Stomil, Michelin to design and produce new tire to export

The French company holds a 52% stake in the Polish company. There will be two models of the new tire that will gradually replace the current Stomil line. The new product will have a lifetime guarantee, according to the company. The tires will be exported to Germany, France and Great Britain but Stomil management was reluctant to disclose production and export details. It is estimated Stomil's that new tire market share in Poland is 10% and it has used tire share about 25%. The company hopes to sign a contract with General Motors to supply tires for the Opel cars produced in Poland. So far Michelin has invested about 80% of the planned $151 million in Stomil. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 24)