Westlake signs Spanish bus, truck tyre distribution deal

Westlake Tyres has signed a contract with Grupo Driver España, the tyre shop and automotive maintenance garage network, to sell and distribute its truck and bus tyres through its Spanish network. Eskay Tyres – part of the Al Dobowi Group and distributor of the brand in Spain – penned the deal, which will commence in February 2012. Grupo Driver España is 51 per cent owned by Pirelli, the remainder belongs to dealer partners. It announced the Westlake tyre deal during its Annual Partners Convention which this year was held in Seville. Miguel Delgado, Grupo Driver’s General Director, said that the deal struck with Westlake “is not exclusive and we will start receiving our first shipment of tyres in early February.”

Delgado explained Grupo Driver España’s choice to work with Westlake, expanding its truck tyre range: “Westlake is a first class quality brand, made by a serious manufacturer, and that was the first factor. In second place, I would point out the competitive and reasonable price offered by Westlake. Thirdly, it was because the brand is not present in the Spanish market yet and here at Driver we are convinced that there is room for it and that it has great growth potential.”

Jorge Crespo, European sales manager of Eskay Tyres, said that Grupo Driver “really is the best dealer to help market Westlake in Spain. Their level of expertise will also ensure that Westlake in Spain will be well looked after and will grow as a brand.”

Grupo Driver will sell, among others, Westlake’s tyres: CR960, available in 12 sizes, CR960A, available in 18 sizes, and the CR976A, available in 28 sizes, all used for the steering and trailer axles. For the drive axle, Westlake offers the CM986 in 12 sizes and for mixed service, the Westlake CR926B radial tyre.

Grupo Driver, which is also present in Italy, Germany, Poland and Greece, is Spain’s fourth largest tyre shop network with 190 garages all over the peninsula, as well as the Balearic and the Canary Islands.