Automotive Hall of Fame to Recognize Bridgestone Founder
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Corp. founder Shojiro Ishibashi will be among seven individuals that will be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on Tuesday, 3 October in Dearborn, Michigan. Ishibashi joins Nuccio Bertone, Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Jr., Wayne Huizenga, Arjay Miller and Bruno Sacco in the hall’s class of 2006. Ishibashi is credited with leading Japan’s tyre industry, and created his country’s first locally developed tyres in 1930. He established Bridgestone Tire Co. in 1931, served as its president and chairman until he retired, and remained active in the company until his death in 1976.
Continue ReadingJana Partners Purchase Titan Shares
Jana Partners purchased 218,400 shares of Titan International at an average price of $16.90 on 18/19 September, increasing their holdings in the company to approximately 4.499 million shares or a 25.4 per cent stake. According to indiescore.com, the purchase was the first for Jana since the firm “took down” 112,000 shares at an average price of $18.73 on 5/6 June.
Continue ReadingCoker Tire Rolls Out 65 Series Silvertown
(Akron/Tire Review) Coker Tire has introduced a newly developed 65 Series BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall radial. The tyre features a wider, lower profile than the current 70 Series Whitewall radials, Coker said. Constructed with all of the safety and performance aspects modern radial tyre technology affords, Coker said, the new BFGoodrich Silvertown 65 Series Whitewall radials are S-speed rated and carry a 540 BB UTQG rating.
Continue ReadingNew Website Gives Green Tyre Advice
A new website (green-car-guide.com) designed to give drivers green motoring information includes advice on tyres. In addition to the usual suggestions of driving in the correct gear and warnings that 4x4 are not the most fuel efficient, a 17-page report on the site also advises motorists to keep an eye on their tyre pressure and condition. Interestingly the report also promotes the use of so-called eco tyres such as the ContiEcoContact and the Michelin Energy products.
Continue ReadingChina’s Auto Output Will Exceed 7 Million Cars in 2006
(Akron/Tire Review – Asiaport) Chinas automobile output in 2006 will exceed 7 million cars, making a big leap from 5.7 million cars in 2005, forecasted by Zhang Xiaoyu, the deputy head of China Machinery Industry Federation, and chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China. China’s automobile industry has become an integral part of the national economy after rapidly growing in the first five years of the new century. In 2005, the whole industry generated output value of approximately $151 billion and contributed near $25 billion taxes directly and indirectly, as well as providing 17 million jobs.
Continue ReadingNexen Opens Shanghai Offices, Eyes China Growth
(Akron/Tire Review) Nexen Tire opened a branch office in Shanghai, China, earlier this month, which company officials said will spur its penetration in the Chinese tyre market. The new office will join a tyre plant Nexen is constructing in Qingdao, Shantung, which broke ground last May. The new plant will cover some 5.7 million square feet – among the largest in China – and have a final capacity of 20 million per year, Nexen said.
Continue ReadingTym Signs 3-Year Deal With Triangle
Kings Lynn, Norfolk-based Tym International has renewed its relations with large scale Chinese tyre manufacturer, Triangle. Tym is the only UK company to sign a three-year agreement for 2007, 2008 and 2009, Tym Internationals Steve Eke told Tyres and Accessories. “We at TYM International are continually impressed with the level of commitment Triangle has. With that and the depth of knowledge they have on their products, it is no surprise that the company, indeed the whole of the Chinese economy, is thriving the way it is,” he commented. Triangle recently invited Tym to view its new factory in China, which is set to increase supply to the UK.
Continue ReadingYokohama Involved in Another World Record
Yokohama was involved in yet another world record recently, when it supplied tyres for ‘Flat Out’, the lowest car in the world. The Fiat 500 was built by custom specialist Andy Saunders over the weekend of the recent Beaulieu Autojumble, starting as a standard car and ending up with an overall height of just 213/8in (543mm) from the ground.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Widens Lead in Fortune Global 500
Bridgestone Corporation has climbed to number 245 in the Fortune Global 500 in 2006, increasing its lead over Goodyear Tire & Rubber at number 327 and Michelin at number 335. The ranking, which measures the world’s biggest 500 companies in terms of revenue, shows that while Bridgestone moved up 5 places versus 2005, Goodyear gained only three and Michelin slipped back 41 places. In the motor vehicles and parts industry, Bridgestone comes in at number 19, ahead of vehicle manufacturers such as Suzuki, Mitsubishi and MAN.
Continue ReadingADL Takes Automotive Kitemark to Independent Garages
In a move that will likely help efforts to avoid the effects of a “Super Complaint” in the automotive service market, Automotive Distributors Limited (ADL) has announced its full support of BSI Product Services’ Kitemark scheme and is actively encouraging garages to embrace the PAS80 standard. More than 180 installers have already applied to Kitemark scheme through ADL. Although it is a lengthy process, there are currently 30 Kitemark garages, with another 20 achieving the standard imminently. In addition to this, there are currently 500 applications/enquiries being processed. This is a vast improvement on the 11 that held the Kitemark in July.
Continue ReadingSealent Maker Inovex Receives Virginia Exporter Award
Inovex, the maker of Ride-On Tire Sealants for truck, bus, motorbike, military and private vehicles was recently chosen to participate in the Commonwealth of Virginias AIM export Program. In addition to valuable capital funding, market research and strategic counselling, the AIM programme gives Virginia companies the opportunity to leverage private-sector professional service providers and VEDP-developed relationships around the world.
Continue ReadingYokohama Offers Warranty on Bandag Retreads
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., is offering an extended casing warranty on Bandag retreads. Dusseldorf-based Yokohama Europe GmbH, and Brussels-based Bandag NV will undertake the warranty programme as part of a marketing collaboration arrangement between the two companies. A brochure released by the two companies summed up the arrangement like this: “Yokohama has extended the casing warranty of its truck and bus tyres to run for their total lifecycle: First life as a premium Yokohama tyre; Second life as a valuable Bandag retreaded Yokohama tyre.”
Continue ReadingTyre Fire at Motor Raceway
Over 50 firefighters battled a large tyre fire near Matchams raceway site, Hampshire on Wednesday 20 September. The fire, according to reports, affected 100 tonnes of tyres. A spokesman said: We have not yet fully investigated the incident but cannot rule out the possibility of this being an arson attack.
Continue ReadingYokohama on New Generation Mitsu Outlander
(Akron/Tire Review) Mitsubishi Motors has selected Yokohama as the OE tyre for its 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV. Yokohama will supply tyres to Mitsubishi in size P215/70R16 99H. With the addition of the Outlander fitment, Yokohama said it is now OE on a wide range of 2007 vehicles, including the Bentley Continental GT and Continental Flying Spur, Audi S8, the Lotus Elise and Exige, Porsche 911 Carrera 4, Lexus GS300 and GS430, Mazda MX-5, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki SX4 and Subaru Legacy and Forester.
Continue ReadingCynthia Feldmann Appointed to Hayes Lemmerz’ Board of Directors
Hayes Lemmerz has announced that Cynthia Feldmann has been appointed to the Companys board of directors. With the addition of Ms. Feldmann, the Board now consists of seven members. Ms. Feldmann has also been appointed as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
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