Automotive

National Tire and Battery Corporate Office

Sears, Roebuck and Company started National Tire and Battery (NTB) in 1997 by combining two of its Tire Brands: Tire America and National Tire Warehouse.

In 2003 NTB had 226 stores, $425 million in revenue, and $60 million in profit.

The Memphis based TBC Corporation bought the brand in 2003 for $260 million. The deal did not involve the approximately 800 Sears Auto Centers that were adjacent to Sears department stores.

In 2005 TBC was bought by Sumimoto Corporation of America and ended its 22-year stint as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ.

In 2017, Big O Tire franchisor Mark Rhee purchased 44 NTB locations in Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri.

In 2018, Michelin North America and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas combined their respective North American tire distribution and related service operations in a 50–50 joint venture agreement, creating National Tire Wholesale.

National Tire and Battery

Sears, Roebuck and Company started National Tire and Battery (NTB) in 1997 by combining two of its Tire Brands: Tire America and National Tire Warehouse.

History

In 2003 NTB had 226 stores, $425 million in revenue, and $60 million in profit.

The Memphis based TBC Corporation bought the brand in 2003 for $260 million. The deal did not involve the approximately 800 Sears Auto Centers that were adjacent to Sears department stores.

In 2005 TBC was bought by Sumimoto Corporation of America and ended its 22-year stint as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ.

In 2017, Big O Tire franchisor Mark Rhee purchased 44 NTB locations in Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri.

Hyundai Corporate Office

Hyundai was founded by Chung Ju-Yung as a construction firm in 1947 in South Korea and initially worked in the markets of Vietnam, Guam, and Thailand.

Hyundai started to work in automobile manufacturing in 1967 under the name Hyundai Motor Company and performed ship construction under the name Hyundai Heavy Industries. In 1968, the company’s first car model, the Cortina, was released with help from Ford.

The company entered the semiconductor industry in 1983 under the name Hyundai Electronics.

In 1999, Hyundai announced a major restructuring, which involved a plan to break up the different business sectors into five different companies by 2003.

Today, most of the former subsidiaries of Hyundai, including Hyundai Motor Company, are not connected with the Hyundai Group, however, most of them are run by relatives of the founder, Chung Ju-Yung.

Hyundai Motor Company is the eighth largest automobile manufacturer in the world, with 3.6 million vehicles sold annually.

In 2004, Hyundai was ranked second in “initial quality” in a survey/study by J.D. Power and Associates. Hyundai is now one of the top 100 most valuable brands worldwide. The company has invested in manufacturing plants in North America, India, the Czech Republic, Russia, China, and Turkey, as well as several research and development centers in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

In early 2012, the Hyundai Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show. Hyundai has sold more than 200,000 cars since the model’s redesigned debut in 2012.

According to Forbes, the company is driving customers to their stores with a program called Shopper Assurance, which offers things like a free, no questions asked, 3-day return policy on every new vehicle.

The 2022 Santa Cruz pickup truck by Hyundai receibed Best Truck of the Year award by the Washington Automotive Press Association in October 2021.

CarsDirect states that Hyundai is a good car brand to buy and that the cars are safer than most.

Company headquarters in North America are located in Fountain Valley, California. Hyundai employs more than 118,000 people around the world.

Hyundai

Hyundai was founded by Chung Ju-Yung as a construction firm in 1947 in South Korea and initially worked in the markets of Vietnam, Guam, and Thailand.

History

The company entered the semiconductor industry in 1983 under the name Hyundai Electronics.

In 1999, Hyundai announced a major restructuring, which involved a plan to break up the different business sectors into five different companies by 2003.

Today, most of the former subsidiaries of Hyundai, including Hyundai Motor Company, are not connected with the Hyundai Group, however, most of them are run by relatives of the founder, Chung Ju-Yung.

Hyundai Motor Company is the eighth largest automobile manufacturer in the world, with 3.6 million vehicles sold annually.

The 2022 Santa Cruz pickup truck by Hyundai receibed Best Truck of the Year award by the Washington Automotive Press Association in October 2021.

CarsDirect states that Hyundai is a good car brand to buy and that the cars are safer than most.

Company headquarters in North America are located in Fountain Valley, California. Hyundai employs more than 118,000 people around the world.

Kia Corporate Office

Kia is a South Korean automobile manufacturer with global headquarters in Seoul. It is South Korea’s second-largest automobile manufacturer after Hyundai.

The name Kia is derived from two Korean words which together mean “Rising out of Asia.”

Kia was founded in 1944 as a maker of steel tubing and bicycle parts. They later began building complete bicycles.

In 1957 they began building motorcycles, then trucks in 1962, and cars in 1974.

From 1986 to 1995 they expanded methodically and incorporated into the United States.

During the Asian financial crisis, Kia declared bankruptcy. Hyundai acquired 51% of the company. After subsequent adjustments, it now owns 32.8% of Kia.

In 2014, the company announced that it would open a new factory in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. In early 2018, CEO of the Mexico division of Kia, Horacio Chavez, stated that the factory would increase production more than 40% due to increased sales.

