Report: Kumho and Yokohama ‘enhance’ partnership with OE deal

Kumho Tire and Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. are to enhance their recent partnership. Following the news that the two parties would cooperate in December 2013, Business Korea reports that Kumho and Yokohama are upgrading their agreement.

The newest part of the cooperation appears to centre on the supply of original equipment (OE) parts. This in addition to the “strategic coalition” signed last May, which centred on research and technology.

Scale, quantity and start time are all said to be under discussion – but the agreement is expected to take practical effect this year.

Busines reports that Kumho Tire expects the deal will help it improve “utilization of its Chinese factories”. Lower utilisation rates are said to be a knock-on effect of US anti-dumping tariffs for Chinese made tyres.