The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), the national trade association for tyre manufacturers in the US, relaunched under the brand new banner of the US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).The USTMA also unveiled its rebranded and newly designed website for the new banner,and released new economic impact figures detailing the industry’s impact on job creation and the US economy overall.
The association said it will continue its significant contribution to the US economy, job creation and engineering safe, sustainable tyres for the US tyre manufacturing industry.
“Our mobile society depends on tyres – from the safety of our families on the road to the tyre industry’s significant contribution to our nation’s economy. As part of our continued commitment to share the important role the tyre industry plays in our country, we are excited to announce our relaunch as the US Tire Manufacturers Association,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO.
“Our member companies are constantly in pursuit of making safer and more sustainable tyres through technology and innovation. We believe it is important to carry a name that truly captures this mission.”
In addition to tyre safety and sustainability, the US tyre manufacturing industry also bolsters the US economy with well-paying jobs and economic output that ripples across the economy and helps sustain communities.
The association has been working on rebranding efforts for several months with consultation from its board of directors, Forristall Luke said.
The USTMA’s mission is “to strengthen the reputation and competitiveness of the US tyre manufacturing industry.” The rebranding isn’t a change in mission focus, Forristall Luke said.
Tyre manufacturing within the US continues to grow. When Forristall Luke started in January 2016 with RMA there were just eight member companies. Today the USTMA has 10 member companies, with a predicated 12 to 13 total members within the next couple years.
Membership in the USTMA continues to grow as more and more tyre manufacturers are building plants within the US.
Emphasising the role the tyre industry plays in the US economy and job creation, USTMA also released a new economic impact study as part of its rebranding announcement.
Highlights of the study include:
• The US tyre manufacturing industry is a US$148.4 billion dollar industry.
• The US tyre manufacturing industry is responsible for more than 737,000 jobs in the US.
• The US tyre manufacturing industry directly supports more than 284,000 US jobs through manufacturing, distribution and retailing, and is responsible for more than 450,000 additional US jobs in supplier and induced activities.
The USTMA will still operate from the same location it did when it operated as the RMA.