Vredestein and Carlsson Announce Cooperation
Details of a cooperative partnership between Vredestein and vehicle manufacturer Carlsson were announced on January 11. Upon announcing the commencement of the collaboration, Vredestein Germany managing director Michael Lutz stated “in Carlsson we now have a strong partner in the field of premium styling. Carlsson is one of the best car tuning manufacturers anywhere in the world. Above all, the Carlsson name stands for elegant and exceptional design, high-torque engines and innovative German quality engineering for Mercedes cars.”
Continue ReadingConti Completes Bookbuilding of New Shares
Continental reports that the following news is not intended for direct or indirect release, publication or distribution into the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan, so T&A invites subscribers outside of these regions to read further.
Continue ReadingMichelin Challenge Design Unveils 2011 Competition Theme
Michelin North America has announced the 2011 theme for the Michelin Challenge Design, its global vehicle design competition. In its tenth year the competition bears the name ‘PLUS 10. The Best is Yet to Come!’ and entrants have the opportunity to share their transportation concepts for the year 2021.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Fitment for Mitsubishi Regional Jet
On January 12 Bridgestone Corporation announced its selection as tyre supplier for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the next-generation regional jet under development by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. For Bridgestone this deal is significant, as while the company’s aircraft tyres are already supplied for use on large aircraft with 100 or more seats, the supply of tyres for the MRJ, a regional jet in the 70 to 90-seat class will further expand the scope of the company's aircraft radial tyre business.
Continue ReadingWinter Battery and Wiper Advice from Protyre
Thousands of motorists have already discovered the hard way that cold weather is not always their car battery’s best friend. This is because, Protyre explains, cold weather slows down the chemical reaction that generates the current in the battery, meaning batteries run down quickly and fail to supply the power required. To prevent more drivers finding themselves going nowhere fast, Protyre is offering free battery checks as its outlets nationwide. The independent tyre and fast-fit retailer encourages motorists to pay it a visit and check the condition of their battery to avoid the risk of their car not starting.
Continue ReadingMercedes-Benz Helping Customers Get to Grips With Winter Tyres
Mercedes-Benz is endorsing the benefits of cold weather tyres in the UK through a programme to promote the product through its retailers and official workshops. As Mike Belk, managing director for customer service at Mercedes-Benz UK explains, “Mercedes-Benz is committed to safety, and the safety benefits of using the correct tyre in adverse conditions are obvious, with years of evidence available in mainland Europe.” Retailers and workshops are stocking winter tyres for all models in the current Mercedes-Benz and smart range as well as older models.
Continue ReadingAnalysts: Conti Merger Saga 'Turning a Corner'
Morgan Stanley analysts have described Conti's recent share issue as a “very significant” move forward in an investor's note dated 8 January. “We think Conti's latest recapitalization effort is positive for four main reasons: it enables the forward start on the 2010 debt maturities... the 35 euros price was a smaller discount than... expected; [it] increases free float to 25 per cent from 11 per cent and helps stabilize the company's image in the marketplace which reduces the risk to the underlying business.” While they conceded that this final point is “intangible,” the analysts report that the share offer addresses a key concern “that Conti's winning culture and ability to retain existing contracts, attract new business and new human talent was threatened by an unstable financial future.” In this regard, we think Conti is turning the corner.
Continue ReadingPremium Brand Draw Sees Arnold Clark Customer Win Fiat 500
A Stafford man has won a Fiat 500 in a promotion to encourage road safety. At the end of 2009 all Arnold Clark Service Departments throughout the UK ran the campaign focusing on tyre safety, offering free tyre checks and entering people into a competition to win a brand new Fiat 500. The competition was set up in conjunction with six leading tyre manufacturers: Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin and Pirelli. The competition aimed to encourage motorists to increase their road safety by purchasing a premium brand tyre. On the purchase of a premium tyre they were entered into the prize draw to win the Fiat 500.
