front calipers, booster, park brake system, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), brake assist and electronic brake force distribution as well as Conti Tevess Traction Control (TCS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) technology.
Continue ReadingJudging Begins On Michelin Challenge Design
A jury of six international transportation designers and educators has begun judging entries in the first Michelin Challenge Design in Detroit. The MCD encourages vehicle designs that reflect the special character of French design and those entries selected will be displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next January.
Continue ReadingMichelin To Supply Las Vegas Monorail
Michelin has been chosen by rail transport company Bombardier Canada to supply wheels and tyres for the new Las Vegas monorail; a nine-car vehicle linking eight hotels and the convention centre. The contract follows an audit of Michelin by Bombardier at Clermont-Ferrand, which proved satisfactory and gave Michelin an A rating.
Continue ReadingNissan Suppliers Rebel Over Price Cuts
In 1999, Nissan told its suppliers that they had to reduce prices if they wanted to keep the car manufacturers business. Since then Nissan has achieved a turnaround, achieving its 20 per cent cost cutting target a year earlier than planned. Despite this, Nissan has asked suppliers for a further 15 per cent cost cut and some have reacted angrily, pointing out that Nissan made a record net profit of $3.2 billion last year.
Continue ReadingEdonis + Pax Sets Speed Record
French magazine Sport-Auto recently organised a race for supercars at the Nardo circuit. The winner was the 715 horsepower Edonis, fitted with Michelin Pax System tyres, which clocked up a record speed for the circuit of 359.6 km/hr. The Pax tyre sizes were (front): 245-650 ZR 480 A and (rear): 355-670 ZR 500 A.
Continue ReadingNew Production System For Yokohama
Yokohama Rubber is to mass-produce car tyres, using a new production system based on an idea from Fuji Seiko Co. Ltd. Yokohama is a member of a group of companies aiming to commercialise the system. Details of the system are not available but it is said to produce high precision tyres with low distortion and consistent quality. As well as Fuji Seiko, Yokohama has been working with Toyota Motor to evaluate the tyres.
Continue ReadingJ.D. Power U.S. Replacement Tyre Survey
J.D. Power and Associates has released details of its 2002 Replacement Tyre Buyer Behaviour and Satisfaction Study. Over 9,400 motorists in the USA who have recently purchased a tyre were questioned and the results were as follows. In the passenger tyre section, which includes cars and compact vans, Michelin came out top for the fourth year running, followed by (in order) Toyo, Uniroyal and Kelly (tied), Cooper and Goodyear (tied). Brands rated as performing at or below the industry average were, in alphabetical order, Bridgestone, Dayton, Douglas, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Sears and Yokohama. In the light truck category, Michelin and Cooper tied for first place, followed by BFGoodrich. Other brands were ranked at or below average and these were, again in alphabetical order, Firestone, Goodyear and Uniroyal. When it came to rating retailers, Les Schwab Tire Centers came out top for the third year running, followed by Big O Tires and Goodyear Auto Centers.
Continue ReadingNo Merger For Honda
Japanese car manufacturer Honda has revealed details of a three-year business plan, in which it rules out any chance of a merger with another manufacturer. Of Japans five biggest car manufacturers, only Honda and Toyota are independent. Honda also revealed that it will increase production outside Japan, including the building of a second factory in China.
Continue ReadingFire At Challenger Tyres
Fire developed after an explosion around 6.00am this morning at Challenger Tyres, the Wednesfield-based retread manufacturer. Over 100 fire-fighters were called to fight the fire and local residents were advised to remain indoors. The problem of tackling the blaze being complicated by the nature of the business and the fact that the building contains asbestos.
Continue ReadingTrouble For Dunlop Zimbabwe
Zimbabwes only tyre manufacturer, Dunlop Zimbabwe, is at the centre of a political row. A member of the ruling Zanu PF party visited the company after reports on the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation alleged that Dunlop was closing down as part of a plan by white-owned businesses to stir up unrest against the government. This has been refuted by a source close to Dunlop, which says that the company is suffering because of Zimbabwes shortage of foreign currency and government controls over tyre prices, but there are no plans to close down. The company, which employs around 800 staff, imports 90 per cent of raw materials needed to make tyres and wants to raise tyre prices. It has already suspended credit sales to customers in order to minimise losses.
Continue ReadingAnalysts Downgrade GM
In the USA, analysts UBS Warburg have downgraded GM stocks from Buy to Hold. This is in response to GMs large pension liability, which UBS Warburg now considers represents a risk large enough to warrant a change in the companys rating.
Continue ReadingNew Vice Treasurer For Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has named Darren R. Wells as its new vice president and treasurer of the North American division. 36 year old Wells arrives from his post as the assistant treasurer at Visteon and will start work on 1st August reporting directly to Stephanie Bergeron. Prior to his spell at Visteon Wells spent 11 years with Ford, largely in the Australian division.
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