Yokohama Reports on Vietnam Opening Ceremony

Yokohama has released its official statement on the opening ceremony at its new tyre making facility in Vietnam; the ceremony took place at the factory in Binh Duong Province, on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, on February 29, and some 200 guest attended, including Vietnamese government officials, the Japanese consul general in Vietnam, local tyre dealers, representatives from the local subsidiaries of Japanese car manufacturers and media representatives.

Yasuo Tominaga, Yokohama Rubber chairman and representative director of the board, and other executives hosted the ceremony. “We began tyre production 10 years ago in Vietnam,” said Tominaga during his speech. “As the new plant starts operation, our operation in this country will have another momentum for continued growth.”

Yokohama Tire Vietnam Inc. was established in June 2006, and construction work on the new facility began in October 2006, with tyre manufacture commencing in February this year. Full operation of 1.3 million tyres per year should be attained by April. The facility will manufacture bias tyres for light trucks and industrial vehicles, tyres for motorcycles and mini spare tyres for sale in the Vietnamese market and export to Japan. Yokohama invested 1 billion yen (£5 million) for the construction of the new plant.

In 1997, Yokohama Rubber established Yokohama Tyre Vietnam Company as a joint-venture company with Southern Rubber Industry Company (Casumina) and Mitsubishi Corporation, and has manufactured bias tyres for light trucks and tyres for motorcycles. Yokohama Rubber plans to integrate this company within Yokohama Tire Vietnam Inc.