Yokohama Expands China Operations

Yokohama Rubber Co. is reportedly expanding the capacity of its Hanzhou Yokokahama Tire Co. passenger car tyre plant in China. Hangzhou Yokohama’s annual capacity of 3 million units a year is expected to grow to 4.1 million passenger and light truck tyres from 2011, following investment of 3 billion yen (214 million yuan). This is the fourth capacity expansion since Hanzhou Yokohama started production in 2003. Yokohama makes its ASPEC A349 low rolling resistance tyre in China and expects general car ownership to increase 10 per cent annually in the years to come.

“ASPEC A349 is produced in our Hangzhou factory and we provide the product for Guangzhou Honda,” Yoshikuni Nakamura, general manager of the merchandise planning department at Yokohama Tire Sales Shanghai Co told Automotive news China.

Guangzhou Honda is a joint venture between Honda Motor Co. and Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group Co. and makes Honda Accord, Odyssey and Fit and City cars.