QUBE is just-auto’s online research platform, providing constantly updated insight and analysis on the global automotive manufacturing industry across over 40 sectors and 200 companies. In this month’s just-auto management briefing we republish extracts from QUBE. This interview is part of QUBE’s Tyres Intelligence Service
Q&A with Falken Tyre Europe
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In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with Yukio Yoshida, Corporate Planning Director, Falken Tyre Europe. He has recently replaced Satoru Ushida as corporate planning director at Falken Tyres’ European headquarters. Yoshida, 44, began his career at the parent Sumitomo Group in 1990 and has held several key positions at Falken Tire and Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) in Japan since then. Most recently, Yoshida was sales manager for the Asian region including China and Oceania.
You have recently arrived in Europe to take up this new role. What first impressions do you have?
When I got the opportunity to come to Europe, I was really excited. I just started in January so everything is still very new and I have to learn many things. One of the first things I noted was how passionate the staff our here in our European HQ. Being far from the parent company is a challenge but they are so knowledgeable about our products and are committed to increasing sales in an important year for new products.
What makes this year so crucial to Falken?
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By GlobalDataWe will launch a significant number of products in the next 12 months. This includes a replacement for our flagship FK452 which we will replace with the Azenis FK453. In addition, we will launch a tyre specifically targeting sports SUVs. This tyre FK453CC responds to the unique requirements of this sector with a challenging blend of low noise, high stability and performance despite vehicle weights that run close to three tonnes. I think that this tyre shows what Falken can achieve and we hope to open a few people’s eyes to our capabilities through it.
Can you explain how?
The tyre features a number of new technologies and innovations. First, we have created a ‘pitched’ tread block to counter noise issues. Second we have a novel solution using three grooves with a stabilising groove to shift the water. Coupled with a higher level of silica in the compound, we have improved wet braking by ten percent and hydroplaning performance is up seven percent. These are class leading.
Is this a strategy to develop tyres for separate niches such as SUVs?
We will always build tyres in line with what the carmakers are building. The sports SUV market is the fourth largest sector in Germany and the emphasis has changed in recent times. There is a higher focus on performance and refinement. Our engineers, both here and in Japan worked hard to ensure the noise levels met or exceeded the expectations of owners of Porsche Cayennes and Audi Q7s for example. Both of these cars featured strongly in our development.
You mention your engineers and engineering. This is obviously important. Is all of that work done in Japan?
No. In the last two years we have shifted a lot more development work to Europe mainly testing and evaluation and this was done for a number of reasons.
What are those reasons? Is it cost?
No, not cost related. More to do with making sure we have the right tyres to meet the specific requirements of Europe. These include performance, climate and also the influence of the testing carried out here.
Our parent company Sumitomo has its own test track in Japan and this offers most track surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, low µ tracks, circling tracks etc. But we think final tuning should be conducted under European conditions and driving behaviours.
There are other reasons too; the snow in Japan, especially in Hokkaido, is entirely different to snow here in Europe. Snow here is much more compact and not so fluffy as Japanese snow. For the winter tyre testing, it is important to test under appropriate conditions.
And what about OEM business?
This is a potential area for Falken growing further. It is particularly strong with the Japanese manufacturers and we have been very competitive in the higher volume, compact car market. The Falken brand is increasingly recognised in this sector. Through more presence in Europe, we want to penetrate into European OEMs too in the future.
You have facilities in Thailand. Were you affected by the floods?
We were extremely fortunate not to be affected by the tragic events. Our factory is located far from the areas devastated. Our own factory was affected by the events in Japan so we fully appreciate the trauma of such events and our thoughts are with the people as they recover from this disaster.
This interview is reproduced from QUBE’s Tyres Intelligence Service
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