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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
独家专访
Joe Takekawa: Bridgestone Aims to Expand Pres
Joe Takekawa took up his post as Managing Director for Bridgestone Tyre Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd (BSTM), re- placing Yoichi Kono in February 2013. Takekawa brings markets and subsidiaries to the role, with the aim of helping the company grow further with a stronger brand identity.
In this interview, Takekawa shares with us his insights on the current stage of the Malaysian market, and his market strate- gies and future plans for the company.
Following the Ecopia series of tyres that was launched last year, the recent introduction of the Turanza GR 100 was also a success. According to Takekawa, the Ecopia series of tyres had received high praise for its low rolling resistance, which contributed to better fuel consumption that helped customers to save on fuel cost.
“Bridgestone Turanza brand has 20 years of history in the premium patterns builds on this strong tradition by offering a superior quality product to our customers. It has received plenty of positive feedback due to its silence and ride com- fort. With the new GR 100, we are targeting double digit sales growth in the passenger car segment.”
The demand for PCR tyres was linked to car sales and eco- nomic growth, said Takekawa. According to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), the yearly average growth for vehicle sales was about 2-3 per cent. In line with the eco- nomic growth and vehicle sales, the demand for PCR tyres had grown steadily.
Both established and emerging brands had penetrated the market and were growing rapidly. Takekawa continued that there were about 50 brands in the market now. The increase in brand availability had resulted in more choices and options.
Focus on Quality and Performance
- dent that Bridgestone is able to clearly differentiate from the competitors. Bridgestone is a global brand and ever since it was founded, we have placed great emphasis on quality as- surance. This can be seen in our GR 100 and Ecopia tyres, which target different segments of the market and have both received positive reviews from end users. In addition, the consumers are now more knowledgeable and discerning. They understand the importance of a tyre’s quality and per- formance. This is also the reason why end users in Malaysia are increasingly requiring higher performing tyre products. ”
At present, Takekawa said, Bridgestone had 9 new tyre -
06 tyreman 2014/3
Joe Takekawa
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