Anyone planning to visit next year’s Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) should hold off making reservations at their favourite fondue restaurant and can forget slipping away for a spot of skiing, as in 2023 it will exclusively take place in Doha, Qatar. The Comité permanent du Salon international de l’automobile de Genève foundation has announced the cancellation of the event planned for Geneva in February 2023.
The recent opening of a plant in Serbia testifies that Shandong Linglong Tire has big plans for Europe. One of its key markets within the region is Germany, and the tyre maker has now found a new distribution partner for this country, as well as for Austria and Switzerland – the ‘DACH’ region. German tyre wholesaler and retailer Reifen Straub has taken on this role.
Goodyear has supplied Kmax Gen-2 steer and drive axle tyres for a vehicle billed as the world’s first fully-electric 40-tonne tractor unit boasting 900-kilowatt hours (kWh) of battery capacity. The Futuricum-made truck has been in daily use with Swiss logistics firm Galliker Transport AG since October 2021.
Goodyear has named Oliver Sindermann its sales general manager for the ‘DACH’ region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, effective 1 April 2022. Sindermann, who is currently director sales operations & pricing commercial EU, will succeed Dieter Schölling, who is leaving the company.
The organiser of the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) has announced the event’s cancellation for a second year. Comité permanent du Salon international de l’automobile states that it was “forced to postpone the event to 2023” due to “industry-wide issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Yokohama has sold its Hamatite automotive and construction sealent business to Swiss company Sika Group AG in a transfer that is scheduled to be completed on 1 November 2021. Yokohama hasn’t released exactly how much Sika is paying for the Hamatite business, but management expects to post a gain on the sale of about ¥5 billion (£33 million; 38 million euros; US$46 million – after tax). However, the exact amount is said to be “subject to change”.
In addition to appointing a managing director for its business in Austria, Michelin has named Albrecht von Leonhardi managing director of Michelin Suisse SA, effective 1 November. He comes to this role from Michelin Solutions, where he was commercial director for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, a position he’d held since mid-2017.
Rudolf Perner is now heading up Nokian Tyres’ operation in a number of Central European markets. The company recently reported that as managing director of Nokian Tyres GmbH, Perner took on responsibility for operations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands as of 1 August 2020.
In addition to testing car tyres ahead of this year’s colder months, three European motoring clubs have taken a close look at winter rubber for mid-sized SUVs and vans. The 13 brands of 235/55 R17 V tyre participating in this joint comparative evaluation from Germany association ADAC, Austria’s ÖAMTC and Switzerland’s TCS performed well overall, with results ranging from highly recommended/good to conditionally recommended/adequate.
Three leading European motoring associations have published the results of their joint 2020 winter car tyre test. The ADAC from Germany, Austria’s ÖAMTC and Swiss club TCS looked at 15 brands of tyre. While they didn’t award any of the evaluated products their top ratings of ‘very good’ (ADAC) or ‘excellent’ (ÖAMTC, TCS), the clubs noted that overall test results were positive. In addition to five strong performers, seven further tyres were recommended and one conditionally recommended. Only two tyres failed to make the grade.
Sandro Mesquita has been appointed as Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) CEO effective 1 May 2020. He succeeds Olivier Rihs, who has left GIMS at the end of March.
Demand for new cars has dropped as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, and vehicle manufacturers have adjusted their production accordingly. Their suppliers have too, and alloy wheel manufacturer Ronal Group is the latest company to announce a temporary shutdown of its facilities. Deliveries of products will continue from existing stocks.
STARCO has taken on distribution of the Alliance and Galaxy agricultural, forestry and construction tyre lines in Switzerland under a newly-negotiated agreement with Alliance Tire Group (ATG). As authorised partner for the representation and distribution of Alliance and Galaxy tyres throughout this market, STARCO will provide its warehouse and distribution facilities as well as its expertise and skills in order to make ATG’s products more accessible to Swiss customers.
It’s official – the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) won’t take place next month. The decision to cancel GIMS follows an announcement made earlier today by the Swiss Federal Council. The Council has decided to prohibit large-scale events involving more than 1,000 people. The ban comes into immediate effect and will apply at least until 15 March 2020, the day GIMS 2020 was scheduled to conclude.
The so-called coronavirus (Covid-19) is threatening Europe’s largest motoring events, with some sources suggesting that March’s Geneva Motor Show won’t be able to take place. However, a statement published by Palexpo (the Geneva Motor Show’s organising company) said the show will go on and that the exhibition is taking all recommended steps.
Geneva Motors Show