YHI Offers a Comprehensive Range of Automotive Products

For the YHI Group, Tyrexpo Asia is a hometown show. Although the distributor and manufacturer boasts subsidiaries and associated companies in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE and Italy, the Group’s activities are directed from Singapore. From humble beginnings as a sole proprietorship in 1948, YHI has grown to become a mainboard-listed company on the Singapore stock exchange and a recognised distributor of high quality automotive and industrial products and a quality manufacturer of after-market alloy wheels. The tyre brands YHI distribute include Yokohama, JK Tyre, Achilles and its own brand, Neuton.

In addition to its distribution activities, the company is an original design manufacturer of alloy wheels. These are produced at four company-operated facilities. Two are located in China (Shanghai and Suzhou), a third is in Taoyuan, Taiwan and the fourth in Sepang, Malaysia. YHI’s proprietary brand is called “Advanti Racing”, and products from this range are distributed in numerous markets throughout Europe, Asia and North America. At present the company’s total alloy wheel production capacity is three million pieces, reports YHI in a company publication.

In 2008 YHI became the first & only Singapore company – and indeed the first Asian firm outside of Japan – to become an official partner & supplier of alloy wheels to a Formula One team. The idea of a Formula One race team sponsorship was initially put forward by YHI Group managing director Richard Tay in 2005. The search to find a suitable team led to Italy’s Scuderia Toro Rosso (STR), a member of the Red Bull Racing team family. STR commenced using Advanti Racing F1 wheels last year, and will continue into the 2010 season.

“This partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso has clearly allowed Advanti Racing to be distinguished from other makes of wheels which offer fierce competitive prices but compromise on quality,” commented Tay. “Advanti Racing and YHI’s superior standing in the global aftermarket alloy wheels industry has once again been re-affirmed.” The first Advanti Formula One win took place at last year’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza, when STR driver Sebastian Vettel took first place.

According to YHI’s Raymond Chan, amongst the product range on show at Tyrexpo Asia is the company’s Neuton NT5000 proprietary range of high-performance and UHP passenger car tyres. Launched in late 2006, the line-up has grown from five to 24 sizes, covering 15 to 20-inch rim diameters. The range continues to grow, Chan adds. A new range of tyres catered to 60, 65 & 70 series fitments, the Neuton Solace NT3000, is also now available. The company also produces bias truck and bus tyres under the Neuton brand name, namely in size 1000-20 16PR in highway (SP168) & lug (RS268).

YHI has recently expanded into the area of automotive batteries. Mr. Chan says the company has already introduced its ‘Neuton Power’ brand of vehicle and industrial batteries, and in the near future will make further additions to the product portfolio. A full range of both conventional & maintenance-Free automotive batteries will be available, he says.