Hankook Announces Ford Mondeo Contract
Goodyear Delays First Quarter Results
Former Kwik-Fit Director Joins Black Circles
Michelin and PT Gajah Tunggal Sign Co-operation Agreements

Castle Combe Again Chooses Cooper-Avon
Continental Sells Agricultural Tyre Unit to CGS Group
The Aftermarket Show Short-Listed for AEO Award
Bridgestone Europe Establishes New Company for Retread Sector
Max Power Live to Double Exhibition Space for Summer Spectacle
Higginson wins Stapletons Award
Continetwork Paves the Way on Roadside Safety
Virgin Limo Fleet Specifies Avon
Responsible Recyclers form Independent Body

Hankook Announces Ford Mondeo Contract

Since March this year Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook Tire has been supplying Ford in Europe with original equipment tyres for its successful Ford Mondeo model. The deal is part of a three year contract, which will see Hankook supply 140,000 tyres a year for the Mondeo between now and 2007. Hankook has thus become one of only six OE suppliers to the Mondeo, the other being Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, Goodyear and Pirelli.

Details of the contract and a presentation of Hankook's overall OE business were revealed by Executive Vice President of the Overseas Sales Division, Mr Hyun Shick Cho at a press conference held during the Reifen 2004 exhibition in Essen, Germany. Cho emphasised the importance of OE business in achieving access to new technology and developments as well as in achieving image gain for the Hankook brand. The company's long term aim, said Cho, was to establish Hankook as an OE brand, to maintain current OE customers and to develop new customers and models.

Hankook have been known as an OE supplier to Hyundai, Daewoo and Kia in Korea for a number of years but have begun to develop a solid base of OE contracts in other regions of the world in recent years. These include Ford in the USA, Ford and VW in Europe and Shanghai, VW, FAW VW and Nanjing Fiat in China. Hankook, in fact, have already committed themselves to a long term partnership with Ford. Last year the company signed two new five-year contracts to supply the American Ford models F-150 and Ecoline. The contracts have a total value of US $ 190 million.

The European contract with Ford, meanwhile, is a major success for Hankook and signifies substantial progress in the company's push to become an established OE supplier in Europe.The company will be supplying the Ventus Prime tyre for the Ford Mondeo, an asymmetrical high performance tyre designed for high mileage drivers.

Goodyear Delays First Quarter Results

Goodyear has announced that it is to delay the reporting of its full first quarter 2004 financial results. As the financial community was expecting full results, the company has provided a summary of the key first quarter figures. The delay is a result of the company's need for additional time to complete its financial statements for the first quarter.

The company said it expects to report record first quarter sales of approximately $4.3 billion, compared to $3.5 billion in the first quarter of 2003. Segment operating results are expected to improve significantly in six businesses, including North American Tire. The company's quarterly net loss is expected to be between $75 million and $85 million, which compares to a net loss of $196.5 million in the first quarter of 2003. The 2004 quarter will include rationalisation charges of about $20 million and income tax of approximately $55 million.

Former Kwik-Fit Director Joins Black Circles

The UK's fastest growing tyre retailer, Black Circles, has announced the appointment of the former Finance Director at Kwik Fit subsidiary 'Tyre Plus'. Bob Russell, who has over 20 years experience in the retail tyre trade joins the award winning Black Circles to lead the financial and commercial aspects of the fast growing business.

In his role at Tyre Plus, Bob Russell oversaw the financial operations of a chain of 263 outlets with a multi-million pound turnover. Black Circles appointed former Kwik Fit Group Finance Director Graeme Bissett as the company's chairman in January 2004.

Mike Welch, Black Circles' Managing Director said, "There are very few people with the level of experience in the retail tyre market as Bob and its is his pioneering background that will assist Black Circles' continued drive into the mainstream 'high street' market. Securing the services of such an experienced industry professional is a tremendous endorsement of the Black Circles innovative approach to tyre selling.

Black Circles was formed in 2001 and has over 800 approved tyre fitting outlets across the UK and around 20,000 registered customers. The company also operates the tyre sales function on the Tyres-Online website.

Blackcircles can be visited at www.blackcircles.com

Michelin and PT Gajah Tunggal Sign Co-operation Agreements

Michelin & PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk (GT) have announced the signing of business co-operation agreements focused on the manufacture of passenger car tyres for Michelin markets and distribution activities in Indonesia. Under the manufacturing agreement, GT will manufacture a selected range of Michelin Group's associated brands of car tyres (excluding the Michelin brand), including high speed rated tyres, for various markets served by Michelin. Michelin and GT have also, in this context, announced that Michelin has acquired 10% of GT share capital.

