Suspected of concealing quality problems, the Bureau of Quality Supervision investigated Kumho Tire

Li Zhengchang, Quality Management Department of Qixia Branch of Nanjing Bureau of Quality Supervision, told the Times Weekly reporter: “On June 5th, the Bureau had started to investigate whether there were any problems with the quality of Kumho Tyre Drum Bags, but there are no conclusions yet.”

“What is your evaluation of the quality of the Kumho tires that Nanjing Bureau of Quality Supervision has been involved in?” “Is there any?” In response to a question from Times Weekly, Kumho (China) Tire Sales Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Kumho”) Ma Xiangwen, Minister of Market Planning, asked, when the reporter called Kumho PR staff again to ask about the matter, the answer was almost exactly the same.

In fact, during the course of tracking the entire incident, it would appear that the bulge and side cracking caused by Kumho Tire's quality problems do not seem to be related to Kumho China itself. Although doubts and disputes arise from it, Kumho is more Willing to take a "no fear" fear calmly, of course, in the event did not get the decision of the regulatory authorities, Kumho technical insistence, there is still room for fluke.

It is undeniable that Kumho tried to maintain a gradually mottled image in a desperate way, admitting mistakes, or continue to ignore the interests of consumers. Kumho chose the latter. If we use this to demonstrate the Korean’s rigid nature, it seems that Things that can be understood, however, apply to a company like Kumho that seeks commercial interests. This is obviously a misplaced position.

So, what exactly is supporting Kumho's trials? Is it confidence in its own products or is it a commercial means to make ends meet? In the end, how will the scandal of the Chinese tire industry end in another way? Shortly afterwards, there may be certain conclusions .

192 Million Owners Unknown Security

In the area of ​​310,000 square meters, several huge silver exterior workshops and more than 2,000 workers are wrapped. Until now, the factory in Nanjing's Qixia District is still the most important production base of Kumho Tire in China. The land has now been incorporated into the city planning center of the municipal government. One argument is that in order to allow it to be located in the municipal construction, the entire factory will be relocated to another factory in Pukou District.

Jin Yong, general manager of Kumho (China) Sales Co., Ltd., told reporters that South Korea's Kumho Group tried to contact the Chinese market in the early 1990s. After inspecting several mainland enterprises, Kumho chose Nanjing Tyre Factory Lake China. In early 1997, the factory in Nanjing’s Qixia District was formally put into operation.

Kumho chose an appropriate time to enter China. In the early 1990s, China’s family car was just starting and it was in the early stages of the merger of domestic automakers and foreign capital. Although the base number was small, the demand potential was huge, and Kumho Tire’s price was low. The positioning of Kumho quickly occupied the Chinese market in the absence of obvious brand advantages.

The path of Kumho Tire to seize the Chinese market is very different from most Korean electronic products. In the eyes of Koreans, electronic products in South Korea are still quite luxurious. Kumho’s market strategy is closer to domestic brands, plus it has always emphasized Korean craftsmanship is very popular in China.

Since then, in order to meet the growing demand for passenger cars, Kumho Tire has carried out the construction of the second phase of the Nanjing Qixia District factory in 2002. The factory’s internal staff disclosed to the Times Weekly that under normal operation conditions, the Qixia District factory The daily output is up to 40,000, but it is still limited compared to the demand. In the next three years (2006-2009), Kumho China has successively built three factories including Changchun, Tianjin, and Nanjing TBR, and set up a Tianjin plant. Global R & D center.

According to Jin Yongjun, the three factories that produce small household tires (except Nanjing TBR, which mainly produces large tires) had output of 24.8 million pieces in 2008, the market share was about 20%, and the proportion of 24.8 million tires, both for export and domestic sales. equal. That is, 12.4 million tires will be digested by the automakers and distributors in the Chinese market. Kim Jun said that Kumho’s sales of tires by automakers account for approximately 60% of the total, which is calculated on a single car using four tires. There are 1.92 million cars using Kumho Tires. Even if the proportion of tires with quality problems is small, the absolute number cannot be ignored.

