Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) has finalised its motorsports schedule for 2018, and plans for this year will see it continue supplying its Falken and Dunlop brand tyres to various two-wheel and four-wheel race categories.
In the past financial year, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) significantly increased its sales revenue, and the company’s European business played its part in achieving this result. Overall sales rose 16.0 per cent to 756.70 billion yen (£5.1 billion).
Another North American market original equipment approval for Sumitomo Rubber Industries: The Falken Wildpeak A/T AT3WA has been selected by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles as a factory-fitted option for the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 pickup truck. According to Sumitomo Rubber North America, Inc., the Wildpeak A/T will be supplied for mounting on the Ram 1500 in sizes LT275/65R18 (113/110S) and 275/55R20 (113T).
Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) has begun 2018 with the launch of new tyre products into its distribution line-up, with plans to grow the product lines throughout the year. As well as a new Falken tyre, the wholesaler will commence the distribution of the Sumitomo brand, as discussed with Tyres & Accessories in December, with the BC100 pattern.
Mitsuteru Tanigawa has become the new CEO of Falken Tyre Europe. Tanigawa (61), replaces Masatsugu Nishino, who has moved to Turkey to head up Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ manufacturing facility.
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.
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.
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