Gasgoo.com (Shanghai April 25) - With the Shanghai International Automobile Exhibition—Auto Shanghai 2011—already in full swing, vehicles sporting previously industry leading Kumho Tires few and far between.
According to a survey carried out by the Beijing Youth Daily, there were only eight vehicles total from Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen, Great Wall Motor and Changan Ford spotted with Kumho-made tires, which have been placed under ever increasing scrutiny following a CCTV watchdog report made on Consumer Awareness Day. All other manufacturers, including Kumho's longtime partners FAW-VW and Beijing Hyundai, seem to have switched to rival brands, such as Hankook, Giti, Dunlop, Michelin and Federal Tires.
Furthermore, Kumho is reportedly not on the list of participating autopart suppliers, while international tire companies Michelin, Dunlop, Gridstone, Yokohama and Linglong are all confirmed as attendees.
Some insiders in the industry have conjectured that the lack of Kumho Tires at the show is due to declining support for the Korean company, which in turn should spell new oppurtnities for domestic producers such as Gili, Nankang, Linglong and Triangle.
