The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has entered into a strategic relationship with UFODrive, and going forwards will work together with the all-digital, all-electric car rental company to integrate their complementary mobility solutions. The two firms intend to pair Goodyear’s intelligent tyre monitoring system and proactive solutions suite with UFODrive’s eMobility software as a service platform.
Michelin has entered into a partnership with German-based digital road freight forwarder sennder to provide carriers with greater access to the Michelin range of tyres on special terms as well as retreading services. The collaboration will initially focus on Northern Europe and Iberia, with plans to scale it across other European markets throughout 2021.
Synthetic rubber and plastics manufacturer Trinseo has reached definitive agreements with Swiss sustainable tyre recycling specialist Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS) on a commercial collaboration and an equity investment in TRS. The transaction is expected to close later this quarter, subject to ordinary closing conditions.
Goodyear will make its debut as a tyre supplier to the European Le Mans Series this weekend. The manufacturer is working alongside top teams in the LMP2 and LMGTE classes at the season-opening 4 Hours of Le Castellet. Goodyear’s latest tyre technology will be fitted to five front-running LMP2 prototypes and every car in the LMGTE field throughout the ELMS season. The brand’s entrance into the series follows last year’s fitments to LMP2 winners in the FIA World Endurance Championship. However the weekend will mark the first time that LMGTE cars have raced on the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport race tyres. Having been delayed by the pandemic, the series will run over five races until November.
European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP2 racing team, Algarve Pro Racing has made Goodyear its tyre technical partner. The reigning Asian Le Mans Series Champion has already demonstrated race-winning pedigree and a deep understanding of how to maximise tyre performance. Goodyear says the partnership will allow it to receive valuable technical feedback on a variety of European tracks.
PR and marketing agency MPA Creative has confirmed a three-year media partnership extension between the British Touring Car Championship and major automotive magazine Autocar. MPA Creative orchestrated the initial deal between the two parties back in 2014, and since then the relationship has enjoyed much success, with all parties committed to extending the joint venture into at least a ninth consecutive year.
Michelin is entering into a partnership with Swedish firm Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) to develop and industrialise on a large scale pyrolysis technology to recycle end of life tyres into raw materials. The two companies signed a shareholding subscription today that will see a subsidiary of the tyre maker, Michelin Ventures SAS, acquire a 20 per cent stake in Enviro.
A new strategic partnership between Toyo Tire Corporation and automotive component manufacturer JAOS Corporation aims to increase the value of both brands within the SUV and 4×4 sector around the world. The two Japanese companies will collaborate in marketing activities and leverage their aggregate knowledge gained through joint participation in motorsports events and original product testing.
Linglong Tire has entered into a cooperative agreement with Chinese car-making joint venture company SGMW. The new partnership commenced with the signing of a strategic cooperation framework agreement at SGMW’s headquarters on 30 December. Under the agreement, the two parties will collaborate on product design, development, application, quality assurance, cost optimisation and manufacturing over a long-term basis.
The team at Tyrepress.com view independent tyre tests as an invaluable consumer purchasing tool. We will therefore follow the new licensing partnership between Auto Express and Auto Bild with interest, particularly in regards to how it influences both publications’ approach to tyre testing.
Diagnostics expert, Hella Gutmann Solutions (HGS) has partnered with online car repair marketplace, WhoCanFixMyCar.com. The supplier of the mega macs range of diagnostic systems states that the arrangement means drivers using WhoCanFixMyCar.com to find a workshop will now be able to differentiate between those that utilise HGS tools and those who don’t. The HGS logo will appear on relevant workshop profiles.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation have jointly invested 80M Euros in Rimac Automobili (Rimac) – the Croatian high-performance electric vehicle technology and sportscar company. The companies have announced a strategic partnership to collaborate on the development of two high-performance electric vehicles by 2020.
Automotive lighting and electronics supplier Hella is to extend its strategic partnership with AEye, a forerunner in artificial perception systems and the developer of iDAR. The companies are working to deliver customised sensing and perception solutions for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD) based on AEye’s iDAR technology.
Marangoni Spa and Borrachas Vipal SA have announced that the two retreading material suppliers have entered into a partnership agreement aimed at “increasing the synergies and productivity, strengthening the industrial and commercial organisation of both groups”. Details of precisely what this means are still scarce but, according to a statement issued by Marangoni, this will lead to the creation of “the largest global independent player in the tyre retreading sector”.
Hella, the lighting and electronics specialist, and the French technology supplier Faurecia will cooperate in a strategic partnership for the development of innovative interior lighting solutions. Within this cooperation, the companies will jointly develop lighting solutions with high-technology content in the area of surface and dynamic-lighting for a comprehensive, personalised cockpit environment.
Clement Marin
Goodyear
BTCC