Under the distribution agreement, GT will distribute in Indonesia, through its extensive network, a selected range of Michelin Group's passenger car and light truck tyres, including Michelin and BFGoodrich brands, for the replacement market. This agreement will enhance GT's and Michelin's distribution and market positions in Indonesia. Both companies agree that the co-operation will have long term benefits for both Michelin and GT, and allow them to better serve the customer segments in their respective markets, through a richer brand and product offer.

The investment in Gajah Tunggal marks Michelin's third investment in Asian tyre manufacturers in recent years. The company already has similar co-operations and minority shareholding in Hankook Tire (Korea) and Apollo Tyres (India)

Castle Combe Again Chooses Cooper-Avon

Cooper-Avon Tyres has announced that it has renewed its contract as the official tyre supplier to the Castle Combe Racing School. The company's ZZ3 and ZV3 high oerformance tyres will be fitted to Castle Combe's fleet of Subaru Impreza WRX's, Ford Focus Zetecs and single seater Formula Fords. During 2004, around 3500 budding racers are expected to use the school's facilities.

Continental Sells Agricultural Tyre Unit to CGS Group

Continental AG and the CGS Group of Prague in the Czech Republic, have announced that they are expanding their business cooperation, part of which will involve Continental's agricultural tyres business unit being acquired by the CGS Group and integrated into their tyre division. Continental views this to be a good opportunity for the unit to attain a better position internationally, since CGS is working intensively on further developing its areas of industrial, agricultural and motorcycle tyres, currently sold under the Mitas brand name.

At the same time, Continental has confirmed that the move is another step towards implementing the company's strategy of leaving those business sectors that do not belong to the core business of the corporation. In connection with the transfer of the business unit, agreements have also been made governing the use of the Continental, Semperit, Barum and Euzkadi trademarks by CGS. Furthermore, for the transitional period Continental will be assisting several areas to ensure continuity in the wide variety of services provided to customers.

The Aftermarket Show Short-Listed for AEO Award

Following the successful debut of The Aftermarket Show at the NEC earlier this year, Haymarket Exhibitions has been short-listed in the 'Best Launch Show - Trade' category of awards sponsored by the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO). Nominated from 25 entrants in the hotly-contested launch show category, The Aftermarket Show combined three events in one and drew together suppliers of component parts, garage equipment, automotive accessories, tyres, wheels and accessories.

"A key component of our strategy was to run the new trade show alongside Autosport International, an established motorsport event for consumers that has always attracted trade visitors in large numbers," said Giles Brown, group sales manager for Haymarket Exhibitions. The plan proved effective, as the number of dedicated aftermarket trade visitors was twice the pre-show target figure.

Giles Brown was delighted that the Haymarket team's efforts had been recognised with a nomination for one of the AEO's prestigious awards. He added: "It wasn't just about re-styling the traditional concept of trade shows in this sector. It was also about convincing exhibitors that visitors of the right calibre could be delivered to their stands in sufficient numbers. That's exactly what happened." More than 24,500 dedicated trade visitors came to the NEC in January as part of a combined total of 91,000 business and motorsport enthusiasts who visited The Aftermarket Show and Autosport International. The Aftermarket Show will return to the NEC from 13-16 January 2005.

Bridgestone Europe Establishes New Company for Retread Sector

Bridgestone Europe NV/SA has announced that it has formed a new subsidiary company, Bridgestone Retread Systems NV/SA, in a joint venture with Italian retread specialist Marangoni Tread S.p.A as minority partner. The new company, headed by Managing Director Ing. Marcello Gambarini, will have its dedicated headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Effective June 1st 2004, Bridgestone Retread Systems will service all of Bridgestone's truck tyre retreading activities in Europe, and will provide a central, single source of supply and support to the growing Bridgestone Federated Retreader network. The portfolio of this new company will cover the full range of products, equipment and services required by the retreader. Quality systems and technical expertise will feature strongly in the support services provided to the Federated Retreaders.

The joint venture with Marangoni Tread, including its sister company Ellerbrock R.T. GmbH, will allow for Bridgestone Retread Systems to benefit from technical expertise and to distribute a selected range of Marangoni products to the Federated Retreaders. The Marangoni products will complement the Bridgestone range and enable the retreader to meet the clients' requirements.

In parallel with the creation of this new company, and also under the " Qualitread " brand, Bridgestone is launching an extended range of pre-cured treads featuring the same class-leading technology which has driven the success of their new truck tyres. The formation of Bridgestone Retread Systems is an important step in expanding the availability of Bridgestone's total tyre care packages, facilitating a Europe-wide service through it's Truck Point network, and enabling fleet operators to extract maximum value from their investment in Bridgestone truck tyres.

Max Power Live to Double Exhibition Space for Summer Spectacle

Max Power Live, Britain's biggest modified car show, will be parking up in Birmingham's NEC for its sixth consecutive year from Friday 2nd through to Sunday 4th July 2004. The popular event, a joint collaboration between Haymarket Exhibitions and Emap Automotive, has increased in size yet again, doubling its exhibition space and taking up over 590,000 sq ft of the NEC.

