Nitto Tire North America Inc. (Toyo’s Nitto Tire sales subsidiary in the US) has won a gold award for its website (http://www.nittotire.com) in the “Consumer Information” category of the Horizon Interactive Awards. The awards are an international competition recognizing outstanding work in the field of interactive media, such as on-line advertising and CD-ROMs.
Toyo Tire & Rubber have announced the sale of their Australian subsidiary’s automotive interior parts business. This move comes eight years after the parent company in Japan discontinued its involvement in the automotive interior parts business. The Australian subsidiary, Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Ltd, will now focus solely upon its tyre sales and distribution role.
The transfer sees the company’s facilities in Sunshine, Victoria changing hands, along with 69 Automotive Interior Parts Business employees. Toyo has not released specific details regarding the division’s new owners.
Japan’s Toyo Tire & Rubber Co,. Ltd has announced plans to increase production capacity at its North American manufacturing subsidiary, Toyo Tire North America. The company will inject about 6,000 million yen (£25 million) into the US operations with a view to expanding North American sales of the company’s 16 to 24-inch UHP tyres and meet anticipated future OE demand from local car makers.
Georgia-based Toyo Tire North America was established three years ago and began the volume production of passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres in March 2006, employing a new, proprietary, automated “Advanced Tire Operation Module (A.T.O.M.)” system that facilitates the multi-item small-lot production of products within a much smaller space. The A.T.O.M. will be upgraded as part of the announced capacity expansion so as to help achieve higher product quality while boosting output to approximately 3.3 million units per year by 2009.
Toyo Tyre UK has become the first tyre manufacturer to confirm its presence at next year’s British International Motor Show. The company has secured what it calls a ‘highly visible’ 120 square metre location at London’s dockside ExCeL complex, and plans to use the July 2008 event as an opportunity to pursue a wider target market.
“We’ve worked hard with events and print media for the last five years to become the tyre of choice for driving enthusiasts and racers, but now we need to expand our output to attract the important ‘middle’ market,” explained Toyo’s European strategy and planning manager, Mike Rignall. “The Motor Show is a valuable platform to showcase our entire product range and to help us develop a relationship with new customers who may not know what the Toyo brand stands for.” The tyremaker is planning an impressively featured stand complete with VIP area, interactive displays and show cars.
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After one glance at Deldo’s product and brand portfolio it is clear that the Belgian tyre wholesaler is a leading player amongst distributors of exclusive tyre brands. Since its foundation some 30 years ago the company has increasingly developed into a specialist within the budget tyre segment without neglecting the premium tyre market, and in recent times Deldo Autobanden has again focused upon the premium market segment. Due to an overall increase in sales figures the company now has decided to increase its central warehouse in Antwerp’s free harbour from a current 40,000 m² up to 50,000 m².
(Akron/Tire Review) Turning to the upscale luxury market, Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. has launched its new Versado line of luxury high performance tyres. The first in the new line – the Versado LX – was formally rolled out to select trade and consumer media during a special program last week in San Diego.
Toyo said the new Versado LX “provides a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride, while delivering the performance, quality and all-season capabilities expected from Toyo.” The Versado LX was developed as a direct OE replacement, said Toyo, and will initially be available in 43 sizes covering 15- to 18-inch sizes and 70- to 45-series aspect ratios.
Toyo has released the latest in a long and distinguished line of performance rubber with the new Proxes 4. Aimed at the tuned car market where optimum performance, particularly in dry conditions is paramount, Proxes 4 is the new reference for sports handling, says Toyo.
The Proxes name is already familiar to performance drivers as Toyo’s ultra-high performance range of tyres. The Proxes range achieved instant cult status following its launch in the mid-90s with its combination of performance and value. Since then, the range has undergone continual improvement, evolving through a series of cutting edge designs into the T1-S, T-1R and the R888, noted for its grip. The Proxes 4 incorporates every lesson learned along the way wrapped in the most attractive tread design to come from the Japanese manufacturer yet.
Toyo Tire & Rubber are exhibiting at Auto Shanghai 2007, being held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre between Sunday, April 22 and Saturday, April 28. At its exhibition booth the company is showing off the highly acclaimed Proxes Series, including the Proxes CT01, Proxes T1R, and the semi-racing tire Proxes R888. Toyo hopes this display will reinforce the company’s ‘brand image of high quality and uniqueness’.
Toyo hopes to further enhance the image of Toyo Tires in the Chinese market through this exhibition, and views Auto Shanghai 2007 as just the first in a series of local motor shows that the company plans to attend in China.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bart Fletcher has been hired as business development manager for Toyo Tire (USA) Corp.
Fletcher has 26 years of tyre and performance industry experience, Toyo said.
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. said it will boost prices on all of its branded medium truck tyres by up to 5%. The increase is effective June 1.
Toyo said the increase was due to “world-wide increases in raw materials, energy, and transportation costs.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA Inc. has added three sales managers to its ranks.
Aaron Duty joins Kumho as a regional sales manager for southern California and Arizona. He had been a district sales manager for Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. Before that, he served as a service technician with Sears Automotive and previously as a fabricator and engineering laboratory technician. Duty earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from California Polytechnic State University.
John Krajewski has been appointed a regional sales manager for Wisconsin, Illinois and northern Michigan. He spent 15 years with U.S. Tire & Exhaust and five years with Chem-Trend, a company that sells mould release chemicals to the tyre industry. Krajewski earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northern Illinois University.
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. has named Michael Shin project manager of events.
Shin will specialize in the import lifestyle segment by supporting drifting, drag racing and sport-compact-related shows. Shin co-founded JTuned, an online magazine focusing on the Japanese performance automotive aftermarket.
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. announced a price increase of up to 5 per cent on consumer products, effective May 1.
“Due to the rapidly increasing raw materials, energy, and transportation costs, we need to adjust our pricing accordingly,” said Steve Weinger, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Toyo Tires will continue to maintain our high quality of products and service.”
Toyo looks set to give a head start to the automotive stars of tomorrow thanks to the company’s latest sponsorship deal with The Oxford Universities Motorsport Foundation, or OUMF as it is affectionately known.
OUMF is an independent, pan university student initiative, founded in 2005, to promote practical engineering and associated skills through the medium of motor racing. Already it looks set to provide a valuable skill base of able enthusiasts that will benefit the industry for years to come.
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. made two appointments to its sales and marketing staff. Adrian Puente was hired as events project manager, and his primary focus will be on motorsport team support and events. Henry Story was promoted to district sales manager, covering the central and southern U.S. Most recently, Story was project manager for motorsport markeing and events.
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