Giti Tire
{{Short description|Tire company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Giti Tire
| logo = Giti Tire logo.svg
| key_people = Executive Chairman, Enki Tan
Managing Director, Lei Huaichin
| industry = Tire manufacturing
| foundation = {{start date and age|1951}}
| revenue = US$3.2 billion (2018){{cite web|title=Financial Performance|url=http://www.corp.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=370|accessdate=19 January 2020}}
| num_employees = Over 32,000 Worldwide
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.giti.com/}}
| location_country = Singapore
}}
Giti Tire is a Singapore headquartered Indonesian tire company, with eight manufacturing facilities, more than 32,000 global employees, and distribution to a market of more than 130 countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1|title=Manufacturing Facilities|accessdate=31 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111228/http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1|archivedate=2 April 2015}}
{{As of|2022|post=,}} Giti was ranked as the number ten tire manufacturing company in the world based on revenue.{{cite news |title=BRAND FINANCE |url=https://brandirectory.com/rankings/tyres |accessdate=14 November 2022}}
History
Giti Tire's roots go back to 1951, beginning with bicycle tire and inner-tube manufacturing in Indonesia, and later producing bias tires for passenger and commercial vehicles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1&id=450|title=Giti Tire - Milestones|website=www.giti.com|access-date=2016-05-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507032243/http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1&id=450|archivedate=2016-05-07}} The company entered China in 1993 and established a joint venture with Anhui Tire Factory, an independent third party for the production of bias tires. In 1998, Giti established proprietary sales and distribution centers in various locations, completing manufacturing facilities in Fujian two years later to serve new passenger car tire (PCR) production. Since then, the company has expanded further internationally, opening offices and distribution centers around the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1&id=450|title=Milestones|accessdate=14 August 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601131302/http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1&id=450|archivedate=1 June 2013}}
In June 2014, the company announced plans to build a US$560 million production plant in Richburg, South Carolina, (in the Charlotte metropolitan area) USA, its first factory outside of Asia, which opened in October 2017.{{cite news|title=Giti Tire To Bring 1,700 Jobs To Chester County|url=http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/news/sc-news/Giti-Tire-To-Bring-1700-Jobs-To-Chester-County-263290871.html|accessdate=2 July 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016003023/http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/news/sc-news/Giti-Tire-To-Bring-1700-Jobs-To-Chester-County-263290871.html|archivedate=16 October 2014}}{{cite web | access-date=2018-09-01 | url=http://www.corp.giti.com/corp/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6098 | title=Giti Tire Celebrates New United States Factory | website=Giti}}
In February 2016, Giti was named Automotive Supplier of the Year and Hardlines Supplier of the Year by Bentonville, AR retailer Walmart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.moderntiredealer.com/news/710813/walmart-chooses-giti-over-all-other-brands|title=Walmart Chooses Giti Over All Other Brands - Suppliers - Modern Tire Dealer|website=www.moderntiredealer.com|access-date=2016-05-21}}
Facts and Figures
- 2018 Revenue: US$3.2 billion, including affiliate PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk''
- Markets Present: more than 130 countries
- Regional Offices: United States, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Indonesia, China, U.A.E., Malaysia, and Singapore
- Research and Development: Locations in the US, Germany, UK, Indonesia, and China. Proving grounds in five different locations (Ding Yuan Proving Ground {{Cite web|url=http://www.qicheceshi.com/2010/1225/88.html|title=Proving Ground in Dingyuan|author=China Automotive Testing World|publisher=China Automotive Testing World|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012755/http://www.qicheceshi.com/2010/1225/88.html|archivedate=2013-12-03}} in China, Mira Proving Ground in the UK,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mira.co.uk/our-services/vehicle-proving-ground|title=Mira Proving Ground in the UK |author=Mira Proving Ground|date=26 April 2018 |publisher=Mira Proving Ground}} Mella Track Proving Ground in Finland,{{Cite web|url=http://www.testworld.fi/tracks-and-facilities/mellatracks|title=Mella Track Proving Ground in Finland|author=Test World|publisher=Test World|access-date=2013-03-28|archive-date=2017-04-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000659/http://www.testworld.fi/tracks-and-facilities/mellatracks/|url-status=dead}} ARTC in Taiwan, and in Karawang, Indonesia.
- Manufacturing Facilities: Five plants located in China, Indonesia, and in South Carolina, USA. All plants have obtained ISO/TS16949:2002 accreditation (a standard of quality control and ISO14001 for Environmental Management System).{{cite web|title=Manufacturing Facilities|url=http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1&id=452|accessdate=2 July 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627033248/http://www.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=369&language=1&id=452|archivedate=27 June 2014}}
Motorsports
Giti sponsors motorsports drivers and events under the Giti and GT Radial brands. Included among these are being the tire sponsor for many Motorsports events in Asia and Europe, including the F3 Asian Championship{{cite web|title=Motorsports|url=http://www.f3asia.com/PARTNERS/34.html|accessdate=19 Jan 2020}}
In 2017, Giti Tire debuted at the 24 Hours Nürburgring Race in Germany, qualifying 1st in the SP8 class, and placing 2nd in its class after a final race mechanical issue on the transmission.{{cite web|title=Motorsports|date=9 June 2017 |url=http://www.tyrepress.com/2017/06/dorr-motorsport-and-giti-tire-achieve-unexpected-2nd-in-class-at-nurburgring-24h/|accessdate=16 Aug 2017}} In 2019, the company achieved its best performance yet, with a first and second-place finish in the SP8 class at the 24 Hours Nürburgring. In addition, its 'Giti's Angels' team of all-female drivers, technicians, and coach achieved a first class finish in their group at the final VLN race in 2019.{{cite web|title=Motorsports|url=https://www.corp.giti.com/corp/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6210/|accessdate=19 Jan 2020}}
In the UK, Giti is the official tire of the VW Beetle Fun Cup, using GitiCompete GTR1 tires.
Also in the UK, Giti have been the official sponsor and exclusive tyre supplier of the British Truck Racing Championship since 2022, which they extended into 2023.{{cite web|title=Giti Tire to continue keeping the BTRC wheels turning in 2023|url=https://btrc.co/giti-tire-to-continue-keeping-the-btrc-wheels-turning-in-2023/|accessdate=29 Mar 2023}}
GT Radial is a tire supplier to drifting competitors such as Chris Forsberg (Formula D; since 2021), Benjamin Bourdet (European Champion), and the German drift team.
In the United States, Giti has sponsored Japan's Nobuhiro Tajima in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Championship, the 2013 winner in the Electric Auto division.{{cite web|url=http://www.tflcar.com/2013/07/nobuhiro-monster-tajima-gets-10th-pikes-peak-international-hill-climb-win-and-sets-electric-record/|title=Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima gets 10th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Win and Sets Electric Record|date=July 2013 |publisher=The Fast Lane Car|accessdate=14 August 2013}}
In 2023, Giti is the official supplier of the Formula Regional Middle East Championship.
Brand Portfolio
Giti Tire manufactures a variety of brands of passenger car, truck/bus, and off-road tires for global markets, which include Giti, GT Radial, Primewell, Runway, and Dextero.{{cite web|title=Brand Listing|url=http://www.corp.giti.com/corp/corporate.asp?referenceid=16&menuid=368|accessdate=16 Aug 2017}}