GlobalData says that the combined sales of new vehicles in Southeast Asia’s six largest markets (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore) are estimated to have declined by 28.5 per cent to 2,468,613 units in 2020.
In previous features on commercial vehicle tyres, Tyres & Accessories has noted the varied effects European Union tariffs on product manufactured in China have had on the market. Questioning whether the tariffs have “worked” is a complex question, because their effect on new tye segmentation and retreads have been varied across Europe’s major markets. Truck tyre markets in France and Germany reacted in very different ways to the UK, at least partially because the latter market was contracting anyway.
The latest global tyre market share figures from tyre industry analyst Astutus Research show how long-established, leading players headquartered in Japan, Europe, and North America have seen their volume share diminish, while Chinese, ASEAN, and selected other markets’ tyre manufacturers’ share has risen. The analyst states that in aggregate, the ten leading PCLT tyre manufacturers based in Japan, Europe and North America (J-E-NA) have lost almost 6 percentage points of market share since the end of 2011 (OE and replacement segments combined, volumes in tyre units). In part this reflects a strategic choice of some to focus on the higher value premium segments of the market.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries shares that its Dunlop Enasave EC300+ is being fitted as a factory standard tyre on the latest generation Mitsubishi Xpander crossover MPV in certain markets in Asia. The eco tyre is being supplied to Mitsubishi in sizes 85/65R15 88S and 205/55R16 91V.
Apollo Tyres Ltd has inaugurated a new office in the ASEAN region’s third largest automotive market. Satish Sharma, president of the tyre maker’s Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA region), inaugurated the company’s Malaysian office in the presence of select business partners and company officials.
Taiwan’s Kenda Rubber intends to significantly increase investment in Vietnam and establish a large passenger car tyre plant there. In an interview with Channel NewsAsia correspondent Victoria Chen, company chairman Yang Ying-ming said NT$10 billion (£200.5 million) would ultimately be invested to erect this facility, which will most likely be Kenda’s largest tyre factory and boast production capacity rivalling that of Kenda’s operation in China.
