l DHS 20 /- USD 5.99/- ARY 2014 U JAN l ISSUE 88 The Middle East’s First Automotive, Tires & Parts News Source MERCEDES UNVEILS VIRTUAL CAR TO MARK GRAN TOURISMO ANNIVERSARY Hot Products / Page 64 NIKON 1 AW1 CAMERA Bespoke tires Specifically designed and produced for you. ART 1100 ART 1200 ART 1300 ART 1400 ART 1500 ART 1600 ART 1700 ART 1900 Guided by the main principles of value, trust, honesty and quality Alexia tires has been proudly manufacturing commercial and OTR tires from Asia with the intention to fill a gap in the replacement tire market. Alexia Tires believes in delivering the greatest value, quality and service without com- promising on innovation and style. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Alexia Tires is passionate about its work. We bring to the market unique tire products and designs that specialize in the manufacturing of custom products that fit the market requirements of the day. Alexia’s strength lies in its flexibility and its ability to listen to the demands of the market and make subsequent swift changes as needed. Alexia Tires is a global company comprised of passionate designers and engineers who continue to use the latest technology to deliver the most innovative and original tires in the market. With worldwide distribution, Alexia Tires looks forward to further reaching out to the masses with truly one of a kind products and continuing to be trailblazers in the industry. www.alexiatires.com For exclusive territory enquiries pls contact [email protected]. Bespoke tires Specifically designed and produced for you. ART 1100 ART 1200 ART 1300 ART 1400 ART 1500 ART 1600 ART 1700 ART 1900 Guided by the main principles of value, trust, honesty and quality Alexia tires has been proudly manufacturing commercial and OTR tires from Asia with the intention to fill a gap in the replacement tire market. Alexia Tires believes in delivering the greatest value, quality and service without com- promising on innovation and style. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Alexia Tires is passionate about its work. We bring to the market unique tire products and designs that specialize in the manufacturing of custom products that fit the market requirements of the day. Alexia’s strength lies in its flexibility and its ability to listen to the demands of the market and make subsequent swift changes as needed. Alexia Tires is a global company comprised of passionate designers and engineers who continue to use the latest technology to deliver the most innovative and original tires in the market. With worldwide distribution, Alexia Tires looks forward to further reaching out to the masses with truly one of a kind products and continuing to be trailblazers in the industry. www.alexiatires.com For exclusive territory enquiries pls contact [email protected]. Publisher’s NOTE The month of December has brought the year to a festive end. Greetings of the season and a very Happy New Year to all our readers! The New Year is also that time of the year when we make resolutions that we will break a few days down the line. There is however one resolution we all should make and keep - that we will check the condition of our brakes and tires on a regular basis. Turn to page 38 to find out more about why regular checks can dramatically increase your safety and that of others on the roads. The volatile price of natural rubber is a source of great concern for all tire manufacturers. This has led many of them to invest millions of dollars in research projects that may possibly make it easier and cheaper to manufacture synthetic rubber of high quality. Turn to page 42 to find out more about Michelin’s efforts in this direction. I had the good fortune to visit Automechanika Shanghai as a guest and meet hundreds of professionals in the automotive industry. What struck me most was the sense of anticipation they all had going into the New Year with sales zooming and new models being launched in all categories. Our industry is one that has evolved at an amazing pace through the years with new concepts like hybrid vehicles and airless tires taking the market by storm on a regular basis. It looks like the Middle East, China and Africa are going to be the markets where all the action is going to be. One thing I can guarantee in this New Year and in all the years to come……we will do our best to keep our readers informed of all the latest developments in the world of cars, tires and parts. Once again, wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!! Hamid Moaref Publisher 5 tirespartsmag.com JANUARY 2014 / coNteNts PORSCHE CAYENNE GOES Publisher Hamid Moaref PLATINUMPAGE 27 Editor Ali Reza Sub Editors Sonja Baikogli Sherry Chen Manju Mathew Merivict