Kenda Acquires Starco Europe

Kenda Rubber Co. has acquired Starco Europe after a series of meetings to take partnership to a higher level. Kenda has been a Starco supplier since 1982.

“We recently launched our ‘Focus on Europe’ strategy…the acquisition of Starco is a natural step to more quickly establish a platform which gives Kenda better access to the market in this region,” said Jimmy Yang, vice chairman of Kenda Rubber and president of Kenda USA. “Kenda has strong market share in USA in the trailer, lawn and garden, golf car, and utility vehicle tire segments and would like to grow its market share in these areas through the acquisition of Starco, who is one of the leading players in this area in Europe.”

The Starco team will now report to Kenda USA and will continue to operate in the same segments and markets as today while maintaining current their supplier base.

“Existing supplier partnerships will remain key and the plan will be to continue to develop these relationships even further,” said Richard Todd, chief executive officer at Starco.

The companies believe that Starco’s polyurethane expertise and wheel design combined with Kenda’s high level of tire development will give the group a unique position in the market.

Source: Tire Review

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.