Toyo Tire Corporation is partnering with Ring Racing to participate in the Nürburgring 24 Hours (The ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring), which will take place from 18-21 May 2023, and the Nürburgring Endurance Series (Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie), a year-long series competition that is to open on 17 March 2023.
Following reports that Avon is set to become a two-wheel/motorcycle-only tyre brand in Germany in the future, Goodyear representatives have sought to clarify that the Avon brand will remain in the company’s product portfolio both for passenger and motorcycle tyres.
Following Goodyear’s takeover of Cooper and the integration of the German Cooper sales organization in Goodyear Germany, the German wing of Gooodyear EMEA has added two more logos to its product portfolio, those of the Cooper and of Avon brands. However, the German introduction of the latter is bringing with it significant changes in the Avon brand’s positioning.
The average price of summer tyres in the German market has risen by 23 per cent in just two years. Idealo Internet GmbH told Tyrepress’s German sister site Reifenpresse, that the various crises and subsequent inflationary pressures have driven prices up. The average asking price for all summer tyres on Idealo’s comparison platform of the same name has increased from 99 euro (2020) to 108 euro (2021) to 122 euro last year. This corresponds to an increase of almost a quarter within just two years.
Major German automotive components supplier Schaeffler Group, which like tyre and automotive systems firm Continental counts the Schaeffler family’s IHO Holding as a significant shareholder, is shunning investment at home and in Europe in favour of the USA. In addition to more advantageous energy prices, Schaeffler looks approvingly upon the USA’s more pragmatic approach to climate issues.
ADAC has published the results of a golden anniversary tyre test in which it evaluates one product for each year since entering the tyre testing game. It looked at 205/55 R16 V – currently the most popular dimension. In readiness for the next 50 years and as a nod to the increasing significance of environmental & sustainability issues, the motoring organisation also overhauled its system of scoring.
Pyrum Innovations will soon begin work on a new facility not far from its main plant in Germany. It reports that the town council in Homburg has unanimously approved the sale of a section of land to Pyrum for the purpose of setting up a new pyrolysis plant. The company hopes the planning and approval process can now “begin as soon as possible.”
Genan has appointed Michael Christensen as its new application development manager. Christensen lives in Denmark and has more than 40 years of experience in tyre and rubber recycling. Effective 1 February 2023, Christensen will act as the link between sales, marketing and innovation in Genan.
Pyrum Innovations has marked an “important milestone” in the expansion of its main plant by installing the two pyrolysis reactors needed to complement the site’s existing production line with a further two. It will soon begin testing the installed components by carrying out loop checks as the first step in the cold commissioning process.
Over the past year or so, Global Automotive Investments Holding (GAI) has acquired a significant stake in Tyremotive GmbH, but managing director and co-founder Jochen Freier initially retained his almost quarter share in the German tyre and wheel wholesaler. Freier has now sold and stepped down as MD “at his own request” on 31 January 2023, leaving behind him a 100% GAI-owned business.
Continental is “strategically realigning” its non-tyre ContiTech business to lay the groundwork for its “transition from a traditional product supplier to a provider of integrated solutions.” ContiTech will expand its industrial business while consolidating the automotive business, and will gain a CTO who will “drive the expansion of its materials expertise.” The changes take effect early May 2023.
Rowe introduced its sustainably manufactured range of lubricants to the UK market at the Autosport International Show from 12-15 January. Exclusively distributed in the UK by Deutschesol Ltd, Rowe’s range of oils, lubricants and coolants is manufactured in Germany and the company has “several original equipment manufacturer (OEM) relationships”.
In what may be a poorly timed coincidence the announcement of a notable reduction in Goodyear’s global workforce came just days after the union representing many employees in Germany confirmed demands for more money. On 25 January, union IG BCE shared details of upcoming negotiations on behalf of 25,000 rubber sector workers, naming Goodyear as one of the “large companies” it represents. The union’s income wishlist includes a cost of living pay rise and one-off inflation bonus.
A survey commissioned by Apollo Tyres has found that only six per cent of motorists in the UK are able to correctly identify a tyre’s load rating. Worse still, it turns out we’re only half as good at accomplishing this task as the Germans are. Thankfully, younger Brits give hope that this may change in future.
Toyo
Genan
Rowe