The perfect wheels for drivers who give way to the right? It’s most certainly unintentional, but some who look at the rims fitted on one particular SUV model see something surprising. To be precise, they see swastikas.
Since the PSA Group officially brought Vauxhall and Opel back into European ownership, motorists have a new sense of security about the future of the brands. Now, Europe’s largest aftermarket emission control parts manufacturer Klarius is supporting the existing models with a range of new quality replacement exhaust systems.
According to Bridgestone Corporation, its global investments in research and development are the highest in the industry – it invested more than £710 million in this area last year – and the company says they’ve paid off. As evidence, the tyre maker points to the more than 45 original equipment fitments it has landed on more than 15 vehicle models since the start of 2018. What’s more, over 60 additional fitments are expected to come by the end of this year.
In a deal designed to make PSA Group the second largest carmaker in Europe, the Peugeot-Citreon brand owner has bought GM’s long-term lossmaking Opel and Vauxhall brands and production bases for 2.2 billion euros. This figure includes a joint venture with BNP Paribas on the GM Europe auto financing operations (valuing these transactions at 1.3 billion euros and 0.9 billion, respectively). But what does it mean for the tyre sector?
Several online sources are reporting that a number of German car manufacturers are planning to recall large numbers of vehicles as part of the ongoing vehicle emissions scandal. Sources suggest Mercedes, Opel and Porsche as well as Volkswagen and its Audi brand are to recall certain diesel vehicles. BBC news reports that over 600,000 cars are set to be recalled, citing German media reports.
VW has borne the brunt of criticism for its admitted use of defeat devices in order to manipulate test results. However, the latest research from Which? found that many other manufacturers are breaking emission limits too.
The BBC has claimed that VW deliberately cheated emissions tests in Europe, in addition to the US emissions scandal it has admitted to. In addition the BBC’s Panorama programme also questioned the emissions behaviour of an Opel Zafira, which appeared to emit more NOx in both hot and cold engine conditions than European legislation allows.
After reporting the approval of its Vector 4Seasons as original equipment for the new Renault Kadjar, Goodyear has given word of further OEM homologations for its all-season tyre. The Vector 4Seasons is also being supplied to Audi for fitment on the A1, to Ford as an original equipment tyre for the Fiesta, Focus and Focus C-Max, and to Vauxhall/Opel for the Adam and Corsa.
JATO Dynamics’ latest report suggests that the European new car market is showing no sign of slowing down. July sales are up 5.4 per cent year-on-year, with the majority of Europe’s bigger markets in positive growth for the month. The five largest markets have all grown year-to-date.
