Aeolus Readies for Entry into U.S. Passenger/LT Tire Market

China's Aeolus Tyre Co. will soon be launching what it plans to be a full line passenger and light truck/SUV tire program in the U.S.

The new effort is backed by China's fifth largest tiremker, and a brand new radial consumer tire plant in Jiaozuo in Henan Province.

The new U.S. effort will be led by former Kumho Tire USA Corp. executive Mike Leverington, Aeolus' U.S. general manager. Leverington said yesterday at the new plant that the tiremaker plans to open a U.S. office and has begun considering locations for a future warehouse.

For now, he said, Aeolus will run a container program with select distributors, with an eye to a full warehouse-based program within 24 months.

Initially, Leverington said, Aeolus will launch new summer high performance and summer UHP products, and will add all-season HP and UHP tires as well as touring, light truck/SUV and broadline all-season products over the coming two years.

Aeolus has committed five million annual units to the U.S. market out of the new plant's planned 15 million tire capacity, levels it plans to meet in two years, according to Wang Feng, recently appointed chairman and general manager of the tire company. Wang overseas four sister tire companies under the Chem China umbrella, of which Aeolus is the largest with 2011 sales of about $600 million.

Leverington and the Aeolus team - including Wang - will be at the upcoming Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show with tire displays and program information.