ORLANDO, Fla. — Bridgestone Corp., Hankook Tire Co. Inc., Kumho Tire Co. Ltd. and Michelin North America Inc. all earned "Supplier of the Year" honors for 2016 from General Motors Co. at the car maker's recent annual awards ceremony.
Also named were brake system/component suppliers Brake Parts Inc. and Brembo S.p.A.
These six were among 118 suppliers from 15 countries honored during GM's 25th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony held in Orlando, March 31.
For Bridgestone, the award is its 15th overall and second in a row.
This is Hankook's first time receiving the award and the second for both Kumho and Michelin. Kumho also was honored in 2013 and Michelin in 1992.
Mike Martini, president, original equipment, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, called the GM award a "testament to our product, engineering and manufacturing performance…" and as such "belongs to the dedicated teammates across our global organization who bring value and innovation to partners like GM."
Hankook Vice Chairman and CEO Seung Hwa Suh called the award an "additional proof point which testifies to Hankook Tire's technology leadership and premium quality. We will continue to thrive as a global premium brand by providing innovative, top-quality tires to our partners worldwide.”
Winning suppliers were chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives and selected based on performance criteria in product purchasing, indirect purchasing, customer care and after sales, and logistics.