GITI TIRE CHAIRMAN DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT TIRE CONFERENCE
Tire manufacturers cannot “be ordinary anymore” but rather “must do something exceptional to survive” in today’s global business environment, according to Dr. Enki Tan, executive chairman of GITI Tire Co. Ltd.
Dr. Tan made these remarks during his keynote address on Tuesday, Sept. 18, to The Tire Society which held its annual conference on tire science and technology in conjunction with ITEC in Cleveland, OH.
Dr. Tan also spoke about China’s current and future role in the global tire industry. He noted that China is currently the number one producer worldwide of tires as original equipment for automakers and is number two in producing aftermarket tires. He said tire production in China will only increase as the world’s most populous country transforms into more of a “consumer society.”
GITI Tire, which traces its roots to Indonesia, is a global company which sells tires in more than 100 countries. GT Radial is the company’s flagship tire brand in North America, available in a broad range of product lines for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial trucks and buses.
A key component of GITI Tire’s success, according to Dr. Tan, has been drawing upon the expertise of a very diverse group of employees who represent a total of 25 nationalities. He said in North America, for example, the company has very experienced technical support and sales teams who understand the needs of the marketplace and provide outstanding support to GT Radial retailers.
ITEC (the International Tire Exhibition and Conference) is a biannual event focusing on all aspects of the tire industry. Over the course of the three-day event, attendees participated in seminars, roundtable discussions and exhibits to learn about the latest developments and the various challenges facing the tire industry.
Photo by Tire Business