Kumho allegedly concealed the problem of tire bulging

Kumho's rapid growth in the Chinese market indicates to some extent the popularity of Kumho Tire, which entered China from 1993 to the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008. It was Kumho's gold for 15 years, and it also originated from South Korea's Hankook Tire. The market share of the two combined, once occupied half of the Chinese tire market. However, such impressive results have been overshadowed by the 2008 “Guaranteed” incident.

In February 2008, a local media in Zhejiang first disclosed that Kumho Tire may have bulge problems due to quality reasons. The article mentions that Mr. Liang, a driver in Hangzhou, drove only more than 1,000 kilometers, and discovered that a bulge occurred on the outer surface of the front left tire of the car. Liang then negotiated with the 4S shop. The 4S shop gave the tires to the manufacturer for appraisal. The appraisal results showed that the bulging phenomenon was caused by the improper operation of the car driver. However, Mr. Liang believes that there is no special event such as a tire collision during less than a month of use. Therefore, he doubts the results of the assessment.

Since then, driven by the media, many car owners have reflected similar problems in their Kumho tyres. In May of that year, Mr. Liang, the first to lodge a complaint, received a 550 yuan tire replacement refund. In June, Kumho Tire Co. carried out a one-month tire free test in Hangzhou. Since then, the “bulging door” incident has intensified. In July, Kumho provided "commercial compensation" to complaints from owners. Kumho emphasized that "commercial compensation" is not the same as "recall" and "commercial compensation is a kind of non-policy compensation rather than compensation." Since September 2008, the free testing activities originally conducted in Hangzhou were gradually promoted throughout the country.

During the “3.15” period in 2009, Kumho Tire was listed as one of the ten cases of consumer rights protection in Zhejiang Province due to the “bulletin” incident. In May this year, when the AQSIQ quoted the data from the Consumers Association, they mentioned that "Kumho and Hankook's tires have been complained more cases." This has caused Kumho to fall into the scandal again.

Bureau of Quality Supervision Intervention Investigation

Mr. Wang, owner of Foshan, Guangdong Province, now thinks that running a high-speed is afraid, a Kumho drum kite kept at home is used by him for archiving. “The manufacturer will eventually give a statement that the tire will be evidence”.

In fact, from the end of 2008 to the present day of purchase, Mr. Wang’s car has two drums on the front and rear wheels. After many negotiations, the 4S shop promised to pay 500 yuan, but required the return of two tires. Finally, for the above reasons, he only returned one. Mr. Wang told reporters that the two Kumho tires still in use in the car made him very uneasy, and after many times they received a response from the manufacturer as a human reason, he was desperate to complain.

In the provincial and municipal complaints that the reporter learned, there are numerous examples similar to Mr. Wang. All of them are victims without exception. One repeatedly mentioned warning is that the quality of automobile tires directly affects the safety of driving. From the perspective of ordinary consumers, this selective amnesia with self-immolation will push the manufacturers to the abyss that has been thrown away.

In the previous issue, the newspaper mentioned Kumho’s second recall in the United States. It was confirmed by the reporter that the two recalled tires were produced at the factory in Nanjing’s Qixia District. However, the phenomenon of Kumho tire bulging in China has been neglected. Obviously, this double standard is unacceptable to many consumers.

Li Zhengchang, Quality Management Department of Qixia Branch of Nanjing Bureau of Quality Supervision, told the Times Weekly reporter: “On June 5th, the Bureau had started to investigate whether there were any problems with the quality of Kumho Tyre Drum Bags, but there are no conclusions yet.”

From tire manufacturers to auto manufacturers, to auto 4S stores and then to consumers, the problems were repeatedly passed on. When problems are encountered, the safety and security of life and property of consumers are ignored and there is sympathy with auto makers who are the most closely cooperating with tire manufacturers. If the vehicle manufacturers strictly control the quality of tires and put pressure on the tire companies, will the “bulging door” still happen?

Whether to continue excuse or courageously admit that China’s 1.3 billion consumers are waiting for Kumho Tires’ final choice.

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