S. Korea´s Daewoo launches tyre brand

ERJ staff report (TB)

Las Vegas, Nevada (SEMA Show) -- South Korean global trading company Daewoo International Corp. has developed a line of Chinese-made Daewoo-branded tyres and is looking to sell them internationally, including North America, company officials said at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas.

The Daewoo brand encompasses passenger, light truck and medium truck radials and is made by China's Triangle Group Co. Ltd., according to company literature. The brand was developed under the auspices of Daewoo's automotive components division, which is a parts supplier to General Motors Co. among others, according to J.J. Choi, account manager, tyre & tube team, automotive & component division.

Initially Daewoo is seeking customers in North America who can order in containerloads, Mr. Choi said. The company has not signed distributors as yet and will evaluate the need for local warehousing based on response to the brand's offering.

Daewoo has a few offices in the US to support the auto components business, he said, but these are not directly involved in the tyre business.

Initially Daewoo is focusing on its medium truck and OTR tyre lines, Mr. Choi said, in light of the heavy duties in place on Chinese-made passenger and light truck tyres.

Daewoo International emerged as a trading and investments company in 2000 when the international trading and construction sector of Daewoo Corp. was spun off into three companies: Daewoo International, Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. and Daewoo Corp. 2008 sales were approximately $880 million.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)