The US Department of Transportation (DOT) issued 44 new tyre plant identity codes — necessary for selling road-going tyres in the US — during 2014, double the number issued in 2013. Thirty-two of the new codes are for plants in China — including 18 in Shandong Province alone — along with four for factories in Russia.
The latest additions bring to 362 the number of tyre plant DOT codes issued to tyre factories in China, according to the DOT’s database. As many as two dozen, however, are considered duplicates for the same plants. Thirty-six are for plants operated by non-Chinese companies.
Of the world’s major tyre makers, Goodyear, Hankook Tyre Co Inc and Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd were issued new DOT codes. Goodyear’s is for its new research and development facility in Hebron, Ohio; Hankook was issued codes for plants in Chongqing, China, and Bekaski, Indonesia, while Sumitomo’s is for the joint venture plant under construction near Cankiri, Turkey.
In addition, Pirelli has been re-issued code XD for its plant in Subang, Indonesia, under the name P.T. Evoluzione Tyres; that code originally also was assigned to a Pirelli plant in Villafrenco Tirrena, Italy.