This year the organisers of Max Power Live are expecting to see more than 65,000 car enthusiasts cross the threshold to catch a glimpse of the latest in performance, tuning, styling and 'In Car Entertainment' (ICE). Last year the event proved a massive success for exhibitors and sponsors with 60,000 visitors spending a total of £7.4 million across the three days of the exhibition. Max Power Live will be open from 9.00am - 6.30pm on Friday 2nd July, Saturday 3rd July and Sunday 4th July. Tickets are priced at £24 per day and VIP lanyards at £30. Both can be purchased from the Birmingham NEC Box Office on hotline number 0870 902 0444 or online at www.maxpowerlive.com

Higginson wins Stapletons Award

Daniel Higginson is celebrating winning the annual Stapletons Tyres Top Technician award for 2004, sponsored by Bridgestone UK. Daniel has worked for Stapletons Tyres - one of the largest tyre retailers in the UK - for two years. The award tests tyre technicians on a range of criteria including customer care, technical competence, quality of work, and the ability to work both individually and as part of a team. Daniel was awarded a certificate, trophy, and a holiday of his choice - courtesy of Bridgestone UK - at a ceremony at Huntingdon Race Course.

Continetwork Paves the Way on Roadside Safety

ContiNetwork is calling for further clarity within the motor industry following a successful forum organised earlier this year by the ContiNetwork in London which discussed the potential dangers associated with breaking down at the roadside. It is common knowledge that often due to ignorance and simply lack of knowledge of how to behave correctly at the roadside, too many people are killed and injured on hard shoulders every year. The hard shoulder on motorways and dual carriageways is all too often seen as a refuge for those who are unable to continue their journey. However, most drivers are unaware of the severe dangers and consequences of spending any amount of time in this area.

The ContiNetwork Roadside Safety Forum brought together representatives from the haulage and recovery sectors, police and Highways Agency, which raised debate from all aspects of the industry. The forum highlighted that there is significant confusion surrounding the correct procedure when parked or attending a breakdown on the hard shoulder. Some of the factors that were discussed included: Does the driver stay in the vehicle? Does the driver put their hazards lights on? Who should be informed? How should the vehicle best be parked?

There appears to be conflicting advice within the industry on this issue. As a result of the forum, the ContiNetwork has developed a guide offering some practical advice and tips for all involved at the roadside as to how to minimise their risk and best proceed in such circumstances. (To obtain a copies, please call 01895 425 927).

Jeff Book, Product Manager of the ContiNetwork, said: "The topics discussed and the considerable debate at the forum demonstrates the importance of bringing together representatives across the industry to raise roadside safety as an issue. It is clear that it urgently needs to be addressed if the UK is to reduce the death tolls and injuries, which take place at the roadside. ContiNetwork hopes that the forum will result in helping to encourage the industry to come to a unified approach on correct procedure at the roadside."

Backed by Continental, ContiNetwork is a nationwide network of independent partners providing an exceptional commercial tyre service to local, regional and national fleets. Each partner has been individually selected to provide the highest level of service focusing on supplying and maintaining tyres on commercial vehicles. ContiNetwork has over 200 partner locations and over 500 breakdown response vans.

Virgin Limo Fleet Specifies Avon

Virgin Limo Bikes Ltd, part of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Empire, has specified Avon Azaro-ST sport touring tyres for its fleet of Yamaha FJR1300 limo bikes. The bikes, which operate 365 days a year in all weather conditions, are a familiar sight in and around London where they aim to carry passengers to their destinations far more quickly than any other form of ground transport.

Ceri Mort, general manager of Virgin Limo Bikes said, "The bikes and the tyres get worked hard and we've found the Azaro-STs inspire high levels ofconfidence in both the wet and the dry. They are comfortable too, which is important for our passengers. And from a commercial perspective, they return very high mileages, allowing us to keep our running costs down".

Responsible Recyclers form Independent Body

The Tyre Industry Council's Responsible Recycler Scheme, created to introduce world class standards for the collection and management of post consumer tyres, is to become an independent industry body in its own right. The Scheme, which is already home to some twenty-one tyre collectors and reprocessors, has reached its current level of membership in little more than four years and accounts for the bulk of UK used tyre collections and reprocessing. The new body, which will retain its affiliation to the TIC is to be known as the Tyre Recovery Association and will officially come into being by mid-summer this year. The present members of the Responsible Recycler Scheme will each be founder members of the new body, which like others in the industry will take the form of 'Company Limited by Guarantee'. The new association will share its registered offices with that of the British Rubber Manufacturers' Association at 6, Bath Place, Rivington Street, London.