Bridgestone and its subsidiary Webfleet Solutions have reached an agreement with Scoobic Urban Mobility to provide an integrated solutions package for Scoobic customers. All new Scoobic vehicles will be equipped with factory-installed fleet management technology from Webfleet Solutions, and will be fitted with premium Bridgestone tyres. Bridgestone’s retail network of service locations specialising in tyres and integrated car maintenance will maintain Scoobic’s electric fleet and replace tyres when necessary. 

The European-level agreement covers operations in all countries where both companies are active. Service is already being provided in Spain, France and Italy, and will soon be expanded to other markets such as Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, the company said in a statement.  

Daniel Giroud, CSO, Bridgestone EMIA, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Scoobic to help achieve more sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility. The partnership underpins our commitments to provide an end-to-end suite of integrated services to enable safe and sustainable mobility, through supporting the electrification of fleets in the distribution sector and to reduce polluting gas emissions in cities. With simplified EV management, charging and maintenance we are helping companies to manage their electric vehicles in a smarter and more profitable way.” 

Scoobic, which aims to be at the forefront of the last-mile delivery market segment in Europe, offers public and private operators last-mile delivery and urban mobility services through its 100 percent electric fleet of vehicles, on a pay-per-use model. At the same time, Scoobic will leverage the telematics data to provide advanced proactive maintenance services to its customers, which include Correos, Amazon, Carrefour and Heineken. 

Throughout the region, Bridgestone will be putting its entire retail network at the disposal of Scoobic, enabling access to continuous fleet maintenance. Bridgestone’s EV-ready retail and service network which includes First Stop and Speedy, will supply premium tyres and vehicle maintenance to Scoobic’s electric vehicles. In addition to this, First Stop Spain will also provide charging services to these vehicles via its growing network of charging points. 

Jose Maria Gómez, CEO, Scoobic, said, “This agreement has many advantages for Scoobic customers. It provides them the opportunity to improve workforce efficiency by up to 30 percent while also decarbonising their business and reducing their environmental footprint in cities. In addition, they will also be able to take advantage of the state-of-the-art, innovative, factory-installed fleet management systems and optimisation tools offered by Webfleet Solutions, as well as a highly experienced and widespread network of car service centres for maintenance.” (TT)  

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”