Bridgestone Europe to Launch Ecopia Range in 2009
Starting in April, an extensive range of Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 Ecopia tyres will be gradually introduced into the European market. The tyres, which use the ‘Ecopia’ name to denote their fuel saving characteristics, were first used on electric-powered cars in 1991, and in 1998 the B381 Ecopia low rolling resistance tyre was fitted as OE to the ‘3-litre’ version of the Volkswagen Lupo – a car dubbed “the most environmentally friendly car in the world” by some due to its consumption of only three litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Today, certain versions of the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia and Mercedes S-Class are being sold with Ecopia versions of existing patterns, and the Toyota IQ is fitted with an all-new Ecopia tyre.
Continue ReadingReduced Production Continues at Goodyear’s Luxembourg Factory
The shorter working week implemented at Goodyear’s truck tyre factory in Luxembourg is being extended beyond the time originally specified. Between February and April production will only take place four days a week, commented a company spokesman.
Continue ReadingSingapore Trade Minister to Open Tyrexpo Asia 2009
The high regard in which Tyrexpo Asia is held by the Singapore government has been recognised by the announcement that the country’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, will officially open the exhibition as Guest of Honour at the Singapore Expo Centre on Tuesday, 24th March this year. Ministerial endorsement of the show has been warmly welcomed by organisers ECI International, with managing director Paul Farrant commenting: We are extremely grateful to the Minister for agreeing to be our principal Guest of Honour; his involvement will add to the sense of occasion at the opening event as well as signifying the economic importance the Singapore government attaches to the expo.”
Continue ReadingConti Cutting North American Workforce by 10%, Reports Newspaper
An article published by the Detroit Free Press states Continental AG expects to reduce its North American workforce by approximately 10 per cent this year. This information was obtained through an interview with the North American unit’s CEO Samir Salman, indicates the Detroit based daily.
Continue ReadingConti Partners with Emirates for Universal Tyres in UAE
On January 14, Continental AG announced a partnership with Emirates for Universal Tyres LLC for the distribution of passenger and light truck tyres as well as commercial vehicle tyres in the United Arab Emirates. These activities are to be coordinated from the representative office of Continental’s new MENENA business unit, which focuses upon business development in the Middle East and the North Africa region.
Continue ReadingAndy Davies Appointed MD of Bridgestone Austria
The new managing director taking the reins at Bridgestone’s Austrian operations, Bridgestone Austria GmbH, is perhaps a familiar name to many in the UK tyre industry. After twelve years in the job, incumbent managing director Michael Glockner is moving on to a Brussels based position with the Japanese tyre major. In his place comes 35-year old Andy Davies, who began his career with Bridgestone UK in 1996 before making the cross channel move to a position within Bridgestone Europe in 2001.
Continue ReadingYokohama Pledges to Support Sporting 2009
Yokohama has told Tyres & Accessories that it intends to continue to support motorsport in 2009 following its positive experiences in 2008. Yokohama Motorsport manager Mark Evans, looking back on the previous year’s action, said, “2008 was an exceptional season for Yokohama in motorsport, particularly in the UK.” The manufacturer’s ADVAN brand provides the control tyre for the FIA World Touring Car Championship, while the company boasts involvement in rallying (both covered in the November editions of Tyres & Accessories). Continuing, Evans was keen to stress the victories won on Yokohama rubber, perhaps indicating the competitive nature of motorsport as key to its survival: “We achieved some excellent success with our partners, including Nick Crowe on the Isle of Man and Tristan Pye, Paul MacKinnon and Tom Cave in rallying. I think this and the success we had with Aston Martin at the Nürburgring 24 Hours shows that Yokohama has winning products across all forms of motorsport and at every level.”
Continue ReadingStolen Tyres Fund Roguish Romeos’ Lavish Lifestyle
Who can resist a tale of romance, even – or, indeed, especially – when it is horribly misguided and involves stolen tyres? With the noblest of intentions in mind, namely to impress their girlfriends, six young men from well to do families in India recently embarked on a life of crime, stealing motorcycles from wealthy relatives and then selling the tyres and other spare parts.
