Thailand's Vee Rubber to target US with car, LT tyres
By Kathy McCarron,
Lithis Springs, Georgia -- Thailand's Vee Rubber International Co. Ltd. is hoping to establish a name for itself in North America with the introduction of its lines of radial passenger and light truck tyres this Autumn.
Vee Rubber of Bangkok, Thailand, has built its 30-year-old business manufacturing bicycle, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and cross-ply truck tyres. Offering passenger and light truck tyres is just the next step in the evolution of the family-owned company, according to Patrick Hyland, sales and marketing manager for its US subsidiary, Vee Rubber America Inc. in Lithia Springs.
North America accounts for about 10 percent of Vee's sales, or roughly $11 million. The company, which already distributes motorcycle and ATV tyres from its Atlanta-area warehouse, officially will unveil its new lines during the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in November in Las Vegas.
“We see ourselves as competing in the mid-tier-three level. We need to establish our name in the marketplace,†said Hyland. Vee already markets passenger tyres in Asia and parts of Europe, and it plans to increase production of passenger and light truck tyres by 50 percent next year at its plant near Bangkok.
The company produces more than 17 million tyres annually, of which about 1.5 million are passenger. The company's sales of $113 million last year, earned it 61st place on the global Top 75 tyre makers' ranking.
From Tire Business (A Crain publication)
This article is only available to subscribers - subscribe today
Subscribe for unlimited access. A subscription to European Rubber Journal includes:
- Every issue of European Rubber Journal (6 issues) including Special Reports & Maps.
- Unlimited access to ERJ articles online
- Daily email newsletter – the latest news direct to your inbox
- Access to the ERJ online archive