Sales & Marketing Ahmad Aji Design Shabeer Aziz Praful Circulation Assistants Mariam Thaha Sasi Pillai Dilfar Contributors Peter Baikogli Arezou Marzara Farsh Shafikhani Kristen Koulic Media Representative for Taiwan and China Media Federal Co., Ltd. Tel : +886-2-77081168 Fax: +886-2-77082077 18th Floor, No.114, Sec. 1, XinTai 5th Rd., Xizhi District, New Taipei City 22102, Taiwan, R.O.C. Publishers Note : All images, designs,lay out and advertise- ments are copyrighted. Any attempt to recreate, plagiarize or copy in part or in whole is violation of international copy- right laws. While compiling this issue of Tires & Parts, the utmost care and attention has been given to ensure that all information is ac- curate. Morjan Media is not responsible for the accuracy of content provided by third CEAT Partners with AW Rostamani to bring party sources. La Ferrari Proves to Be a Bestseller Bosch Receives EU Approval for Cars PAGE 12 To submit news and content please Passenger Tires to the UAE Market PAGE 34 with Eco-Innovation PAGE 52 email to : [email protected] Please note: by submitting news and con- tent to Morjan Media for publication in Jaguar-Land Rover Crosses One 14 Apollo Brings Vredstein Tires to 30 Bulldog LED Lighting Bags SEMA 53 Tires & Parts you automatically agree that Million Mark at Halewood Plant India Global Media Award Morjan Media is not obliged to publish Mercedes Unveils Virtual Car to Nexen Gets Volkswagen Seal of this content. Furthermore,Morjan Media 16 37 Centric Parts Bags Double AIA 54 reserves the right to further edit and or Mark Gran Tourismo Anniversary Approval Awards at AAPEX Show reduce the size of any content or news The MINI has a Car for Every Kind Giti Tire Wins Maiden Tiresafe Award stories sent for publication. 18 42 of Driver Hot products 64 TIA applauds Automotive Tires & Parts’ efforts to bring the latest tire and automotive news to the Middle East. For more information on TIA, visit www.tireindustry.org Morjan Media L.L.C P.O.Box 7830, Dubai, U.A.E For administrative inquiries or for a copy of our media kit please Contact : +971 4 2270096 / [email protected] / www.tirespartsmag.com ExportTeemu Manager, Nokian V Tiresalta Plc 8 tirespartsmag.com Nokian Tires is a Finnish manufacturer of premium Of all the tires in the Nokian tire range, and mid segment winter tires. tires for cars, trucks, buses, and heavy-duty which tire is the most successful one and In Central Europe, the company equipment. The company has been in the tire why? has gained market share during business from 1932 and has won many awards 2013 in all product segments, It is by far our Hakkapeliitta winter tire, which for its contributions to safety and environmental especially in winter tires as well came out the first time in 1936 after we had sustainability. We had an opportunity to speak to as SUV winter and summer invented the world´s first winter tire in 1934. Mr. Teemu Valta, the Export Manager of Nokian tires. The GCC market is a very From then on, all Hakkapeliitta tires have Tires Plc when we visited the Nokian factory near promising one for Nokian Tires achieved several wins in tests conducted by St. Petersburg as part of a trip organized for the and the sales growth here is both Finnish and international magazines. top dealers of Nokian Tires in the Middle East. expected to be the highest in The tires have many technological the company. However, this is Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you innovations that improve the grip in mainly due to the reason that came to be a part of the Nokian Tires family? demanding weather conditions, reduce the we have been in the market rolling resistance and consequently fuel only from the beginning of I just turned 40 years old. I came to be a part of the consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. 2011. Nokian Tires family in May 2011, when the company was looking for new recruits to join their sales Customers in this region are quite familiar Nokian has recently decided department. I was fortunate to be hired as the Export with brands like Pirelli, Bridgestone and to integrate the heavy tires Manager. I have been dealing with international Michelin. What plans do you have to and truck tires divisions into business for about a decade and this is my first job in increase the brand recognition for Nokian the commercial tires unit from the tire industry. I am very proud and pleased to be a Tires in this region? January 2014 onwards. At a member of the Nokian Tires family. Like any new product, we should focus on time when all companies are focusing on decentralization, What do you like most about working at Nokian brand awareness that creates the exposure required in the market.