Pirelli to market SmarTire system in Europe

RICHMOND, British Columbia (Oct. 17)—Pirelli S.p.A. has agreed to sell a version of SmarTire Systems´ tire pressure/temperature monitoring system to aftermarket customers in Europe starting later this year. Pirelli´s version, which can be used on car, truck and motorcycle tires, will be called "X-Pressure." Francesco Gori, managing director of Pirelli´s tire sector, said the agreement is a key step in Pirelli´s "strategy to develop a tire able to actively interact with the vehicle system." For SmarTire, the agreement will allow it to capitalize on the tire industry´s push to develop and market "intelligent tires," said President and CEO Robert Rudman. The systems will go on sale by the end of 2002 through Pirelli´s tire distribution channels in Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. All X-Pressure systems will be tested and certified independently by Pirelli, SmarTire said.