Pia Wilkes has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA). Mrs Wilkes joins the VCA from Horiba MIRA, where she is the senior manager for the Test Engineering, Homologation & Certification Product Groups.
Hankook appoints Zoni truck tyre sales director for DACH region
Following a restructuring of Hankook Tire’s truck tyre business in German-speaking markets, Manfred Zoni has taken over as sales director for the ‘DACH’ markets of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Zoni’s appointment took effect 16 September, and in his new role he reports directly to Dietmar Olbrich, the tyre maker’s vice-president for sales and marketing in the DACH region. He succeeds Friedel Loke, who recently retired after holding the position of northern region sales director at Hankook Reifen Deutschland GmbH for more than 18 years.
Nokian Tyres to build test facility, technology centre in Spain
The Spanish municipality of Santa Cruz de la Zarza, some 50 miles southeast of Madrid, has been selected as the location of Nokian Tyres’ new technology centre for the testing of summer and winter tyres. The Finnish tyre maker will invest approximately €16 million to build the facility on a site of some 300 hectares. Construction work will begin early in 2017, and while the facility will not be finished until 2019 the first project stage is expected to be completed next year.
The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 has been selected as an original equipment tyre for the Mini Clubman. The latest model Clubman will be available with the Dunlop UHP tyre in size 225/45R17 94W XL, with its original equipment approval denoted by a ‘*’ marking on the sidewall.
The Z tyre programme, first launched two years ago, has now been expanded to include commercial vehicle tyres. These products will debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover this week and are being marketed as an economical and reliable aftermarket alternative for the truck and bus market. The Z truck tyre range consists of 26 dimensions and includes regional and long-haul fitments in sizes ranging from 17.5 to 22.5 inch fitments.
In order to spearhead the transition from its existing individual business units to become Ecobat Battery Technologies, parent company Ecobat Technologies and the Ecobat group has recruited Philippe Desnos as vice-president and managing director of the new pan-European entity.
The European Parliament’s car emissions inquiry urgently needs more information from the EU Commission, it says in a recent resolution. Half-way through its mandate, the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS), has yet to receive some Commission documents on emission measurements and details of expert group work on vehicle type approval procedures, notes the text. The inquiry’s final report is due in spring 2017.
Norway continues to lead the global market for electric vehicles, according to the most recent plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) index from IHS Automotive, part of business information provider IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO). Plug-in electric vehicles are defined as either a pure Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or a Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV).
Triangle Tire’s initial public offering (IPO) got underway as planned on 9 September with the company becoming a public traded entity on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The listing became active 10 September 2016 following approval by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on 19 August 2016.
Since Autodata Limited launched its new online workshop application two years ago, the automotive technical information provider has focused on further developing its features and user experience. This consistent evolution, addition of new practical modules and regular updates to features has now been complemented by a series of significant developments that, in Autodata Ltd’s words, “not only enhance the look and feel of Autodata, but also provide even more time-saving features and modules, that make it even easier for mechanics to select vehicles and to access the technical information they need.”
Comline Auto Parts introduces aftermarket wheel bearing kits
Comline Auto Parts has added to its range of own-brand hub assembly kits with the introduction of a wheel bearing kit line. The Luton-based company is offering Comline wheel bearing kits for two-piece Generation 0 designs through to dual-flange Generation 3 variants, with each part number delivered as a complete kit and containing all the relevant accessories that technicians need to ensure straightforward fitting. The accessories included vary depending on the respective application, but kits may contain nuts, split-pins, seals, caps, O-rings, circlips; lock-nuts, bolts, shields, spacers, paper-gaskets and washers.
Mahle Aftermarket signs distribution agreement with FPS
To ensure even greater access to its range of original equipment components for the UK aftermarket, Mahle Aftermarket UK has signed its first distribution agreement with FPS Distribution. This partnership takes effect immediately and includes Mahle Original engine components and Victor Reinz sealing products; both of these brands will be available on a same-day delivery basis.
Steve Shingleton, general manager of Strategic Sales for Tructyre, has announced that the company became sole provider to Rye based John Jempson & Son in July 2016.
Jempson’s are one of the largest transport enterprises in the South East with a combined fleet of over 85 commercial vehicles and 160 trailers. Currently celebrating their 150th anniversary, they remain an independent family run business.
Michelin claims 10% more life from XDR3 surface mining tyre
Following six years of development and testing that involved the equivalent of circling the earth more than 625 times, Michelin has introduced a successor to its XDR2 mining tyre. The new XDR3 is available from this month in size 40.00 R 57, and as of January 2017 it will be joined in the range by a 53/80 R 63 fitment.
Cooper Tire reports “promising” guayule rubber test results
Scientists working on Cooper Tire & Rubber’s guayule rubber project have reportedly reached a key milestone on the path to producing, by mid-2017, a concept tyre in which guayule-based polymers replace all natural and synthetic rubbers. Their testing has shown guayule to be an effective substitute material in certain components, with tyres produced using these components offering comparative performance to their conventional counterparts.
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