SRI gains Lexus, Nissan OE approvals
Dunlop run-flat tyres manufactured by Sumitomo Rubber Industries will be fitted as original equipment on the Lexus LS in North America as well as on the latest Nissan GT-R and GT-R Nismo in certain markets.
Dunlop run-flat tyres manufactured by Sumitomo Rubber Industries will be fitted as original equipment on the Lexus LS in North America as well as on the latest Nissan GT-R and GT-R Nismo in certain markets.
In order to clear any consfusion arising from the announcement that Michelin and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) are forming a joint venture to pool tyre wholesale resources in the USA and Mexico, the Micheldever Group has issued a statement stressing that it is not in any way connected with Sumitomo Corporation or its North American subsidiary.
With the creation of a 50-50 joint venture, Michelin North America Inc. says it and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas will form the second-largest player in the United States’ wholesale tyre market. The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their respective North American replacement tyre distribution and related service operations. The transaction is subject to customary approvals.
Masatsugu Nishino has been named the new president of Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ factory in Turkey. Currently chief executive officer of Falken Tyre Europe, a position he has held since April 2015, Nishino will take up his new role with Sumitomo Rubber AKO Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. on 1 January 2018. Nishino’s successor as Falken Tyre Europe’s CEO has been named as Mitsuteru Tanigawa, who will assume the position from January.
Further to news from Micheldever wholesale director Alan Baldwin that the Sumitomo tyre brand is coming to the UK and Europe and will be positioned as an entry-level mid-range brand beneath the Falken brand, the sales director for Falken Tyre Europe’s replacement market business in Germany has shared details on the range heading our way.
Falken’s status as the official tyre partner of Liverpool Football Club is one of the latest in an extended series of tyre and football partnerships. Tyres & Accessories took the opportunity of Falken’s first event at Anfield to ask director and senior executive officer, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Yutaka Kuroda and chief commercial officer and managing director at Liverpool FC Billy Hogan to illustrate how the partnership will be used to benefit both parties. In addition to the particular synergies between the club and tyre brand, their answers also illustrate why there has been such a boom in partnerships between top-tier football clubs and tyres in recent years.
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The Tokyo Motor Show 2017 is currently taking place, and visitors to the biennial event are amongst the first to see Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ new Smart Tyre Concept from Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd (SRI). The aim of this new concept, shares the tyre maker, is to “aid in the development of tyres that provide balanced safety and environmental performance at higher levels than ever before.” The launch will be followed by the commercial introduction of tyres containing technologies seen in the Smart Tyre Concept, as well as further concept products, over the coming decade.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries has announced a new original equipment supply arrangement for the North American market. The tyre maker has begun supplying the Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S to Subaru Corporation for fitment on its new Crosstrek (known as the Subaru XV in other market). A size 225/55R18 98H tyre has been selected for the Crosstrek.
According to a permit issued by a state authority, car tyre capacity at Sumitomo Rubber USA’s plant in Tonawanda, New York will double to 10,000 tyres per day. In addition to its existing production of 5,000 motorcycle tyres per day and 2,000 medium truck/bus tyres per day, this expansion will lift the plant’s annual rubber production capacity to 250 million pounds or 113,400 tonnes.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd reports it is supplying its Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tyre for original equipment fitment on versions of the Nissan Fairlady Z Nismo sold in Japan. The Dunlop tyre is being fitted to the Nissan (which is sold as the 370Z in other markets) in size 245/40R19 98W XL (front) and 285/35R19 103W XL rear.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries shares that its Dunlop Enasave EC300+ is being fitted as a factory standard tyre on the latest generation Mitsubishi Xpander crossover MPV in certain markets in Asia. The eco tyre is being supplied to Mitsubishi in sizes 85/65R15 88S and 205/55R16 91V.
In response to recently reported news about plans for its factory in the USA, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) states that the plant in Buffalo, New York will deliver original equipment Dunlop tyres to Japanese car manufacturers in the future. A representative of SRI stressed to Tyrepress.com that it is the make to order tyre production commissioned by Goodyear that will reduce and then stop entirely in 2018.
For the second quarter of 2017, Sumitomo Rubber Industries has reported sales of 403,777 million yen (£2.8 billion), a 12.4 per cent year-on-year increase. Operating income during the three months to 30 June declined 27.1 per cent to 21,236 million yen (£147.0 million), while net income, at 12,429 million yen (£86.0 million), was down 31.0 per cent year-on-year.
When the global joint venture between Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) ended in 2015, the Goodyear tyre plant in Buffalo, New York became a SRI asset. Production of Dunlop branded tyres destined for fitment as original equipment on new vehicles nevertheless continued, however it seems SRI intends to discontinue this arrangement next year.
The DFL-Supercup, a football match held between the winners of the previous Bundesliga championship and the DFB-Pokal, will be held tomorrow in the German city of Dortmund and see local team Borussia Dortmund take on Bayern Munich. Falken branding will be visible during the day’s proceedings thanks to Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ return as a DFL-Supercup sponsor for a second year.
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