Giti Tire
Giti Tire has appointed Richard Hutchins to the newly created position of senior product marketing manager – Europe for its Truck and Bus Division (TBR). The manufacturer said that Hutchins will be instrumental in new product developments and implementation of TBR tyres into OE and replacement markets. He will also contribute to product strategy, including technical, competitor, pricing and market analysis.
A summer 2015 launch date has been announced for a new GT Radial tyre range that aims to meet demand in the growing SUV and CUV segments. The Savero SUV is a tyre designed primarily for on-road driving and targets vehicles such as the Nissan Qashqai, Dacia Duster, Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage, Opel Mokka, VW Tiguan and the new Renault Kadjar.
The Tuscan hills south of Montepulciano during an unusually warm and sunny spring are an idyllic setting for most occasions. Yet the choice of location for the official launch of GT Radial’s Champiro FE1 passenger car tyre was more significant than just as one of the world’s most picturesque places. The tyre is designed to tackle what Fabio Pecci-Boriani (senior product marketing manager – PCR, Giti Tire) described as “one of the most important market sectors – 15-17”, H-W speed rated, 50-65 series.” Positioned as an all-round premium passenger car tyre for C and D vehicles (including such bestsellers as the Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 308 and Kia Cee’d) the tyre now has more than 95 per cent coverage of its target sector, following the introduction of nine new sizes (the FE1 was first (soft) launched in 2014).
The strong representation of the tyre and wheel business at April’s Commercial Vehicle Show 2015 proved that the show is considered an increasingly important platform for those within the business. Indeed, Giti Tire’s notably larger stand, effectively re-launching its corporate identity, and the presence of Pirelli after a decade of non-attendance – alongside strong commitments from all the leading UK CV brands; major CV tyre wholesalers, Kirkby Tyres, RH Claydon and Kings Road Tyres; fleet servicing companies; and garage machinery providers.
Following its week at the Birmingham NEC for this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show, Giti Tire said that it “registered record visitor numbers” to its new look stand. The manufacturer was displaying its new GT Radial GDR638 drive axle tyre, among others, from a large stand incorporating its corporate colours alongside its flagship GT Radial branding for the first time. The manufacturer said the use of its Giti branding was part of a plan to raise its profile worldwide in support of global infrastructure projects, such as the new $560m manufacturing and distribution plant in Chester County, South Carolina.
An event was held yesterday to mark the official start of work on Giti Tire’s new facility in the USA. Local and company dignitaries, including Giti Tire executive chairman Enki Tan, were present at the Chester County site in South Carolina to mark the groundbreaking with a ceremonial shovelful of soil.
Stephan Giesecke has been appointed Giti Tire’s first dedicated truck and bus marketing manager for the GT Radial brand in the D-A-CH region. The tyre maker has employed Giesecke in this German, Austrian and Swiss market role to assist its aims of further boosting the brand’s profile and augmenting sales.
Work on Giti Tire’s new factory site in the US will be commenced by Brad Cole Construction, a firm said to be one of the largest heavy civil construction companies in the southern United States. The company will ready 250 acres of the 1,152 acre site, and will clear land, compact soil, install drainage and perform other related tasks. The contract calls for Brad Cole’s work to be largely complete by 1 July 2015.
Giti Tire (USA) has raised its US prices by 9.5 per cent in response to the countervailing duties introduced by the country’s government. The increases affect all passenger and light truck tyres (excluding ST tyres) produced by Giti in China, and are effective from 1 January 2015. US industry journal Tire Review revealed the anticipated price hike had been implemented as a result of the 11.74 per cent adjusted countervailing duties imposed by the US Department of Commerce on Giti Tire Fujian Co Ltd. Giti said it was still “committed” to the US market.
In a letter sent 16 December, the Governor of South Carolina requested the US Department of Commerce re-evaluate the 17.69 per cent tariff that applies to all consumer tyres Giti Tire imports into the US from China. Governor Nikki Haley highlighted Giti Tire’s plans to build a plant in Chester Country, South Carolina, and stated that the tariff “inequitably affects Giti’s business.”
Giti Tire has strengthened its passenger and light truck tyre division in the German-speaking, or D-A-CH region with the appointment of Thomas Wurst-Kornacker as retail network development manager and Katharina Kremer as marketing manager.
Giti Tire’s GT Radial brand is continuing to establish itself in the UK’s commercial vehicle market, and part of this process is its visibility at important trade shows. Having taken part in the CV Show in April, the brand was back at the Birmingham NEC to make its Euro Bus Expo debut, displaying recently launched […]
Giti Tire expresses confidence that its new Champiro FE1 will become one of the biggest sellers within its GT Radial brand portfolio. The new range was officially unveiled at the Reifen 2014 show in May, and the manufacturer has now provided some further details on the line-up. It says the Champiro FE1 is available in Europe from October 2014 onwards in 18 sizes for 15 to 17-inch rim diameters and in T to W speed ratings.
Giti Tire and exclusive distributor Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) have completed a programme of 12 customer roadshows throughout the UK. Showcasing GT Radial Performance Centres (GTPC), the events, which took place between August to October, were attended by more than 80 new and existing GTPC partners, the manufacturer states.
It’s been a year since Tyres & Accessories first met the recently-appointed head of Giti Tire’s new R&D Centre Europe. At the time, R&D director Stefan Fischer shared the tyre maker’s plans and showed off the still largely-empty premises where specialists would soon be hard at work. A lot has changed in 12 months: Upon returning to the Hannover, Germany-based facility, we saw it was well and truly up and running and, in the important area of original equipment development, even further established than originally planned.
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