The company has faced harsh criticism over premature engine failure and lack of spare tires in new cars, without notifying new car customers.

Today Kia sells over 3 million vehicles per year and in 2019, has plans to enter the market in India in late 2018 or early 2019.

In January 2022, Kia announced a massive recall due to defective airbags.

In March 2022, a class action lawsuit was filed due to numerous complaints regarding excessive oil consumption.

In October 2023, Kia announced that it would use the Tesla charging system for its electric vehicles.

Kia maintains a corporate office in Irvine, California.

Kia

Kia is a South Korean automobile manufacturer with global headquarters in Seoul. It is South Korea’s second-largest automobile manufacturer after Hyundai.

The name Kia is derived from two Korean words which together mean “Rising out of Asia.”

History

Kia was founded in 1944 as a maker of steel tubing and bicycle parts. They later began building complete bicycles.

In 1957 they began building motorcycles, then trucks in 1962, and cars in 1974.

From 1986 to 1995 they expanded methodically and incorporated into the United States.

During the Asian financial crisis, Kia declared bankruptcy. Hyundai acquired 51% of the company. After subsequent adjustments, it now owns 32.8% of Kia.

The company has faced harsh criticism over premature engine failure and lack of spare tires in new cars, without notifying new car customers.

Today Kia sells over 3 million vehicles per year and in 2019, has plans to enter the market in India in late 2018 or early 2019.

In January 2022, Kia announced a massive recall due to defective airbags.

In March 2022, a class action lawsuit was filed due to numerous complaints regarding excessive oil consumption.

In October 2023, Kia announced that it would use the Tesla charging system for its electric vehicles.

Kia maintains a corporate office in Irvine, California.

Nissan Corporate Office

The Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. was founded in 1911 by Masujiro Hashimoto under the name Kwaishinsha Motorcar Co., Ltd.

After numerous mergers and name changes, the Nissan name was first used in the 1930s as an abbreviation used on the Tokyo stock exchange for the Nippon Sangyo, the name of the company at that time.

The company officially became known as the Nissan Motor Company in 1934 when the automobile sector of the company was expanded and made a subsidiary.

In 2011, Nissan was the sixth-largest automaker in the world.

In December 2018, the CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested in Tokyo, Japan, for tax evasion. A successor has yet to be named.

In 2019, the company named Makoto Uchida its new CEO.

Ex-ceo Carlos Ghosn ripped Nissan saying that it was a boring, outdated car manufacturing company.

Nissan’s television ad about its electric car, Leaf, was the most viewed car commericial ever in 2021.

Nissan markets automobiles under the names Datsun and Infiniti. Headquarters for North America is located in Franklin, Tennessee.

Nissan

The Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. was founded in 1911 by Masujiro Hashimoto under the name Kwaishinsha Motorcar Co., Ltd.

After numerous mergers and name changes, the Nissan name was first used in the 1930s as an abbreviation used on the Tokyo stock exchange for the Nippon Sangyo, the name of the company at that time.

History

The company officially became known as the Nissan Motor Company in 1934 when the automobile sector of the company was expanded and made a subsidiary.

In 2011, Nissan was the sixth-largest automaker in the world.

In December 2018, the CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested in Tokyo, Japan, for tax evasion. A successor has yet to be named.

In 2019, the company named Makoto Uchida its new CEO.

Ex-ceo Carlos Ghosn ripped Nissan saying that it was a boring, outdated car manufacturing company.

Nissan’s television ad about its electric car, Leaf, was the most viewed car commericial ever in 2021.

Nissan markets automobiles under the names Datsun and Infiniti. Headquarters for North America is located in Franklin, Tennessee.

Firestone Corporate Office

Harvey Samuel Firestone founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1900 to supply rubber tires to wagons and buggies.

Harvey Firestone had a personal friendship with Henry Ford. Ford saw the potential market for tires for automobiles and Firestone tires were chosen to be the original supplier of new and replacement tires for the Ford Motor Company.

In 1998 Firestone was bought by Bridgestone Tire Company Ltd, a Japanese company that was founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi, for $2.6 billion.

Firestone was renamed Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc in the United States and is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone.

The company was again renamed and is now called Bridgestone Americas (BSAM).

Today Firestone has 40,000 employees.

On October 1st, the company announced that all tire prices would increase between 5 and 8% after November 1, 2020.

The company maintains a corporate office in Nashville, Tennessee.

Firestone

Harvey Samuel Firestone founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1900 to supply rubber tires to wagons and buggies.

History

In 1998 Firestone was bought by Bridgestone Tire Company Ltd, a Japanese company that was founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi, for $2.6 billion.

Firestone was renamed Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc in the United States and is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone.

The company was again renamed and is now called Bridgestone Americas (BSAM).

Today Firestone has 40,000 employees.

On October 1st, the company announced that all tire prices would increase between 5 and 8% after November 1, 2020.

The company maintains a corporate office in Nashville, Tennessee.