Nexen Tire in Europe – new factory, R&D centre and distribution channels
Times are changing for Nexen Tire in Europe. This year the Korean tyre maker intends to start work on its first production facility on European soil and on the construction of a new and larger European technical centre. Changes are also being made to the way Nexen tyres reach European customers. Nexen Tire Europe president Seung-Do Jin recently spoke to Tyres & Accessories about these plans, and on what the company hopes to achieve in Europe.
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Michelin acquires 40% stake in leading French online tyre retailer
Michelin says its acquisition of a 40 per cent share in France’s leading internet tyre retailer is a way to offer consumers “a simplified and financially-advantageous path” between searching online for tyre information and making a purchase and having tyres fitted by professionals. The tyre maker is investing €60 million for a minority stake in Allopneus SAS, which currently holds a seven per cent share of the French tyre market and sold some three million tyres last year.
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Toyota awards Bridgestone for Asia Pacific supply performance
Bridgestone has been awarded for its contribution as an original equipment supplier to Toyota in the Asia Pacific region. The 2014 Regional Supplier Overall Outstanding Performance Award was presented to Shinichi Hanashi, chief executive officer of Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., at the Toyota Motors Asia Pacific Engineering and Manufacturing Annual Supplier Conference, which took place in Thailand on 24 March.
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Hankook’s Porsche tyre supply a Korean first
Korean tyre maker Hankook Tire has gained its first Porsche original equipment fitment with the supply of two size combinations to the Macan. The Porsche deal covers 18 and 19-inch versions of the Ventus S1 evo² SUV; the Hankook tyres will be supplied in either sizes 235/60 R 18 for the front wheels and 255/55 R 18 for the rear or 235/55 R 19 front and 255/50 R 19 rear.
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Isle of Man TT podium the goal for Saroléa and Bridgestone
Around one year ago, Bridgestone entered into a technical partnership with Belgian motorcycle brand Saroléa, designer of the Saroléa SP7 electric superbike. The tyre maker delivered technical support and tyre expertise for the manufacturer’s track testing and racing ambitions, which last year included the TT Zero Challenge at the Isle of Man TT series. Saroléa finished fourth at its debut appearance, and in 2015 will again look to Bridgestone for further expertise.
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Lancaster Insurance sets new MG parade world record
Lancaster Insurance has become an official Guinness World Records title holder for the largest parade of MGs. The parade took place on Saturday, 11 April at Rockingham Circuit in Corby, Northamptonshire, where 144 MG owners and lovers united to take part in a world first.
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Landsail appoints Leigh Melling as UK brand manager
Sentury Tire brand Landsail has appointed Leigh Melling as its new UK brand manager. Peter Cross, representing Landsail, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Leigh to keep driving the Landsail brand forward. We’re continually looking to develop our dealer offer and sales strategies and the vision and skills Leigh brings will be integral to this.”
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Does WheelRight offer national forecourt roll-out potential?
Following on from the news that WheelRight is piloting a few pressure check system at Keele services on the M6, Tyres & Accessories considers what the potential is for a networked tyre monitoring system. As unusual as an external tyre pressure monitoring system is, the obvious question with WheelRight is not “how does it work?”, but rather “why are they doing this?” Of course, the Keele pressure bay trial offers a good bit of safety awareness, but there is a business case too. From T&A’s point of view the most interesting answer to our own question is two-fold -retail networks and big data.
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TyreSafe releases TPMS info video
Tyre pressure monitoring systems are an effective safety feature, but as of January 2015 they also provide an extra way for a vehicle to fail its MoT. Safety organisation TyreSafe notes that public awareness of TPMS is not particularly high, and to remedy this it has produced a simple video to help motorists understand the technology’s safety features. The TPMS video is part of a wider TPMS campaign from TyreSafe, which has produced a range of informational products including leaflets and posters that can be found on the TyreSafe.org website.
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European aftermarket still growing despite a small drop in 2014
The total car after sales market in Europe across all purchased components – what is otherwise known as the aftermarket - generated sales of about 119 billion euros in 2013 (based on retail prices excluding VAT and refer to materials only and not salary). wolk after sales expert’s findings are published in the latest edition of its European aftermarket structure analysis for 34 European countries. It is the third time Wolk has produced this. Previous editions came out in 2009 and 2012. The surveyed components included were wear parts, body parts, engines, transmissions, electrical parts, automotive glass, chemicals, oil, tyres and paint.
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Zenises developing 100-member Westlake Iberian tyre retail network
During its recent Partners Day in Bangkok, Thailand, Zenises announced the launch of its new Westlake retail initiative in Spain and Portugal. The Westlake affiliated garage network is being launch in 2015 and is aiming to support over 100 members over the next two years. The Westlake brand is already well positioned in Spain and Portugal with national coverage via selected distributors and it is through deeper co-operation with these established regional wholesale channels that the new retail network will be initially developed.
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UK commercial vehicle registrations reach a new high
Protagonists at this week’s Commercial Vehicle Show have cause to celebrate, as new figures from the SMMT show van and truck registrations have reached a record high. A total of 108,456 vans and trucks were registered in the UK between the start of January and end of March 2015, making it the best quarter on record. This result is particularly remarkable when bearing in mind that only 221,132 commercial vehicles were registered in the whole of 2009. Registrations reached 384,120 units last year – just below the 388,488 registrations recorded in pre-recession 2007 – and demand is expected to remain strong in the months ahead.
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