RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc.'s Falken brand is raising prices 3 to 7 percent on select product lines, effective May 1.
Falken did not provide a reason for the price increase.
The tire maker also announced several program enhancements for dealers in quarter two, including a Fanatic Associate Dealer program enrichment and expanded educational activities.
The Fanatic Associate Dealer program includes enhanced purchase rewards as well as sign-up incentives. Falken said it would launch consumer rebate programs on key product lines in the U.S. (May, June) and Canada (April, May) to help on the retail side.
Falken Academy, the brand's two-day educational program that recently launched, will be repeated in June and late August, in time for the launch of a new light truck product later this year
Falken Academy provides classroom sessions at the North American headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga that cover company history, goals, as well as hands-on driving and testing experiences versus competitive products while driving on closed circuit and off-road courses.
Falken said its television service will be available to both direct and Falken Fanatic associate dealers, providing streaming video throughout the day for use in showrooms or waiting rooms. After-hour content includes educational material on Falken products and activities. Both will be available free for direct dealers and Falken Fanatic Associate Dealers.