Triangle to open U.S. HQ in Tenn.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Oct. 29, 2015) — China's Triangle Group Co. Ltd. is planning to open an office in Franklin, a southern suburb of Nashville, for its Triangle Tire North America L.L.C. sales company.

This will be Triangle's second U.S. facility. It opened a technical liaison office, called A3T L.L.C., in August 2011 in Akron, close to the University of Akron, which is home to the Applied Polymer Research Center operated by the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. 

The Wehia City, China-based company is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Franklin on Nov. 2, with several key Triangle Tyre Group executives, led by Chairman Ding Yuhua, expected to attend along with Franklin Mayor Ken Moore and other local officials.

Triangle anticipates locating executives in Franklin to handle finance, sales, marketing, engineering and customer service. The head of the business unit will be disclosed at the Nov. 2 ribbon cutting.

Triangle Tire North America is a 70/30 joint venture involving Triangle Tyre and Oriente Triangle Latin America Inc., the Miami-based distributor for the Triangle brand throughout Latin America.

Triangle Group, the No. 3 tire maker in China and 15th largest worldwide with 2014 sales of $2.96 billion, set up the North American unit last year to help develop a branding strategy for the tire maker's North American products as the firm pushes forward in its efforts to become a global brand.

Triangle has to date not disclosed its sales volume in North America. It carries a 56.17-percent U.S. import duty — combined countervailing and antidumping duties — on its passenger and light truck tires, according to U.S. Department of Commerce figures.

Triangle has selected a 3,150-sq.-ft. office in Franklin's Cool Springs area for its headquarters. Cool Springs is also home to Nissan North America.

Triangle operates five plants in China, producing tires for passenger cars, sports cars, light and heavy trucks and heavy equipment used in construction and mining. The company claims annual production of more than 10 million units.

Triangle recently hired former Goodyear Asia-Pacific executive Pierre Cohade to be its CEO, a move the company said would strengthen its drive to globalize.

The company recently celebrated its 39th year in business, where Mr. Ding outlined the company's goals: build a “smart” factory; build scientific innovation system; promote global marketing; build a talent team; and establish development pattern balancing economic, environmental and social responsibility.