PANAMA CITY, Panama—Pirelli Pneus Ltda. launched the company's 01 Series line of medium truck tires to the Central American and Carib-bean tire markets during the Latin American & Caribbean Tyre Expo in Panama City, along with new cyber technology that can provide real-time tire performance data to trucking fleets.
In addition, the company has opened a sales office in Panama to better serve the Central American and Caribbean tire markets.
“Our target is to be closer to the markets,” said Marcelo Natalini, director of Central America, Carib-bean and Mercosur for Pirelli Pneus.
The Central American market is different than the Latin American market, he said. “It's a tougher market here,” he said. “All the big companies are here and the China brands.
“For us to understand the market is a goal. We couldn't do that from Brazil,” where Pirelli Pneus has its headquarters.
Another goal, he added, is to develop the correct products and price for the market.
The company also has plans to open another sales office in the South American region in the near future.
The 01 Series of truck tires will replace the 85 Series of truck tires, which are slowly being phased out, Mr. Natalini said.
The line consists of six products that address different segments of the market.
In addition, they have been designed using new technologies giving improved performance characteristics vs. the 85 Series products, Mr. Natalini said.