"Traditional OEMs are very interested in trying new suppliers," Dave Hudrlik, vice president and director of sales for Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc., recently told moderntiredealer.com.
"In some cases, we're working with OEMs on 2010 and 2011 model years," he said. "And there are some models that currently have an OE (tire) supplier filling their needs, but for one reason or another they want to switch suppliers. So we have opportunities for very short term business as well.
"I think we can make the assumption that (auto manufacturers) need to protect themselves by not having all of their eggs in one basket."
This past October, moderntiredealer.com reported that the Kumho ECSTA KH11 ultra-high performance touring tire had been chosen by the Chrysler Group to be original equipment on the 2007 Chrysler Sebring.
