Toyo Serbia hailed as new “global production base”

Following the news that Toyo Tire officially opened its Serbia tyre production plant on 14 December 2022, details of the speeches given by Toyo Tire president and CEO Takashi Shimizu as well as Republic of Serbia president Aleksandar Vučić have been revealed.

In his address, President Shimizu thanked the Serbian government for their support in the established of the new “global” production base: “Without a doubt, we could not have established a new factory here without the extraordinary vision and passion for economic development exhibited by the leadership of the Serbian governments… By delivering sought-after tyres in a timely manner to keep pace with the rapid changes in the marketplace, we will tap the new factory’s full strategic potential to meet the demands of our US market, while at the same time supplying our European market from a local base. Our goal is to make its presence felt as a global production and supply base.”

In response, President Vučić described Toyo Serbia as the Japanese company’s best factory in the world: “Today is a special day because the dream that we have dreamed of for the past five years, together with our Japanese friends, has come true…We expect that the best tyres ‘made in Serbia’ will go from here to the world, to the markets of North America and Western Europe…The factory in Inđija is the only greenfield investment of the Toyo Tire Corporation in Europe, and it is the best in the whole world in terms of quality and equipment…All this brings us a faster GDP growth, it brings us higher salaries and pensions. This is what makes each of us happy and proud.”

In addition to the heads of Toyo and Serbia other dignitaries attending included: Mayor Vladimir Gak of Indjija City; Takahiko Katsumata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Serbia plus members from partner businesses in the US and Europe as well as contractors for construction work, with the total numbering 140 guests.

Around 90 guests stayed for a gala dinner during which President Shimizu shared the plan for the new factory, again emphasising the global nature of the production base:

“This Toyo Tire Serbia factory will support our business operations globally. The products made here will be sold, not just in Europe, but across North America. We expect to reach full production during the second half of next year…This new factory comes with many distinctive features, including efficient operation of production equipment using digital data, a mega solar energy system that helps to reduce carbon emissions, and a test track where new tires will be tested for quality. Together, we will grow this new model-factory.”

In return, Prime Minister Brnabic added: “…Not only economic cooperation and new jobs are important to us, but also Japanese business ethics and philosophy from which we can learn a lot. Toyo Tire has also brought its striving for innovation and supreme technologies to the new factory in Indjija that will benefit the overall business environment in our country. I hope that Serbia and Japan will continue to further build political, social and economic relations, and our mutual respect.”