Michelin opens service points for trucks, buses

       Fourteen Michelin service points (MSP)will be set up as one-stop service centres this year for trucks and buses to increase convenience and reduce costs for the road transport business.
       The MSPs were planned in light of the steady growth of Michelin radial tyres for trucks and buses despite the transport market's poor outlook.
       Run by Michelin subdealers, MSPs require about 40% of the investment for a Michelin truck service centre (MTSC),each costing at least 10 million baht.
       MSPs, to be located in secondary cities,offer lighter services such as tyre replacement, puncture repair, tyre retreading and on-site service on major roads and highways. MTSCs offer heavy jobs such as wheel alignment in major provinces. There are 42 MTSCs operated na-tionwide by Michelin dealers.
       Michelin will set up another 16 MSPs by the end of 2011, aiming to supply services for trucks and buses not covered by MTSCs, said Jaipetch Chevaphatrakul,Siam Michelin's commercial director for truck, bus and off-road tyre business.
       "The truck and bus radial tyre market has been growing at a stable pace in contrast to the transport market that suffered a slow period earlier this year,"he said. Michelin has exceeded the truck and bus radial tyre market's normal 7-10% annual growth, which led to the decision to set up MSPs, he said.
       The tyre market for trucks and buses is expected to reach 1.8 million units this year, but he declined to say what portion are Michelin tyres.
       "The tyre market for trucks and buses dropped 7% year-on-year in the first half and it was expected to improve in the second half," he said.
       For bias tyres, the market becomes smaller every year, he said. Compared to bias tyres, radials can save 5-10% of fuel consumption, and they performed better in testing for product life, traction and high security levels, he added.
       Radial tyres can also be retread on their original casing with a proprietary Michelin process, offering performance similar to new tyres at half the price.