Despite the war in neighbouring Ukraine and the resulting sanctions imposed on Russia by the international community, as of 2 March 2022, company representatives told Tyres & Accessories the Yokohama’s Russian tyre manufacturing operation in Lipetsk, 500 kilometres south of Moscow, is running as normal.
During an online event hosted today in Japan and Germany, Yokohama Rubber officially debuted its Yokohama Advan Sport V107, successor to the V105 and the company’s new global flagship tyre.
Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT) has reported the appointment of Andrew Musgrave as its country manager for the UK and Ireland. Musgrave commenced in this role last November and leads the aftermarket business for the Alliance and Galaxy brands in these markets. He reports to Ole Baek, YOHT’s regional head Northern Europe and France.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. reports “record-high” sales revenue and profit during the 2021 fiscal year. Sales revenue increased 21.7% over the previous year; operating profit rose 132.4% & profit attributable to owners of parent was up 148.9%.
Two German manufacturers have selected the Yokohama Advan Sport V107 as an original equipment tyre for new and existing performance models. The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ wears the tyre in size 275/35R22 104Y, while the BMW X5M & X6M upgrade from the V105 to this latest-generation Advan tyre.
Yokohama Rubber’s natural rubber processing subsidiary in Thailand supported efforts to aid villagers affected by flooding in the country in December 2021. Y.T. Rubber Co, Ltd (YTRC) provided food packages in the wake of flooding due to heavy rains in the country’s Surat Thani Province, where YTRC is located.
Yokohama’s flagship Advan tyre range has secured original equipment approvals from some of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. The manufacturer will launch a new flagship replacement market tyre in 2022, the Advan Sport V107, developed for premium vehicles in an initial range of 30-plus sizes between 18 and 23 inches. Versions of the tyre developed alongside leading OEMs, have already been specified for fitment on a variety of new models, such as the Brabus Off Roader range and BMW’s first fully electric “sports activity vehicles.”
The Lexus NX is the Japanese brand’s first-ever plug-in hybrid vehicle, and UK deliveries begin this month. Yokohama Rubber says it is supplying original equipment tyres to the NX, with Toyota Motor Corporation fitting the Yokohama BluEarth-XT AE61 and BluEarth-XT AE61 Z・P・S to the SUV in size 235/60R18 103H.
Brabus GmbH has approved the Yokohama Advan Sport V107 for its Mercedes-AMG G63-based Brabus 700, 800 and 900. Yokohama Rubber will supply the Advan Sport V107 in size 305/35R23 111Y XL.
Following our coverage of Yokohama’s offer for Trelleborg Wheel Systems, the tyre and wheel manufacturer’s Swedish parent company Trelleborg AB has confirmed that “external parties have shown interest to acquire Trelleborg’s business area Trelleborg Wheel Systems”. At the same time, Titan International offered its view on third-party interest in Trelleborg Wheel Systems.
On 14 December, Tyrepress.com shared information from sources who anticipate a Yokohama Rubber bid to acquire Trelleborg Wheel Systems. While the parties involved have neither confirmed nor denied such a transaction, the chairman of Titan International Inc. (TWI) has commented on a deal he apparently views as problematic.
From the start of next year, Yokohama tyres will be sold in Malaysia through a newly formed joint venture company. Tyre maker Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. will hold a 51 per cent stake in the new Yokohama Tyre Sales Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., with the remaining share held by YHI (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (YHIM), subsidiary of the exclusive distributor of Yokohama tyres in Southeast Asia, YHI International Limited (YHI). Akira Nakamoto has been appointed managing director.
Yokohama Tire has bid around $2 billion for Trelleborg Wheel Systems in a move that could further expand the Japanese company’s growing off-highway tyre business. Sources close to the bid told Tyres & Accessories that Yokohama is currently in a due diligence process that is likely to be completed during the next month or so. Yokohama previously bid for Prometeon, the ex-Pirelli industrial/off-highway tyre business at the end of 2019. Despite ongoing discussions over the following year or so, that deal wasn’t completed. Yokohama appointed the former global head of Prometeon, Gregorio Borgo, as its European president earlier this year. Trelleborg Wheel Systems executives declined to comment on the reports.
In addition to the Advan Sport V107, Yokohama Rubber is bringing three further ranges to market in the first quarter of 2022 – but unlike the latest flagship performance tyre these products won’t be sold in the UK or Europe, for now at least.
Yokohama Rubber reports that its Yokohama Advan Sport V107 will be available in the aftermarket from early next year. It will launch this flagship tyre worldwide from March 2022 in an initial range of 30 dimensions for 18- to 23-inch rim diameters. Including original equipment fitments, Yokohama will offer the V107 in a total of 43 sizes at this time but intends to gradually grow the range up to approximately 80 original equipment and replacement market dimensions by the end of next year.
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