Wabco Supplies 500 IVTM Systems to Greek Bus Company
The public bus company of Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is to equip more than 500 of its buses with Wabco’s Integrated Vehicle Tire Pressure Monitoring (IVTM) systems.
The public bus company of Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is to equip more than 500 of its buses with Wabco’s Integrated Vehicle Tire Pressure Monitoring (IVTM) systems.
Michelin-Apollo Tyres (MATL) has entered a joint venture with Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, India’s two biggest commercial vehicle makers, in a bid to sell radial tyres.
The $85 million venture, to manufacture truck and bus radial tyres will commence by June 2006, reports BS Online, adding that the Pune plant will reach a capacity of 350,000 units by 2009-10.
The future of western European car manufacturing is at risk unless the industry takes steps to improve its international competitiveness, a senior Ford executive has warned.
“The fact of the matter is, these days it is not a very competitive place to do business,” said Mark Fields, executive vice president of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group.
The Detroit Motorshow has increased Pirelli’s profile in America’s Original Equipment segment.
The P Zero product range was chosen for two OE fitments in the market. The new Jaguar Coupé will be fitted with 21 inch P Zero Nero tyres and the Ford Mercury with a concept P Zero tread design.
The European automobile manufacturers association (ACEA) today released the latest European car registration statistics. In September 2004 1,353,817 units were registered across western Europe. This represents a decrease of –0.6 per cent (-0.7 per cent in the EU-15) compared with September 2003.
Continental Tire North America has announced that its Eco Plus truck tyres are now a published option at all Volvo Truck dealerships nationwide.
“Rising fuel prices have increased the importance of finding ways to lower operating costs and improve the bottom line,” said David Misbrener, CTNA account manager for Volvo Trucks North America. “Continental’s Eco Plus tyre technology provides impressively low rolling resistance for excellent fuel economy and long original mileage. We are very pleased that this premium line of tyres is now also available at Volvo dealerships for fleets trying to find a way to lower their operating costs.”
According to the company tests conducted at its Uvalde proving grounds (SAE fuel consumption test J1264) show that, with Continental HSL Eco Plus tyres in the steer position and the HDL Eco Plus tyres on the drive axle, fuel mileage is increased by up to 7.2 per cent over conventional tyres
Michelin signed a three-year agreement to supply Volvo Group with truck tires as original equipment on Renault and Volvo trucks assembled in Europe. The agreement confirms Michelin’s position as a major supplier of tires to the Volvo Group in Europe. The deal comes at a time when global radial truck tire production capacity is saturated, even as demand is expected to experience growth in the future. It is in line with Michelin’s commitment to balancing its operations in the original and replacement equipment markets in order to deliver optimal service quality across all markets, while maintaining its profitability.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that it has reached global supply agreements to become a major tyre supplier to the Volvo Group in Europe and Brazil. Last month, Goodyear was named standard equipment tyre supplier for the Volvo Group’s Volvo and Mack truck operations in North America. Goodyear, with the three-year contracts, will now be a key supplier to the Volvo Group’s three major truck brands – Mack, Renault and Volvo – on three continents. “Reaching this global agreement with a world-class customer such as Volvo is a major accomplishment and a testament to Goodyear’s product quality, technology and customer service – not only on one continent, but on three,” said Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear’s chairman and chief executive officer.
Goodyear has won global agreements to supply OE tyres to the Volvo Group in Europe and Brazil, following the recent award of a North American supply contract. The three-year contracts mean that Goodyear will be a key supplier to Volvo’s three major truck brands – Mack, Renault and Volvo. The tyres will be produced at Goodyear’s factories in Danville (Kansas), Colmar Berg (Luxembourg), Wittlich (Germany), Kranj (Slovenia) and Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Michelin North America has announced a three-year supply agreement Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks. As a result of this continuing relationship, Michelin fleet customers will be able to specify the Michelin line-haul products they value on every Mack line-haul truck and Volvo VN highway tractors.
Goodyear has signed an agreement whereby its tyres will be fitted as standard on all Volvo trucks sold in North America over the next three years. The tyres will be manufactured at Goodyear’s plants at Danville and Topeka and products will include the new generation G395 LHS plus Goodyear’s complete commercial portfolio of application-specific tyres. The tyre manufacturer says it is delighted to be associated with a prestigious brand such as Volvo and expects considerable benefits in sales of replacement tyres.
Lithium Technology Corporation, has announced that together with its German lithium polymer battery company partner, GAIA, the two companies have completed and shipped their first prototype 42-Volt automotive battery to BMW under the auspices of the European Union-sponsored “Astor” program (Assessments and testing of advanced storage systems for propulsion and other electrical systems in passenger cars). The Astor consortium consists of seven European auto companies: VW, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Opel, Fiat, Volvo, and Peugeot. The prototype lithium battery, which is now undergoing testing in Europe, delivers 7-8 kiloWatts of power at ambient temperatures, with a capacity of 27 Amp-hours, a pulse power capability of up to 6 kiloWatts for starting at an operating temperature of -25 degrees C, and an estimated life of 8 years. The battery is designed to meet the 42-Volt battery specifications of the Astor project.
North American Truck sales have plummeted, down by as much as 50 per cent since the 1999 peak. There are signs that the downturn may spread to Europe. European truck manufacturers expect sales to fall by 15-20 per cent in 2002. Volvo has declared US deliveries of trucks down 40 per cent and a 21 per cent decline in Europe. Daf also expect to see the European market fall by 20-25 per cent this year.
Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook has received an order from Volvo to supply the spare tyre (size T 125/80 R17) for the models V70, S60 and S80, from 1st July this year. It is said that Michelin, who produced these tyres up till now, has delivery problems due to a reduction of production in Great Britain. The order from Volvo is worth around 5 million Euros and for Hankook, it is another foot in the Ford door after the company won its first OE order from Ford last year.
Hankook is to deliver spare tyres, size 125/80-17, for the Volvo models S 60, S 80, C 70 (Cabriolet) and V 70. The order volume is approx. 200,000 units and the profit margin is described as “satisfactory”. Hankook is also entering the OE business in China. The manufacturer is to deliver tyre sizes 195/65-15 (H and V-rated) as well as 205/60-15 (V-rated) for the VW models Passat and Bora.
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