Sumitomo Rubber Australia opens – direct tyre distribution begins

On 30 April, Sumitomo Rubber Industries held an opening ceremony for Sumitomo Rubber Australia Pty. Ltd., its new tyre sales corporation in Australia. Sumitomo Rubber Australia was founded in December 2014 as a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation (SRI holds a 75 per cent equity share), and it began operating in March 2015.

At the opening ceremony, Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ president, Ikuji Ikeda, said “Sumitomo Rubber Australia shall strengthen the sale activity by offering the new products that will be attractive to the Australian market. Sumitomo Rubber Australia’s mission statement is to become the most respected tyre company in Australia.”

Following the purchase of Transport Tyre Sales, which previously distributed the Falken tyre brand in Australia, and Sumitomo brand wholesaler Summit Tyres Australia Pty Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Australia now manages and operates the importation, stocks and sales of both brands in Australia. It has also taken over the 31-outlet City Discount Tyres franchise network from Summit.

According to Sumitomo Rubber Industries, the aim of Sumitomo Rubber Australia is to “strive to improve customer satisfaction while expanding sales of replacement tyres in Australia.” It intends to achieve this through various sales and franchising activities and by introducing new products that match local market needs.

Sumitomo Rubber Australia had 56 employees as of March 2015 and is headquartered in the former Transport Tyre Sales premises in Chipping Norton, Sydney. The operation is headed by Kenichi Furuhama. “The Australian tyre market offers stable growth for SRI so we decided to enhance our sales levels here by acquiring control of the sales of Falken and Sumitomo brand tyres,” said Furuhama. “Our strategy moving forward for Falken tyres is working closely with top retailers and increasing the number of authorised dealers. The strategy for Sumitomo tyres is to increase authorised dealers as well as manage the City Discount Tyres franchise stores.”