Call For Resignations At DaimlerChrysler
Some shareholders are calling for the resignations of DaimlerChrysler chairman Jürgen Schrempp and head of the supervisory board Hilmar Kopper, following the recent controversy and lawsuits resulting from alleged misrepresentation at the time of the merger of the two companies.
Continue ReadingConsumer Campaign Launched By RMA
The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) is launching a tyre safety awareness campaign called Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART urging consumers to think about Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. The campaign supported by the American Automobile Association (AAA) comes in the light of a RMA survey which showed that most drivers failed a tyre safety quiz. In the survey only four percent admitted to checking tyre pressures regularly. Only 28 percent knew the regular service interval for rotating tyres. Only 22 percent knew the legal minimum tread depth. In the overall quiz only 23 percent managed to get a grade C pass or better.
Continue ReadingTruck Tyre Service by Vergölst
Vergölst’s truck tyre service had a very successful run in 1999. More than 14,000 trucks and coaches/buses were fixed on motorways and highways by Vergölst’s puncture service in 1998 – equivalent to 38 calls-out per day –, a figure far exceeded in 1999. This Vergölst round-the-clock truck tyre puncture service has been available seven days a week (including holidays) since 1987. So far the breakdown service has operated from the various service centres, but for the last two years or so the company has increasingly used servicemobiles which work independently and are responsible only for trucks, thereby providing even faster help in each individual breakdown. The servicemobiles not only help with truck tyre punctures on the road. They service customers’ vehicles wherever they are – tractor units or trailers – either at the customer’s own premises, in a motorway service area, or while loading, unloading or being repaired at a truck workshop. The mobile truck tyre service is continually being enlarged above the current 50 servicemobiles. The target is mobile service coverage at traffic junctions and at centres of commerce. In sea ports such as Bremen/Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck-Travemünde, Rostock (being developed) and Sassnitz/Stralsund the mobile port service has been in operation for several years, making the tyres of trailers safe before they start out on their journey along German roads.
Continue ReadingContinental To Strengthen Its Presence In Mexico
Since its acquisition of what was Euzkadi in 1998, Continental General Tire is the leading tyre manufacturer in Mexico. Recently, ContiTech began construction on a factory in San Luis Potosi to make technical products for the Nafta region and Continental Teves intends to build a factory at Silao in Mexico to manufacture wheel revolution sensors.
Continue ReadingStudy Says UK Motor Dealers ‘Unable To Compete’
A report by the Consumers Association says that UK franchised motor dealers cannot compete effectively against rivals in every area of business, from new car sales to servicing. When it comes to repairs and sales of spare parts, the dealers cannot match prices and performance of competitors such as the large fast-fit chains, the study concludes.
Continue ReadingNokian To Produce Commercial Tyres In The USA
Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian has confirmed that the company intends to produce commercial tyres in the USA as soon as possible. The first products will be forest tyres, followed by industrial tyres. A spokesman for Nokian said that it had not yet been decided whether the company would build its own factory in the USA, whether there would be some kind of joint venture co-operation, or whether tyres would be manufactured in an off-take agreement. The Finnish company has been active in the US and Canadian markets for some years.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Confidence For Latin America
US tyre manufacturer Goodyear has announced its confidence in the Latin American market during the year 2000. The company believes it will be able to increase its Ebit-margin significantly.
Continue ReadingMichelin Pilot Primacy – Second Generation for this Growth Segment
With the new Michelin Pilot Primacy, introduced to the trade press at the beginning of March and available through the trade this spring in a total of 33 sizes, the company intends to strengthen further its dominant role as original equipment supplier of high-performance tyres. Dynamic market development can be observed in all European states in this exacting segment, sometimes up to double-digit annual growth rates. Michelin, too, puts its faith in significant growth in this segment by introducing the second generation of the Pilot family, up-dated by the Primacy, a tyre conceived for original equipment but later also to be supplied to the refit market. The new tyre was specially designed for the requirements of high-mileage drivers, who expect not only safety reserves but also a high level of comfort during frequently long journeys in their fast top and upper medium-class cars. Among the car manufacturers’ specifications highest priority has been given to weight reduction, safety, ride comfort and easy handling. In the April issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG you can learn more about how Michelin wants to meet these requirements.
Continue ReadingTitan Tire Guilty In Trucker Death
Titan Tire (Iowa/USA) has been found responsible and fined for safety violations connected with an explosion at the Titan plant, in which a trucker was killed on Nov. 24,1999.
Continue ReadingSuperior Industries Wins Mitsubishi Business
Superior Industries (Van Nuys, Ca.) has taken on the Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America (Normal, Il.) as a new customer for cast aluminium wheels.
Continue ReadingGerman Tyre Replacement-Market At A Record Level
According to the German tyre dealers association BRV (Bundesverband Reifenhandel und Vulkaniseur-Handwerk), in 1999 more than 50 million tyres were sold in the German replacement market, 43 million of them in the passenger car sector. Especially, a new record in winter tyres sales was achieved. Sales in the commercial vehicle sector increased five p.c. to 5.7 million tyres. Whereas retreaded truck tyre sales were stable at 1.7 million units, the fall in sales of retreaded passenger car tyres continued.
Continue ReadingGoodyear File Impressive First Quarter Figures For 2000
Following an increase in turnover from US$ 3 billion to US$ 3.5 billion, which incorporates US$ 577 from acquired Dunlop activities, Goodyear has reported a net income of US$ 63.6 million for the first quarter of 2000. The company sold 54.8 million tyres during this period, which is 9.1million more than in the corresponding quarter last year. 8.9 million of this total were manufactured by Dunlop. And as result of this quite impressive report anticipated by the market Goodyear shares have recovered recently.
Continue ReadingColoured Tyres From BFGoodrich Via Internet
In the USA it is possible to order coloured BFGoodrich High Performance tyres via the internet.
Continue ReadingPan-European Tyre Contract For Michelin
Michelin has won a five-year contract to supply trailer tyres to Transamerica Trailer Leasing (TTL) across Europe. TTL is Europes second-largest trailer leasing company, operating more than 21,000 trailers. The company is based in Barking, in the UK and has offices across Europe. It is owned by a Dutch bank. Michelin tyres will be specified as exclusive OE fitment on new trailers, while Michelin new and Remix tyres are being fitted to the fleet. No details of the value of the contract have been revealed, but TTL currently spends more than US$5 million on tyres annually.
Continue ReadingService Centre For Michelin’s Agricultural Tyres
In Karlsruhe Michelin has introduced an Agricultural Service Centre for the three agricultural tyre brands Michelin, Kleber and Taurus. All questions from German customers regarding use and sale of tyres as well as mounted wheel and tyre systems will be answered.
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