Continue ReadingInvestments Banks Hold 35.75% Stake in Conti
Investment banks B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co Holding AG and Merrill Lynch have bought shares equating to a combined voting stake of 35.75 per cent in Continental AG. According to a Reuters report, Metzler has built a 19.5 per cent voting stake, while Merrill Lynch International holds 16.25 per cent. The two companies are now the largest shareholders after Schaeffler Group (49.9 per cent). On 22 December 2008 Metzler and Sal. Oppenheim bought stakes of 4 per cent and 5.5 per cent each.
Continue ReadingIndonesian Tyre Production to be Flat in 2009, Says Industry Expert
Indonesias passenger car tyre production may prove to be weaker than initially expected in 2009, warns a senior representative from the country’s tyre industry. According to Aziz Pane, chairman of the Indonesian Tyre Producers Association, production may remain unchanged from 2008’s output of 41 million units. Initially, we expected car tyre production to hit 45 million units, but after the financial crisis demand is slowing, he said. Pane added, however, that a recovery is anticipated before the end of 2009. Approximately 80 per cent of Indonesia’s passenger car tyre production is exported, therefore global automotive industry fluctuations are strongly felt by manufacturers.
Continue Reading2009 Bridgestone e-reporter Open for Entries
Now entering its sixth year, the Bridgestone e-reporter competition provides a seldom-encountered opportunity for aspiring young journalists to showcase their talent and launch a career in their chosen profession. The competition is, as in previous years, open to European students aged between 18 and 30 who are in full-time education. The overall winner of the 2009 competition, chosen for his or her journalistic skills and ability to represent the Bridgestone brand, will be awarded with a laptop, plus further work experience.
Continue ReadingConti Appoints Tire Division R&D Application Management Provider
On January 13 it was announced that Continental AG has entered into an agreement with T-Systems (the enterprise customer division of Deutsche Telekom) and business process outsourcing provider Cognizant. The two companies will jointly provide application management services to the research and development operations of Continentals tyre divisions in Hanover, Germany, beginning in 2009.
Continue ReadingDunlop to Partner SEAT for Revamped UK Challenge
SEAT has announced the relaunch for 2009 of the company’s SEAT Leon Supercopa Challenge. The contest will race at Britain’s top circuits and the new championship organizers, Racempower, have chosen Dunlop as the exclusive tyre partner for the one-make series. This partnership continues the technical collaboration that began in 2007 between the SEAT UK supported championship and Dunlop.
Continue ReadingJMS Releases 2009 Rim Catalogue
In time for the new season, JMS has released its new 2009 alloy rim catalogue. Featuring 80 pages and more than 300 rim designs, the new JMS catalogue is one of the largest on the market, and includes the following brands: ASA, Barracuda, break, Carmani, Corniche, DBV, DZ, Etabgeta, Frankenräder, FSW, Keskin, Kerscher, MAM, Oxigin, OZ, pro LINE, RC, Schmidt, Smoor, Tomason and US-Alloy. All wheels are either available as vehicle type or TÜV approved. Stud patterns are also listed along with each rim design, making matching a rim with a particular vehicle a fast process. More information can be found from the JMS website racelook.de or by e-mail at info@racelook.de
Continue ReadingTopy Lays Off 45 at US Steel Wheel Factory
Kentucky, US based newspaper The State Journal reports that Topy America has laid of 45 hourly employees from its Franklin County steel wheel production facility. These redundancies represent approximately 16 per cent of the subsidiary’s Kentucky factory workforce. The company’s other US operations have not been affected. According to plant director Tom Trzazkus, the layoffs were necessary due to the current economic conditions and the slowing of sales within the automotive industry. In addition to the redundancies, a raft of other changes were made to ensure the continuation of this business in the short term, a press release sent to the newspaper by Trzazkus said.
Continue Reading