Falken to Phase-Out Ohtsu

Falken Tire Corp is to discontinue the marketing and distribution the Ohtsu medium truck tyre. The move will become effective from 1 January 2005.

Itochu International, the exclusive distributor of Ohtsu medium truck tyres in the western half of the United States since the 1970s, will take over the tyres’ distribution throughout the US and Canada. In China Falken brand tyres are exclusively distributed by one of the biggest wholesalers in the world, Singapore based, Stamford Tyres.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries Officially absorbed its Ohtsu Tire & Rubber Co Ltd subsidiary in 2003. In light of this it is interesting to note that Europe based wholesalers Stapletons’ (UK) and Reifen Gundlach (Germany) are both owned by the Itochu Group.

Giving up the distribution rights to Falken will allow the company “to concentrate 100 per cent of its efforts on the Falken brand,” a brand which the company says has experienced dramatic growth over the last few years. Falken says it will work closely with Itochu “to ensure the smooth and trouble-free transition” for Ohtsu medium truck tyre customers.