Although Yokohama Rubber plans to “create a premier global tyre manufacturing company” through its acquisition of Alliance Tire Group (ATG) and resultant synergies in expertise and experience, the Japanese firm confirms it will retain the ATG business model, along with the company’s “culture” and brands.
Yokohama tyres have been approved as an original equipment fitment on the latest version of the Toyota Prius. According to Yokohama Rubber, the BluEarth E70 will be supplied in size 215/45R17 87W for the Prius models sold in Europe, Japan and Oceania, while North American Prius models will get the BluEarth S34 all-season tyre in size P215/45R17 87V. The Yokohama Aspec A349 has been approved for original equipment fitment in markets outside these regions, and will be delivered to Toyota Motor Corporation in size 195/65R15 91H.
Nine new language options have been added to Yokohama Rubber’s corporate website. In addition to being available in English and Japanese, the site now includes information in Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Thai, Korean, Russian, Indonesian, and German. Users can access corporate information in their language of choice by selecting at the www.y-yokohama.com/global/ start page.
Yokohama Rubber presented three premieres at this year’s Geneva Motor Show – with products ranging from the Advan Fleva V701 UHP tyre to the Geolander A/T G015 SUV tyre and the Advan A052 road-legal track day tyre in between.
The new Advan Fleva V701 UHP is described as a “high-performance sport tyre” and represents the latest addition to Yokohama’s flagship Advan range. The new tyre will be available from July 2016 in 24 sizes. 43 sizes ranging from 195/55R15 85V to 255/30R20 92W will be available in early 2017.
Bridgestone Americas reports that its Bridgestone Dueler tyres are featured as original equipment on the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, while Yokohama Tire Corporation has announced the selection of its Avid S34RV for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.
The Kwik Fit Group has agreed a partnership deal that sees the Kwik Fit tyre retail and fast-fit brand expand into Italy. Under the terms of the agreement, 200 centres are set to open over the next decade.
The expansion is based on a franchise agreement with CDG-ONE, part of Segema S.p.A., a leading tyre distribution group in Italy. Segema imports and distributes Yokohama tyres in Italy through Yokohama Italia S.p.A. and GiTi Tyres through Magri Gomme S.p.A.
On 21 March The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., will be introducing John Terry, the captain of the Barclays Premier League Champions Chelsea Football Club, to Chinese football fans at an event in Shanghai. According to Yokohama, which is shirt sponsor of Chelsea, the event will feature a football clinic for local high school players, followed by a press conference and an interview/talk show with the Chelsea team captain.
For the third consecutive year, Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) is teeing it up with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in Prattville, Alabama. That’s where the 2016 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic will be held 5-8 May on the Senator Course at Capitol Hill along the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Golf Trail.
Yokohama tyres have been selected as the original equipment fitment for what Lotus says is the “fastest road-going Elise ever,” the Elise Cup 250. It will wear the Advan A048 LTS, a Lotus-approved and developed version of Yokohama’s road-legal track day tyre, in size 195/50 R16 at the front and 225/45 R17 at the rear.
With the imminent demise of the 14-year old Yokohama Continental Tire joint venture withJapan’s Yokohama Rubber, German tyre maker Continental is gearing up to take over direct deliveries of its tyres to vehicle manufacturers in Japan and Korea. “From 1 April 2016, we will solely supply Japanese and Korean original equipment customers ourselves. This means we will directly offer our premium Continental tyres in Japan and Korea,” shares Tansu Isik, who heads Continental’s APAC region original equipment passenger car tyre business.
Yokohama has denied press reports that it is aiming to buy a majority of Alliance Tire Group (ATG). Acquisition talk had suggested private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) was in talks to sell what would amount to a majority shareholding of its stake in ATG (which is currently 90 per cent) to Yokohama.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. and Continental AG have announced that they will wind up their joint venture company, Yokohama Continental Tire Co., Ltd. (YCC), at the end of this month. The two tyre makers believe the 50/50 joint venture, which was established in Q1 2002, has served its purpose.
Along with Nokian’s admission and apology for “mistakes” in its practices concerning tyre tests, the Finnish tyre manufacturer stated that “several operators in the field… have been suspected or evidence has been presented against them of differences between tyres in magazine tests and tyres that are for sale in stores.” After the Nokian statement’s implication of other tyre manufacturers in malpractice regarding independent tyre testing, Michelin immediately responded by stating categorically that it has “never designed or manufactured tyres specifically for tests conducted by the media, automobile associations or any other organisations.” Tyres & Accessories approached 11 more of the world’s leading manufacturers, many of whose products regularly appear in magazine tests, for their response to the question: Have you ever designed or manufactured tyres specifically for tests conducted by the media, automobile associations or any other organisations? Listed below are their responses.
Yokohama Rubber has announced its exhibition activities for the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, with the manufacturer’s Chelsea FC sponsorship taking centre-stage. The BluEarth-A AE50 Chelsea FC Edition, which features the logo of the Barclay’s Premier League holders, will be presented with a personal appearance by current first-team manager, Guus Hiddink and Chelsea managing director Christian Purslow, who will conduct a Q&A session. In addition, the company’s Advan Sport V105 global flagship tyre will be featured.
Lately Yokohama has been increasing its presence in the 4×4/SUV OE tyre segment, with more tyres selected by manufacturers for initial fitment.
According to the company, there are 24 new additions to the Advan Sport V105 size line-up, such as 235/50R19, 275/45R21 and 275/40R22. Indeed, this large SUV-orientated tyre has been chosen as original equipment by Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
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