| Michelin Names Hunter a Strategic Partner in China |
Above: Hunter Director of International Wes Wingo and the other Michelin strategic partners cutting the ribbon that was prepared especially to mark the official opening of the 300th TyrePlus retail tire shop in China. An elaborate and colorful series of ceremonies held recently in the city of Qingdao marked the opening of the 300th Michelin TyrePlus retail tire store in the booming China market and the naming of Hunter Engineering as a strategic partner in the enterprise. Hunter is now the recommended wheel alignment provider to all TyrePlus stores in China, joining four other companies who will supply their respective products. While Hunter has shipped products to Asia-Pacific countries since the 1950’s, China’s recent economic expansion has provided unprecedented opportunity and growth for Hunter in the region. Hunter installed Jay Zhang as Managing Director-China in 2005 and continues to supply and grow its relationships with OE manufacturers and dealers, tire manufacturers and retail tire and service shops throughout the country.
Above: Representatives of the five strategic partners just prior to a signing ceremony. Later, a "talk show" forum discussion about the development of automotive aftermarket and parts sales in China was presented to the business and automotive press and the public. At far left is Michelin Investment Co., Ltd. Chairman Yves Chapot. At far right is Hunter Director of International, Wes Wingo. |
Above: In a gift he presented to Emmanuel Ladent, Sales & Marketing Director, Michelin Shenyang Tire Company Ltd., Hunter's Wes Wingo points out the St. Louis Gateway Arch, a monument to the historic westward expansion in the U.S., and relates its similarity to the current economic expansion in China. |
Above: The shop's S811-17 console with standard DSP600 sensors shown here is now the typical TyrePlus alignment configuration. Shown with the equipment are Charles Zhang, General Manager and Mike Jiang, Domestic Marketing Manager for Shanghai Baolong Industries, Hunter's distributor and co-partner for the Michelin TyrePlus project. |
