A new Yokohama technical center has been opened in China

In May 2026, Yokohama opened a research and development center in Hangzhou (Zhejiang, China) on the territory of the new passenger tire plant, which launched production in November last year, the company reported.

Yokohama adds that the opening of the new center will allow the company to locally develop products for the Chinese market and respond more quickly to changes in the needs of local motorists.

In China, the company manufactures and sells not only tires, but also conveyor belts, hoses, etc., and the local production network includes tire plants in Hangzhou and Suzhou (Jiangsu), as well as Rubber Technical Institute (RTI) facilities in Hangzhou and Weifang (Shandong). The employees of the new center will develop both tire models and various raw materials, while also searching for new suppliers of raw materials in the country.

As part of its medium-term development plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026), the tire manufacturer is engaged, among other things, in the development of products created taking into account the trends of individual regional markets. The new center is expected to help create new tires for Chinese consumers more efficiently and quickly.