| 28-03-2008
The Chinese market has proven irresistible to the world's leading tyre manufacturers, and just about every major producer has set up shop on the mainland in recent years. At the same time, competition has intensified following a sharp increase in auto sales three years ago. Industry figures show China produced 239 million tyres in 2004, with sales of 79 billion yuan (US$9.83 billion). Total production hit 300 million units last year. Analysts also predict millions of vehicles owners will retread their tyres in this year, and this figure is expected to increase further.
The stage is set for heightened competition between leading tyre giants such as Michelin, Goodyear and Japan-based Bridgestone. The battle between Michelin and Goodyear, both of which have been doing business in China for more than ten years, has been particularly fierce; each launched new service and maintenance packages within 48 hours of each other in late-March, further expanding their rivalry from distribution to after-sale services. The two will seemingly stop at nothing to one-up each other.
Michelin intends to remain world No.1 in tires and mobility assistance through a strategy built around promoting “better mobility” and, on the strength of the outstanding quality of its brands, maintain all-round excellence in innovation, products and services. Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies, with operations in most regions of the world. Together with its subsidiaries and joint ventures, Goodyear develops markets and sells tires for most applications. Bridgestone is constantly ranked as a top company in the global tire market. Production facilities belonging to the Bridgestone Group have increased to 141 spread throughout twenty-four nations of the world. Bridgestone will continue to approach all of activities positively as a true company of excellence.
Editor:Frederick Wei from Chinabuses.com
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