The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has announced that its latest breakfast network meeting will address key legislation, internet parts and social media misuse for employers in the automotive aftermarket. Taking place at Valeo Service UK, Redditch, on Tuesday 21 April, the event will welcome a representative from Capita, a leading FTSE business and provider of business process management solutions.
Toyo’s premium sponsorship of AC Milan has been supported by a new promotional video. The “Forza Milan by Toyo Tires” video, which also carries the social media-ready hashtag #weareacmilan, has the concept of connecting football fans around the world with a transcontinental game of keepy-uppy.
Cooper Tire is the world’s leading tyre company in terms of global social media influence, according to research conducted by Tyres & Accessories. Meanwhile the 2014 rankings also show that Michelin went up one place and held off Continental to top our UK chart. There has been significant change in both cases as well as a strengthening in the online presence of mid-range brands, something we also found in our online brand equity research (see separate article).
The NTDA has appointed Natasha Pullinger as its new membership administrator. According to the association, Pullinger’s key responsibility will be to support the development of the NTDA by providing day-to-day administrative functions and providing a point of contact and liaison between the NTDA, its members, other tyre industry bodies and key industry stakeholders. She will also provide support to NTDA committees and other industry meetings and engage in the association’s marketing and PR activities.
The ever-swelling ranks of TyreSafe gathered at St Johns Hotel, Solihull to launch the 2014 edition of Tyre Safety Month. Chairman Stuart Jackson, enthusiastically wielding an enlarged coin, demonstrated the well-established 20p test during his introduction of the “driving rain, driving safe” theme; the test is particularly relevant to this year’s tread depth focused theme of aquaplaning. In 2013 tyre pressure took centre stage, but with 2013-14 being the wettest winter on record, and October usually the wettest month of the year anyway, TyreSafe has chosen to present a core message informing drivers of the importance of tread depth in combating what is arguably the most spectacular and frightening road safety phenomenon – in addition to reinforcing other messages, such as pressure, Jackson adds.
Yokohama Rubber has established a new official Facebook page as part of its efforts to strengthen information sharing via social networking services. The page – http://www.facebook.com/YokohamaRubber – began operating on 2 June and provides information in Japanese and, when reporting information of potential interest to international readers, in English. The company has also boosted its domestic market social media presence with the creation of an official Yokohama channel with Japan’s leading video hosting service, niconico. This page – http://ch.nicovideo.jp/yokohamarubber – exclusively features Japanese language material.
Maxxis International has announced the appointment of Neil Catchpole as its new graphic designer. He is expected to help strengthen Maxxis’ brand profile through print and digital design material, as well as help increase brand awareness on its social media platforms by producing artwork that defines and promotes Maxxis.
Maxxis has announced the appointment of Channi Jethwa as its marketing and digital coordinator. She becomes the second addition to Maxxis’ digital team in ten months, demonstrating the tyre maker’s success in this area over the past year.
Bridgestone has won the ‘Deutscher Mediapreis 2014’ award in Germany for its launch of the Adrenalin RE002 urban sports tyre in 2013. The tyre maker’s ‘Ultimate Experience’ launch event was voted top in the ‘Media Idea of the Year: brand experience/event’ category. The award was received by representatives of international media agency PHD Germany and OMG Fuse, agency for brand staging and social media, on behalf of Bridgestone Europe at the Mediapreis awards ceremony in Munich on 6 March.
Confused.com research shows that 1 in 14 motorists (7 per cent) admit to having taken a photograph while driving, and 4 per cent also use the social media app of the moment – Snapchat – to send photos to friends while at the wheel. The price comparison website also discovered that in a recent 30-day […]
Bridgestone is promoting its social network activity through its partnership with the Skrill Conference Premier’s Kidderminster Harriers Football Club. The manufacturer is encouraging supporters to post pictures of themselves en-route to the team’s FA Cup fourth round fixture at Premier League Sunderland’s Stadium of Light via the company’s official Twitter and Facebook social networking channels. […]
Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership is the latest road safety organisation to become a member of TyreSafe. As such, the Partnership will build upon its successful tyre safety education and awareness work, which was recently recognised and rewarded when the organisation won a ‘safety in the community’ award from TyreSafe.
Should Nico Rosberg speak of 3-ply, he may not be referring to tyre sidewall construction. During the testing of Pirelli’s 2014 F1 tyres at the Bahrain International Circuit, the German Mercedes AMG Petronas team driver experienced a tyre blowout on the straight at 320km/h. Despite a total absence of test information from Pirelli, Rosberg shared news of the mishap via a short-lived tweet.
The Highways Agency took top honours at the recent TyreSafe awards for its efforts in raising public awareness of tyre safety issues. The ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award was presented as part of the first ever TyreSafe Awards, which celebrated the activities and achievements of a wide range of businesses and organisations in encouraging better tyre care and maintenance. It seems the introduction of the “Safe Tyres Save Lives” message on motorway matrix signs across the UK made a real impact.
It’s been less than a year since Nitto Tire reported gaining its three millionth Facebook fan, and now the company says it has five million fans on board. Nitto attributes this social media growth to its engagement strategies, including its Nitto Ambassador Program, live multi-player mobile games and a proprietary automotive interest blog, DrivingLine.com. Utilising such tools, Nitto says it has generated a loyal community with fan engagement that goes beyond the traditional likes, shares and comments that exist in the social network platform.
