Yokohama to Expand Expansion Plans in China

Yokohama Rubber has announced its decision to “beef up” the fourth phase expansion of its Hangzhou Yokohama Tire Co., Ltd. tyre production facility in order to increase production capacity from current 3 million to 5.1 million passenger car tyres a year. Planned investment in the phase four expansion as a whole is approximately seven billion yen, and production in the expanded facility is scheduled to begin in January 2011.

In July Yokohama Rubber announced a plan to increase Hangzhou Yokohama Tire’s annual production capacity by 1.1 million tyres. During the course of 2009, however, China is expected to become the world’s largest automotive manufacturing nation. Yokohama Rubber’s decision to bump up capacity has been made in response to this development, the company states.

Established in January 2002, Hangzhou Yokohama Tire manufactures and sells passenger car tyres for the Chinese market. The company’s plant started operation in May 2003 and its Phase II expansion and Phase III expansion were carried out in January 2005 and March 2008, respectively. At present the range of products manufactured at the facility covers passenger-car, 4×4 and light-truck tyres for the OE and replacement markets.