100 millionth tyre made at Yokohama Virginia factory
The first Yokohama-branded tyre was produced at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia (pictured) in 1990 (Photo: Yokohama)
On 23 March, the 100 millionth Yokohama tyre – Geolandar A/T G015 – rolled off the production line at the company’s Salem, Virginia factory.
Yokohama began manufacturing tyres in the US in 1989 when it acquired Mohawk Rubber Company’s plant in Salem. It has since been renamed as Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia (YTMV) and has been renovated and expanded. YTMV currently employs 632 people and produces passenger car and light truck tyres, including products from Yokohama’s Geolandar and fuel-efficient Avid product families. Tyres made exclusively at YTMV include the quiet-riding Avid Ascend LX and Avid Touring-S.
“I’d like to express my sincere gratitude and congratulations to YTMV on behalf of the entire company for this amazing achievement,” said Jeff Barna, president of Yokohama Corporation of North America. “The first Yokohama-branded tyre was produced at YTMV in 1990 and since that time, Yokohama has grown dramatically here in the US Such a feat would not have been possible without the local production from Salem, Virginia.”
Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia (YTMV) and Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) are part of Yokohama Corporation of North America (YCNA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo, Japan-based headquarters The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (YRC).
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