Supplying OE tires to car manufacturers does not generate much revenue for tire makers but securing big companies as clients helps improve their brand images and can lead to the raising of product prices down the line.
For tire makers, it is more profitable to sell replacement equipment tires in after-sales markets.
To enhance its global brand image, the tire maker has shipped products to nearly 50 foreign carmakers, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)