European Launch for Bridgestone Ecopia Truck Range
In early September, Bridgestone released its latest European market Ecopia passenger car tyre. The introduction of this environment-oriented product has now been followed up with the European launch of an Ecopia truck tyre range. At the IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany, Bridgestone Europe CEO Mac Ohashi formally announced the line-up’s debut in our region.
“Today, I am pleased to announce the launch of a new range of Ecopia truck tyres and retreads,” stated Ohashi at a press launch held on September 22. “With these tyres we want to help truck operators to reduce their costs even further and contribute towards the protection of the environment.”
An Ecopia range for commercial vehicles has been available on the Japanese market since 2002, and Bridgestone Europe CEO reports it has been “well received” by truck operators there. The Ecopia line-up we are receiving in Europe differs from its Japanese counterpart, as Ohashi explained. “Our development teams have now produced a range of steer, drive and trailer tyres tuned for the European market of highway oriented fleet operators. This range builds on the already proven and popular R249 steer and M749 drive patterns, as you can see, which give long durability and excellent retreadability, and now the rolling resistance has been improved. We are adding to these a completely new trailer tyre, the R109 Ecopia.
“This Ecopia range includes fuel efficiency, with an up to 12 per cent reduction in rolling resistance, for complete tractor-trailer combination compared to the previous line-up,” Ohashi continued. “The big step forward is made without any compromise in any other tyre performances. It is achieved by applying new technologies.”
The Ecopia truck tyre range is now available in Europe in what Bridgestone calls the “most popular” sizes. These most sought after fitments will be joined by other sizes in the near future and Bridgestone anticipates a full size line-up being available by the first quarter of 2011. Most of the Ecopia truck tyres sold in Europe will be manufactured in Bridgestone’s two European truck tyre plants, although some additional supplies will also be imported from Japan.
In keeping with the environmental emphasis attached to the Ecopia brand name, Bridgestone has launched a retread product alongside the new tyre range. “At Bridgestone we clearly recognise the needs of truck operators to reduce their operating costs and that retreading of truck tyres is one of the big contributors to managing costs. In response to this need, we have also developed a range of Ecopia retread patterns that reduce rolling resistance,” stated Ohashi upon announcing the range’s introduction. “By introducing Ecopia patterns in both new and retread applications we are underlying our commitment to a total tyre life fleet solution.” At present the M749 and R109 Ecopia patterns are available in a retreadable option.
“Today is an important day for Bridgestone Europe, as we prepare ourselves for the coming challenges with a state of the art range of truck tyres,” concluded Mac Ohashi.
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