Continue ReadingDoctor Claims to be Rightful Michelin Heir
A man claiming to be a legitimate heir to the Michelin family wants a piece of the family’s fortune, according to the London Telegraph. Jean-Philippe Rouchon, a 42-year-old osteopath from Puy de Dôme in central France, says he is a direct descendant of one of Michelin’s two founding brothers. His father Patrice Michelin, he claims, is the grandson of Andre Michelin, who co-founded the tyre giant with his brother Edouard in 1888.
Continue ReadingWTO Agrees to Hear China Tyre Tariff Complaint
News reports from Geneva say that the World Trade Organization will now launch a formal investigation into the Obama Administration’s imposition of a three-year added tariff on imported China-made consumer tyres. The first meeting in the investigation is supposed to occur on January 19, according to reports. Reports say that it could take as long as a year for the case to be resolved.
Continue ReadingStrong Link Between OE Satisfaction & Aftermarket Tyre Sales – Study
Results of the latest J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2009 Japan Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Index Study indicate that high levels of satisfaction in original equipment tyres may well lead to a notable increase in brand loyalty amongst customers purchasing summer replacement tyres. The January 7 released results show that, on average, 74 per cent of motorists in Japan are likely to stick with their vehicles’ original equipment tyre brand when purchasing summer replacement tyres. However, amongst the more highly satisfied customers, namely those whose satisfaction scores averaged 800 or higher on a 1,000-point scale, this figure increases to 88 per cent.
Continue ReadingOcado to Outfit Fleet with Winter Tyres
Online grocer Ocado has decided to fit its entire 600 plus fleet of delivery vans with cold weather tyres. The company, launched in partnership with Waitrose in 2002 and delivering to an area covering more than 13.5 million households across the South Coast, South East, Midlands and North West, will now be equipped to handle its growing deliveries even when the mercury plunges. The cost of equipping the fleet with winter rubber is approximately £300,000.
Continue ReadingPCR, TBR to be Produced at JK Tyre Greenfield Plant
Some Rs 8 billion (£109.7 million) are to be invested in a new JK Tyre & Industries greenfield facility and the construction of a new research and development facility. The new plant will reportedly produce passenger car and truck and bus radials for both the domestic and export markets, however no specific information on plant capacity has yet been made. The southern Indian state of Karnataka appears to be the most likely location for the new development, a decision that may have been influenced by the regional government’s offer of incentives.
Continue ReadingCold Weather Tyre Benefits Will Out-last the Snow
In the middle of the UK’s coldest winter for 30 years, industry association Tyresafe and tyre manufacturers and traders alike are pointing to the lasting benefits of driving on specialist cold weather tyres. The clear advice is that drivers who took the precaution of fitting cold weather tyres to their vehicle last autumn will continue to benefit from safer driving long after the current snow melts away. With more natural rubber in the tyre tread compound than standard ‘summer tyres’, they provide significantly shorter stopping distances in cold (under seven degrees celcius), wet and icy conditions. “There is a misconception that cold weather tyres are not appropriate for drivers in the UK,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cold weather tyres provide much better grip in both wet and dry conditions when the temperature falls below seven degrees, so they offer extra safety typically from October through to March. These tyres also have different tread patterns from ‘summer’ tyres making them more able to cope with snowy conditions. Those drivers who have chosen cold weather tyres will continue to benefit long after the current snow falls melt away.”
Continue ReadingIndependents the Cheapest Place to Buy Motorcycle Tyres: Encircle Research
Research carried out throughout most of 2009 by Encircle Marketing reveals that independent dealers sold a pair (front and rear) of motorcycle tyres at an average of up to £32 cheaper than other channels. Additionally regional independent dealers kept prices relatively flat throughout the year, hovering between £213.77 and £216.35, while local independents and national fast fitters increased prices on average each quarter. Dealers meanwhile were the most expensive in each quarter. The data was collected using 8,492 mystery calls between January and November 2009, during which 25,794 prices were collated across eight key tyre brands – Avon, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Maxxis, Metzeler, Michelin and Pirelli.
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